FirstWord DAVID SHRIGLEY
Artist David Shrigley talks about 80s music, pumpkins, and the joys of being tall
First record you ever bought ‘Einstein A Go-Go’ by Landscape on 7in single. It was a big hit in 1981.
Last time you were chatted up Most of the time I don’t even realise I’m being chatted up – so it could have been recently.
First film you saw that really moved you Well, The Jungle Book was the first film I ever saw, and I think as a child you find everything quite moving. Last lie you told Yesterday I said I’d had lots of ideas for a project I’m working on, but really I’ve not even thought about it yet.
First movie you ever went on a date to The Great Mouse Detective in 1986. Last time you cried When my grandmother died recently – she was 97.
First thing you do when you’ve got time off work I go shopping for records at my favourite record shop. Or I go to Partick Thistle football matches. Last great meal you cooked Pumpkin soup using vegetables from my partner’s allotment – but it was great due to the quality of the produce rather than any culinary skill on my part.
Last extravagant purchase you made I bought a car at the start of this year. That’s quite extravagant in a recession. First crush You’ll think I’m really weird but it was Daphne from Scooby Doo – yes, when she was a cartoon character!
Last book you read Light in August by William Faulkner, on holiday. It’s a total classic.
First great piece of advice you were given When I was younger, my parents always said ‘just do your best’.
Last time you were star struck A few years ago I saw the band Pavement hanging out in a bar in Glasgow, but just as I’d plucked up the courage to go and talk to them, a young art student came up to me and said, ‘Aren’t you David Shrigley?’ and the moment was lost. First thing you’d do if you ran the country I would change the electoral system to Proportional Representation because it’s more democratic.
Last meal on earth – what would it be? Probably something really unhealthy that I would never normally eat, like burger and chips. First song you’ll sing at karaoke ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’ by Edith Piaf.
Last time you exploited your position to get something I don’t think I ever have – except
WeLike The things making our world just that little bit better
maybe using my height to get things off shelves or to get a good view at gigs. First time you realised you were famous When I did a talk at the Art School and people came along to see me.
Last time someone criticised your work They do it all the time! First three words your friends would use to describe you Tall. Laidback. Slow.
Last time you made an impulse buy and regretted it I do it all the time with records because I’m always looking for something new.
First concert you ever attended Altered Images in Leicester in 1981. Last time you bought flowers I quite often buy flowers for my mum.
First thing you think of when you wake up in the morning What time is it? Do I have to get up for anything?
Last thing you think of before you go to sleep What time is it? Do I have to get up for anything? ■ David Shrigley features in the Running Time exhibition at the Dean Gallery, Edinburgh, Sat 17 Oct–Sun 22 Nov, admission free. His new book, Red Book is available now.
■ This week some of us are suffering knuckle- ache and eye-strain from having spent a whole weekend playing the new game, Batman: Arkham Asylum. An excited section of List HQ is boldly declaring it ‘the best superhero game ever’ and muttering things about graphics and Mark Hamill that we don’t all fully
understand.
Others of us are enjoying the low- budget vintage glam of Scottish-based jewellery designer Rock and Rose (www.rockn rose.co.uk). Some of the former type are women. None of the latter type are men. However, we’re all united in welcoming back the world’s least annoying smart-arse Demitri Martin to the small screen.
Other things we like this week: the true confessions of a justified indie- rocker, in Joyce Atkin of Scarce’s book Aching To Be, and reminiscing about how great the KLF were. We feel it’s high time somebody else brought performance art to
pop. No, not you, Gaga.
2 THE LIST 8–22 Oct 2009