The only thing that ever interests me... is me. No, that's not true. See the "would like to meet" section. The title of the project comes from a film by Jim Jarmusch. I like the way Jarmusch captures the magic of unlikely connections strangers make with one another when thrown together in unusual situations.
writers and artists who'd like to help me with a project called, "Night on Earth" which not only involves going around the world in 80 anecdotes but also spreading the word about a charity called War Child. I want to publish a collection of travel stories (I've got about 60 so far). So, I'm trying to find people who've got an interesting tale to tell about somewhere they've visited. The brief is to write 1,000 words or less about a night you spent somewhere far away from home when something unusual happened. Each story is being illustrated by a different artist. Artists who've kindly donated work so far include: Jasper Joffe, Ed Ward and Humphrey Ocean. I know books take a long time but eventually I'll find the right publisher and hopefully raise a bit of cash and awareness for War Child. Some of the writers who've had a tale to tell so far are famous, as you'd imagine a lot of the contributors are friends from work or college, but I hope I can meet a few people via my space who'd also like to help too. Turner Prize Winning artist Jeremy Deller has written about being a teenager finding himself hanging out with his hero Andy Warhol in New York and having to reject his lusty advances. Australian born Gay Rights Campaigner, Peter Tatchell has written about getting a hug and an apology from Iron Mike Tyson in Memphis, Chas Hodges (of Chas 'n' Dave) has written about his first band, "Black Claw" and the night they got lost in Poland. Toby Young (who wrote "How to Lose Friends & Alienate People" has written about a disasterous best man speech he gave in Washington, If you can help, Email me at [email protected]
I love the Beatles and the Kinks and the Velvets and the Bonzos and the Beach Boys. I love Johnny Cash and Elvis and the Big O and Chuck Berry and Alex Chilton. I love edwyn collins and stephen duffy and the lilac time and the bmx bandits. i love the cramps and elvis costello and al green. and i love blondie. and i love otis redding. and tom waits. and nina simone. i also love the specials and the pogues and squeeze. i quite like james brown and the bee gees and the fall. im not very keen on james blunt or david grey. my favourite singer is probably kevin rowland from dexys midnight runners, my favourite band is probably The Blockheads and my favourite songwriter is probably bob dylan. I love morrissey. i like pulp, i like run dmc, i love betty boo, i like bob marley, i love jimmy cliff, i like lloyd cole, i like chas and dave and madness and a few songs by Paul Weller and Paul Simon. Dusty Springfield had her moments. I love T-Rex ("put a bit of marc in your heart"), Hot Rod Stewart has made some good records, i like fats waller a lot, i like silly stuff like Denim, my friend Adrian R. Shaw is a very good songwriter. I don't think I could really like someone if they hated the Human League, I like Divine Comedy, Laughing Leonard Cohen, The The, Iggy & Ziggy. The best live act I've ever seen were probably David Devant & His Spirit Wife.
My favourite film is probably Broadway Danny Rose. But like everyone there are a lot of films that have a place in my heart... Midnight Cowboy, Down By Law, Some Like It Hot, The Graduate and dog day afternoon for example. My favourite actor is probably Gene Wilder. In recent years two of my favourite films ("Bedazzled" and "The Producers") have been re-made and ruined. I love cowboy films like Shane, Butch Cassidy, Frank & Jessie James. I like soppy stuff like, It's A Wonderful Life and silly stuff like, The Jerk and Dodgeball. And I love great British films like The Third Man and the old Ealing comedies.
The best things ive seen on telly are probably the more cowbell sketch. 'boys from the blackstuff'. monty python. the singing detective. I love Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. I loved Lee & Herring's Fist of Fun. Curb Your Enthusiasm, peepshow and Ricky Gervais are all very good and everything but the only TV shows I love now are Futurama and the Simpsons.
"We Are Still Married" , "Remains of the Day" and "Harpo Speaks" are all great. The only book that has the power to always make me smile and always make me laugh is Raymond Briggs book about his parents... it gets me every time.
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