Not much work on at the moment so am catching up with folk. Had coffee in the morning with Mr Jeff Barrett of Heavenly Records. Great to catch up with him.I hung out a lot with Jeff in the 90s and he put me onto so much good music I remain forever in his debt. It is why I dedicated The Sharper Word to Jeff and his family. Today he is involved with the great Caught By the River web site which mixes great nature with quality tips towards great books, films, music etc. Jeff tells me how hard it has been for his company Heavenly Records since EMI dropped them and I think to myself I must write him something for his website on the Van Morrison album Common One, a true countryside lover's album. Most of the songs are about hills and valleys and Coleridge and Wordsworth smoking dope. He hands over to me the new Cherry Ghost album which is a stunna, especially Kissing Strangers and Only A Mother Could, two absolute gems.
Kissing in particular should be the hit of the summer, gorgeous transcendent pop music.
After Jeff and I part I hook up with Gary C, Simon Wells and Mr Baxter and we take a little stroll down to the Dickens house on Doughty Street in Holborn. Incredible how much Dickens involved himself in - novels, journalism and running house for 'stricken women' and raising a family. A quite incredible man and still one of my favouriite writers. Great Expectations is for me his masterpiece though I can not say I know his entire oeuvre.
After the house we stop at nearby pub and let the sunshine envelope us. A lovely day for which I thank God and hope he may bless you.
Paolo
Monday, June 7, 2010
5th May 2010
Off to the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgravia Square with my boun amico Marcantonio to see a documentary about the Andorra Star. This was the boat sank by a German submarine in June 1940 carrying mainly Italian prisoners of war from Liverpool to Canada. It is a tragic story.
Many Italians who were interned by the English had sons fighting in the British army and considered themselves British as much as they did Italian. When Benito Mussolini made a speeh declaring war on Great Britain, the very next day thousands of Italains were rounded up and deported to prisoner of war camps. A month later some of them were put onto the Andorra and sent to Canada. Their families were not told of their whereabouts. After the film two Italians spoke movingly about their parent's involvement in this terrible story. Very moving.What impressed was their desire not to apportion blame - this was war, people act foolishly - but to work towards such an event never re-occuring.
Today, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy replied to my email thanking me for my support and professing his hope that Spurs grab three points tonight.I worte back saying whatever happens the season has been a great one for the Spurs. That perked me up as did some Facebook correspondence with Geoff Deane who wants to write about the Mod culture he grew up in circa 69.
That is the thing about Mod, never goes away, just keeps on and on. Me, I am trying to find a way for a new breed of Mod to emerge - the Long Haired Modernist.
Can it be done?
Who knows except the man above and so
God bless.
Paolo
Many Italians who were interned by the English had sons fighting in the British army and considered themselves British as much as they did Italian. When Benito Mussolini made a speeh declaring war on Great Britain, the very next day thousands of Italains were rounded up and deported to prisoner of war camps. A month later some of them were put onto the Andorra and sent to Canada. Their families were not told of their whereabouts. After the film two Italians spoke movingly about their parent's involvement in this terrible story. Very moving.What impressed was their desire not to apportion blame - this was war, people act foolishly - but to work towards such an event never re-occuring.
Today, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy replied to my email thanking me for my support and professing his hope that Spurs grab three points tonight.I worte back saying whatever happens the season has been a great one for the Spurs. That perked me up as did some Facebook correspondence with Geoff Deane who wants to write about the Mod culture he grew up in circa 69.
That is the thing about Mod, never goes away, just keeps on and on. Me, I am trying to find a way for a new breed of Mod to emerge - the Long Haired Modernist.
Can it be done?
Who knows except the man above and so
God bless.
Paolo
4th May 2010
Up early as usual. the birds singing sweet melody, a swim, then Church, home with the papers, reading. playing the new album by Richard Warren called Laments. Played twice, impressive stuff.
Loads of discussions with Spurs people about Wednesday especially the man I call the Voice Of Doom who has us already knocked out of the Europa League.
Me? I'm with my man Rob White who thinks we can achieve third place. And why not? Aim for the moon etc. meanwhile, the Voice Of Doom thinks I need help. Wrote to the Independent website about a piece they did on Daniel Levy the Spurs chairman, written by Sam Wallace who I do not normally like. His match reporting always feels one sided and I hate the way he - along with so many others in the press - try to sanitise the game with their callous remarks about players swearing or fans chanting. Still, it was a good piece about Lev and told him so as well as that Harry Redknapp is the manager of the season. Roy Hodgson has done amazing at Fulham but to take a team from relegation worriers to Champs League football in 18 months is astounding.
Read more of the Alistair Taylor book about working with the Fabs, there is an amazing quote in there from Lennon talking about how when he was a kid he would fantasise about beautiful women coming to his bedroom and at a click of his fingers disrobing and then making love to him.
In The Beatles, that is exactly what he got to do but after a while instead of enjoying the climatic moment - 'when for that second you don't need anything or anybody but are just as one' - he suddenly felt nothing but revulsion. Be careful what you wish for is the message.
God bless. Paolo
Loads of discussions with Spurs people about Wednesday especially the man I call the Voice Of Doom who has us already knocked out of the Europa League.
Me? I'm with my man Rob White who thinks we can achieve third place. And why not? Aim for the moon etc. meanwhile, the Voice Of Doom thinks I need help. Wrote to the Independent website about a piece they did on Daniel Levy the Spurs chairman, written by Sam Wallace who I do not normally like. His match reporting always feels one sided and I hate the way he - along with so many others in the press - try to sanitise the game with their callous remarks about players swearing or fans chanting. Still, it was a good piece about Lev and told him so as well as that Harry Redknapp is the manager of the season. Roy Hodgson has done amazing at Fulham but to take a team from relegation worriers to Champs League football in 18 months is astounding.
Read more of the Alistair Taylor book about working with the Fabs, there is an amazing quote in there from Lennon talking about how when he was a kid he would fantasise about beautiful women coming to his bedroom and at a click of his fingers disrobing and then making love to him.
In The Beatles, that is exactly what he got to do but after a while instead of enjoying the climatic moment - 'when for that second you don't need anything or anybody but are just as one' - he suddenly felt nothing but revulsion. Be careful what you wish for is the message.
God bless. Paolo
BACK
Got so many messages about keeping up the diary - for which many many thanks - that I now bow to huge public pressure and decided to carry it on. My main concern about the diary was being too open.
A lot of my life at the moment is taken up by work and the last thing I need to do is give away my ideas before they reach fruition. With that in mind....Spent yesterday lunchtime with a band called The Branco Heist who I have a lot of time for. They have about four or five great songs and many good ones to back them up. They are also getting better as the days pass which is always the acid test for me. Dennis The Menace kindly came along to the meet and gave them a few ideas about promotion to them and their managers John and Andy. Both are big Goonas but expressed their wish - as have other Gooners - that we we beat Man City on Wednesday. In fact they want Arsenal to lose their next two games and us overtake them for third spot so as to to give their club a huge kick up the proverbials.
When I then invited them to watch the game with me so as to ehar them shout, Come On You Spurs they politely declined for some reason. Very strange. Branco are playing this Thursday election night at the Luxe which is in Spitalfields. Admission free as well so it is a good time to catch them. Went swimming after the meet and then back home to read Alastair Taylor's biog which ahs been very kindly elnt to me by my clsoe Amico, Signor Chandler who looks after the south east part of the operation. When Epstein signed the Beatles he offered Taylor two and a half per cent of future income on the band. Taylor turned him down, reckoned he lost 150 million in doing so.
Book is very interesting. Lovely Macca story. When he signs to Epstein and says well I hope this band is going to be big but don't worry if it is not because I am going to be a huge star. I have a theory that at fourteen years of age most people who become greatly successful know this at that age and that success is just a matter of time. Good idea for a book book that looking at success and...see there you go, giving my ideas away again.
Met ian Munn St lunchtime, had a nice chat and drink with him. Spoke about e Books. Got the rights to my oasis books back so going to look into the possibility with them. Day before Iain ventured to the Elephant and Castle where he 'lost' his seventy quid headphones...strange that.
Loving You Tube at the moment. Today am on Nick Drake and a lot of Marmalade. On my stereo are Dexys, Van Morrison and Brian Wilson Specifically Until I Beleive In My Soul and My National Pride by Dexys, When Will I Ever Learn To Live with God and The Mystery by Van and Lay Burden Down by Brian Wilson, written the day he discovered his broth
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
2nd February 2009
2nd February 2009
Busy day at the computer yesterday - Ronnie Lane comp, proposal for a newspaper, and work on the Remarkable Orphans book. Re the latter, discovered what I hate the most about writing. Not being able to type properly. I type two fingered, have done since day one and I blame one man and one man alone - the Pope. Yes, Il Papa, you are to blame. Here is why. At some point, the Pope sanctioned the opening of Catholic schools. I went to one. SJB in Woking. Proud to have done so. When I was 14 I realised what I wanted to be in life, an NME reporter. Some months later my school announced that the timetable was about to change. On a specific afternoon - I think a Wednesday - boys could do girls lessons - home domestic (or whatever they called it then) typing - and girls could do boys lessons - woodwork, technical drawing. (Incidentally, I once got five per cent in a TD exam. I was told that three of those points were for spelling my name correctly) Great, I thought, I can learn typing. I went up to the classroom on the given time only to be told by the teacher that i was not there to learn typing but to gawp at all the girls there. I was thrown out. So thank you Il Papa for creating schools and a religion that allowed teachers like that to work. It means that every time I write now it sometimes coemns out oiek this and I have to go back and correct before I can move on.
So God bless you, God bless Il Papa and God bless all the staff and students and typewriters of SJB Catholic School Woking.
Paolo
Busy day at the computer yesterday - Ronnie Lane comp, proposal for a newspaper, and work on the Remarkable Orphans book. Re the latter, discovered what I hate the most about writing. Not being able to type properly. I type two fingered, have done since day one and I blame one man and one man alone - the Pope. Yes, Il Papa, you are to blame. Here is why. At some point, the Pope sanctioned the opening of Catholic schools. I went to one. SJB in Woking. Proud to have done so. When I was 14 I realised what I wanted to be in life, an NME reporter. Some months later my school announced that the timetable was about to change. On a specific afternoon - I think a Wednesday - boys could do girls lessons - home domestic (or whatever they called it then) typing - and girls could do boys lessons - woodwork, technical drawing. (Incidentally, I once got five per cent in a TD exam. I was told that three of those points were for spelling my name correctly) Great, I thought, I can learn typing. I went up to the classroom on the given time only to be told by the teacher that i was not there to learn typing but to gawp at all the girls there. I was thrown out. So thank you Il Papa for creating schools and a religion that allowed teachers like that to work. It means that every time I write now it sometimes coemns out oiek this and I have to go back and correct before I can move on.
So God bless you, God bless Il Papa and God bless all the staff and students and typewriters of SJB Catholic School Woking.
Paolo
1st February 2010
1st February 2010
Speak to long time friend Rhoda on Sat. night. She asks about diary. Or lack of. Explain that what was intended to be a daily discipline is now a weekly one. Time to rectify this situation especially as February has just opened for business. Last night I go to bed at midnight. I awake, think not a bad sleep, look over at clock - 4.41 a.m. Spend thirty mins trying to hit the nods and then give up. I write this now at 5.53. A week to detail. As ever best to work backwards. Yesterday morning, worked on Ronnie Lane comp and then over to Mal's to watch United demolish the Goonas. Was going to text my Goona friends, Tony M (Boney M?) and John L. in particular, but then reasoned, no, silence is much more effective. Christian who lives with Mal watches the game. He is in a band called Siren Siren. At half time he plays us the latest song he has been working on. The word massive chart hit springs to mind. Dirty Den is also present. During the course of conversation about Twitter, he hilariously hits upon the idea of starting a thing called Twatter. (Copywright D. Dervish 2010 in case your thinking of moving in.) With Twatter you post the names of people who have just acted - eh - twattishly towards you. Could be your mates, your family, a player in your football team, your whole football team, a new record, a new band, a new film etc. As we discuss the possibilities, Jamie Redknapp appears on Sky. I know say says Den, we can give it the slogan Don't Book It -Twat It! Talking of which, loads of jokes about John Terry flying about. The less offensive ones are to do with mending Bridges...Saturday, working again on Ronnie comp and come across a mystery which maybe some of you could solve. On the live BBC sessions that my man Mr Hellier so kindly sent me, Ronnie plays a song called Lost which then segues into his hit single, How Come. Lost is introduced as a track from the album Mahoney's Last Stand which Ronnie made with Ron Wood in 1972 for the film of the same name. Yet on the album itself no such song is listed. Anyone with any info? In the afternoon Nipper picks me up and we go to a great pub in Wood Green to watch Spurs. Naturally, they play very well, absolutely control the game, go one up and then............ fall to pieces. Birmingham equalise in the last minute. This is nothing new and I mean nothing new. Recently, I was reading a newspaper match report from 19 oh something. Spurs are playing Huddersfield. We are 5-0 up. Score at final whistle? Five all. Even back then we were throwing away games. In fact, there is something very comforting in this, to know that over a hundred years ago that Spurs were still fucking up and supporters were still sitting in pubs just as we were cursing the team's inability to keep a lead. Friday, spent the day at Anthony's working on a new film script based around my children's home books. It is the Mumper idea, e.g. real characters placed in a fictional story. We make good progress. The new book is still in the air, though, although I have an idea what to do with it. Have to write it first to see if it works. Thursday I attend the wedding of Claire and Luciano. I met Claire thru George and Jenny who I have known a million years. Claire now works for the UN. She is many things but above all she is impossibly clever with a huge heart. (I find the two do not often go together) She reads books in about ten minutes flat, writes beautifully and does the best to help people in impossible situations such as Iraq. Luciano whose family hail from near Napoli, works beside her. They have just had a daughter named Delilah. Everything seems to be going their way and that is always a great thing to see. The lovely day unfolds and I end up back at George's where I hear a Prince song called The Tears In My Eyes which blows me away. Years ago I interviewed Stevie Wonder for the NME. Wonder told me he would never produce albums of the quality as those of his 70s work but there would always be one or two songs to watch out for. That principle seems to apply to Prince. This song is a killa. My two other fave songs at the moment are the new singles from Turin Brakes and Fyfe from the Guilemots. Wednesday I went to see the film The Prophet with Eugene. Fantastic film. made by the same guy - Jacques Audiard - who remade Fingers. Again, his film is dominated by one brillaint actor and is not only gripping but very clever too. Also, through vigorous prompting by the good Councillor Iain Munn of Dundee, I looked further into the E Book phenomenon. Although there is a part of me that wants no part in this turn of events, the truth is I have to get involved and get involved now. E Books are the future. Ten years from now we will all be on them. Tuesday it was Spurs in the freezing cold beating Fulham two nil and Monday I have no idea what went on. Oh. I sent an e mail of apology to an old writing flame of mine who I discovered I had stupidly offended years ago. He was very gracious in his reply.
So God bless Tony Parsons, God bless Rhoida and her children, and God bless you. Paolo
Speak to long time friend Rhoda on Sat. night. She asks about diary. Or lack of. Explain that what was intended to be a daily discipline is now a weekly one. Time to rectify this situation especially as February has just opened for business. Last night I go to bed at midnight. I awake, think not a bad sleep, look over at clock - 4.41 a.m. Spend thirty mins trying to hit the nods and then give up. I write this now at 5.53. A week to detail. As ever best to work backwards. Yesterday morning, worked on Ronnie Lane comp and then over to Mal's to watch United demolish the Goonas. Was going to text my Goona friends, Tony M (Boney M?) and John L. in particular, but then reasoned, no, silence is much more effective. Christian who lives with Mal watches the game. He is in a band called Siren Siren. At half time he plays us the latest song he has been working on. The word massive chart hit springs to mind. Dirty Den is also present. During the course of conversation about Twitter, he hilariously hits upon the idea of starting a thing called Twatter. (Copywright D. Dervish 2010 in case your thinking of moving in.) With Twatter you post the names of people who have just acted - eh - twattishly towards you. Could be your mates, your family, a player in your football team, your whole football team, a new record, a new band, a new film etc. As we discuss the possibilities, Jamie Redknapp appears on Sky. I know say says Den, we can give it the slogan Don't Book It -Twat It! Talking of which, loads of jokes about John Terry flying about. The less offensive ones are to do with mending Bridges...Saturday, working again on Ronnie comp and come across a mystery which maybe some of you could solve. On the live BBC sessions that my man Mr Hellier so kindly sent me, Ronnie plays a song called Lost which then segues into his hit single, How Come. Lost is introduced as a track from the album Mahoney's Last Stand which Ronnie made with Ron Wood in 1972 for the film of the same name. Yet on the album itself no such song is listed. Anyone with any info? In the afternoon Nipper picks me up and we go to a great pub in Wood Green to watch Spurs. Naturally, they play very well, absolutely control the game, go one up and then............ fall to pieces. Birmingham equalise in the last minute. This is nothing new and I mean nothing new. Recently, I was reading a newspaper match report from 19 oh something. Spurs are playing Huddersfield. We are 5-0 up. Score at final whistle? Five all. Even back then we were throwing away games. In fact, there is something very comforting in this, to know that over a hundred years ago that Spurs were still fucking up and supporters were still sitting in pubs just as we were cursing the team's inability to keep a lead. Friday, spent the day at Anthony's working on a new film script based around my children's home books. It is the Mumper idea, e.g. real characters placed in a fictional story. We make good progress. The new book is still in the air, though, although I have an idea what to do with it. Have to write it first to see if it works. Thursday I attend the wedding of Claire and Luciano. I met Claire thru George and Jenny who I have known a million years. Claire now works for the UN. She is many things but above all she is impossibly clever with a huge heart. (I find the two do not often go together) She reads books in about ten minutes flat, writes beautifully and does the best to help people in impossible situations such as Iraq. Luciano whose family hail from near Napoli, works beside her. They have just had a daughter named Delilah. Everything seems to be going their way and that is always a great thing to see. The lovely day unfolds and I end up back at George's where I hear a Prince song called The Tears In My Eyes which blows me away. Years ago I interviewed Stevie Wonder for the NME. Wonder told me he would never produce albums of the quality as those of his 70s work but there would always be one or two songs to watch out for. That principle seems to apply to Prince. This song is a killa. My two other fave songs at the moment are the new singles from Turin Brakes and Fyfe from the Guilemots. Wednesday I went to see the film The Prophet with Eugene. Fantastic film. made by the same guy - Jacques Audiard - who remade Fingers. Again, his film is dominated by one brillaint actor and is not only gripping but very clever too. Also, through vigorous prompting by the good Councillor Iain Munn of Dundee, I looked further into the E Book phenomenon. Although there is a part of me that wants no part in this turn of events, the truth is I have to get involved and get involved now. E Books are the future. Ten years from now we will all be on them. Tuesday it was Spurs in the freezing cold beating Fulham two nil and Monday I have no idea what went on. Oh. I sent an e mail of apology to an old writing flame of mine who I discovered I had stupidly offended years ago. He was very gracious in his reply.
So God bless Tony Parsons, God bless Rhoida and her children, and God bless you. Paolo
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Sunday, 24 January 2010 at 07:50
S. went to see Michelle and Mike, welcome their new baby Cassie into the world. Mike asked about my diary - or lack of it - so has I have awoken early Sunday morning ( at an hour I once used to get home at) thought I would use the time to catch up. I'll have to work backwards. Yesterday Spurs were robbed again by a ref who wrongly gave Leeds a last min pen. Why in the 21st century the biggest sport in the world refuses to embrace technology is absolutely beyond me. Hugely annoying. On Friday had lunch with my old features editor from the NME, Tony Stewart. Great to see him. He always did have a very likeable dry sense of humour that boy. Came away feeling nice. Went to George and Jenny's Friday night. After 21 years together they are finally tying the knot in March. Well, George is Greek and you know how they like to put on their togas get in the steam baths and really philosophise about a subject. To marry or not to marry? Well, as Plato once said.............Thursday went to NFT with the Sohemian Society to see a great Lewis Gilbert film from 1953 called Cosh Boy starring amongst others a very young and beautiful Joan Collins. The film was about a gang of kids in Battersea who spend their time robbing and stealing. The film's message was simple - if these kids had got a good belting from their parents when they were younger they would not have turned into juvenile delinquents. And damm right too. What got me were their clothes, the boys wearing two button jackets, large lapels, ties, shirts, hair greased back. They looked fabulous, not even british but very European. One of them even wore turn ups on his trousers even though they were not jeans. More and more the Fifties draw me in. Afterwards, we went to the Festival bar, sat around swapping stories about large hopes in small towns, upbringings and films and books and ideas etc. Again, came away feeling nice. On train home came up with an idea for a talk which I will pitch to them. Lunchtime that day I had met up with Rebecca and David from my agency. The book company who I gave my Remarkable Orphans project to have asked for certain things. Not sure I can give it to them. Or more to the point want to give to them. We agree to think about it further. Might mean having to find another company to publish it. Both agents are very supportive. Lucky to have them. And to be honest I am not at all worried by this turn of events. I have every faith in this project. Know it will be great when it happens. On Wednesday worked with Ant on a new screenplay based around my book. Our first script together Notting Dale now has two producers on board. Everyone who reads it is very complimentary. Done correctly this film could be huge. Also got news that the first draft of the script for the film of our book the Mumper should be ready soon. Looking forward to that. Monday and Tuesday finished off Madness sleeve notes. Their 1988 album the Madness contains some fascinating material I have to say. Wednesday night watched Howard Webb the referee again mess up and not allow a perfectly good Spurs goal. He fucked us up at Old Trafford last year, the Bridge earlier this season and now at Anfield. A hat trick! Well done sir! You truly are below par. Talking of Spurs is where I came in so I would just like to finish by saying it is now 7.30 Sunday morning and today I will mainly be reading, swimming, talking to God and watching football. God bless all refs, God bless you.
S. went to see Michelle and Mike, welcome their new baby Cassie into the world. Mike asked about my diary - or lack of it - so has I have awoken early Sunday morning ( at an hour I once used to get home at) thought I would use the time to catch up. I'll have to work backwards. Yesterday Spurs were robbed again by a ref who wrongly gave Leeds a last min pen. Why in the 21st century the biggest sport in the world refuses to embrace technology is absolutely beyond me. Hugely annoying. On Friday had lunch with my old features editor from the NME, Tony Stewart. Great to see him. He always did have a very likeable dry sense of humour that boy. Came away feeling nice. Went to George and Jenny's Friday night. After 21 years together they are finally tying the knot in March. Well, George is Greek and you know how they like to put on their togas get in the steam baths and really philosophise about a subject. To marry or not to marry? Well, as Plato once said.............Thursday went to NFT with the Sohemian Society to see a great Lewis Gilbert film from 1953 called Cosh Boy starring amongst others a very young and beautiful Joan Collins. The film was about a gang of kids in Battersea who spend their time robbing and stealing. The film's message was simple - if these kids had got a good belting from their parents when they were younger they would not have turned into juvenile delinquents. And damm right too. What got me were their clothes, the boys wearing two button jackets, large lapels, ties, shirts, hair greased back. They looked fabulous, not even british but very European. One of them even wore turn ups on his trousers even though they were not jeans. More and more the Fifties draw me in. Afterwards, we went to the Festival bar, sat around swapping stories about large hopes in small towns, upbringings and films and books and ideas etc. Again, came away feeling nice. On train home came up with an idea for a talk which I will pitch to them. Lunchtime that day I had met up with Rebecca and David from my agency. The book company who I gave my Remarkable Orphans project to have asked for certain things. Not sure I can give it to them. Or more to the point want to give to them. We agree to think about it further. Might mean having to find another company to publish it. Both agents are very supportive. Lucky to have them. And to be honest I am not at all worried by this turn of events. I have every faith in this project. Know it will be great when it happens. On Wednesday worked with Ant on a new screenplay based around my book. Our first script together Notting Dale now has two producers on board. Everyone who reads it is very complimentary. Done correctly this film could be huge. Also got news that the first draft of the script for the film of our book the Mumper should be ready soon. Looking forward to that. Monday and Tuesday finished off Madness sleeve notes. Their 1988 album the Madness contains some fascinating material I have to say. Wednesday night watched Howard Webb the referee again mess up and not allow a perfectly good Spurs goal. He fucked us up at Old Trafford last year, the Bridge earlier this season and now at Anfield. A hat trick! Well done sir! You truly are below par. Talking of Spurs is where I came in so I would just like to finish by saying it is now 7.30 Sunday morning and today I will mainly be reading, swimming, talking to God and watching football. God bless all refs, God bless you.
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