Volume 1
Dear Francesca & Fulvia, Well spotted! Yes, I did 'steal' some of those lyrics but altered them to suit the songs. 'Little Bruises' is an aural scrapbook of things that were happening to me at the time. My marriage had broken down and I was trying to discover a new way to live, a new philosophy. Those lines and poems were very important to me. I'd spent years giving out and decided that it was time to take in. These were some of the gems that I was discovering. Poetry has always been very strong in my life, and at times it has been a great Saviour. The Bowie reference, "Always Crashing In The Same Car", was used because of the irony of the title, as the title song, about my particular experience of Hollywood, refers to the constant repetition of a deadly mistake which is perversely played out with some masochistic thrill, again and again.
Dear Julie, The album "Little Bruises" was primarily inspired by the break up of my marriage while living as an actor in Hollywood. This led me to search for a new personal philosophy. My life was so different from when I was travelling with the band, and certain things I felt had failed me. This album was a scrapbook of questions, answers, ideas, and rants, and exorcised a lot of demons.
Dear Laura, "Shadowman" was inspired by a book that I had just read by the Jungian analyst, Robert A. Johnson, called Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche. It was an important book during a time when I was feeling great frustration. It gave me a chance to name all of those demons. "Ophelia Drowning" is a little more complicated to explain. I was walking in the Tate and saw Millais's "Ophelia". Hamlet's beautiful yet betrayed friend is dying in the water as her madness in grief has led her to suicide. Millais paints her just beneath the film of the water with her eyes still open. It made me think of a friend and looking at an old picture of her captured in time, soft beneath the "film". In the picture I'm standing with my arm around her, both of us naive to the slow drift of time, and that, even then, we were floating apart. The two images came together and created that song. My favourite author and period in English Lit is impossible to choose. I think that the 19th century was the great time for the English novel, and in that, Dickens was the master. His cast of characters are a real joy and constantly contemporary. In the 20th century my favourite modern is still Ian McEwan, while the verse novel of Vikram Seth is unique.
The law system is only there to keep itself financed. It's an industry, as Charles Dickens said. For the best account of it read his novel, Bleak House.
Dear Jackson, Sexual metaphorism? If I only knew what I truly desired, I probably wouldn't be writing songs. Sorry if that answer is a little glib, but it's the only one that I dare give!
Dear Mandy, Touching snakes is wonderful! I did it at a zoo with my son only last week. They're not slimy at all, but smooth and dry and very muscular. I can recommend it as a therapy! For what, I'm not sure.
Dear Liam, It is embarrassing to watch oneself on the screen. In your minds eye while acting, you never look like you, but like you imagine your character to be, so it's always a disappointment to see that your transformation was not quite complete. I've only ever seen any of my films once and much prefer watching my brother act, although it's difficult to watch any of one's friends, especially if they are wearing 18th century hose!
Dear Carmen, There is a version of Simon's "The Boxer" that we recorded right at the end, plus lots of live things, but I fear their time may never come round to be released. Instead they are consigned to the vaults of mystery, where they probably belong!
Dear Maria, A second solo album has been on my mind lately, but first I want to put this musical to bed. That may take some time. I think I prefer writing for others to sing, and certainly I'm loving the numerous and disparate characters that I have to write for in the show. But there are a few songs that have been stored away for me and that future occasion.
Dear Britta, Fin told me last week that he wanted to become an actor and I told him, sure, as long as he didn't leave his education behind to do it. What a typically fatherly thing to say! I would hate him to have a "proper" job, and with his mum and dad both in the 'un-proper jobs", I don't think there's much chance of that! He also writes nice tunes.
Dear Doris & Ingrid, You as well! My best Spandau memories are always the fun we used to have and the wonderful jokes that Steve Norman always kept us entertained with. I often miss that esprit de corps. My best acting memory is sitting having my make up being put on at some ungodly hour, with Whitney Houston singing gospel songs next to me! Also chatting with Quinten Tarantino about how influenced by "The Krays" his "Reservoir Dogs" was, and that all designers on the movie were given a copy of our video and told to make the film look like that. Thus the black suits and thin black ties. No one in Britain spotted it!
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