FirstWord NATTY BROOKER
Natty Brooker is an artist and former member of 80s psychedelic rock band Spacemen 3. Currently battling cancer, he talks here about sacking his consultant and squeezing out two last albums
First record you ever bought It’ll be some rubbish from the 70s. I had good exposure because I had an older brother to give me music at an early age like Pink Floyd. I was listening to that when I was like ten: Roxy Music, David Bowie and Pink Floyd. But I suppose the first record I ever bought was something like Slade. I bought it from Boots, I think. They used to have a little bag of top 40 singles on the counter. First film you saw that really moved you Well, it’ll be one of three. Definitely [one of] Hayley Mills’. I mean I’ve been in love with Hayley Mills all my life, ever since I was a kid. That would probably be Whistle Down the Wind, [then there’s] Hell Drivers and From the Horses Mouth, starring Alec Guinness. It’s not one of his most well known films, he plays this old ball painter, bohemian character sort of thing. It’s all set in London. He lives on a barge. I love Alec Guinness – I like all that old stuff, Ealing Studios and that.
First thing you do when you’ve got time off work Listen to some music. Read, write, paint. Just go to the pub and have a pint.
Last great meal that you cooked I don’t think I’ve ever cooked a great meal. Although I’m not a rubbish cook, but I don’t think I’ve ever cooked a great meal. I’ve cooked plenty of edible ones . . . You’ve got to keep your head calm and just follow instructions in cookery, and not think you know any better like. Last lie you told Probably to the [hospital] consultant. I lied to her, to be polite, to go back to my old consultant. I wanted to say, ‘I don’t fuckin’ trust you with my life’. But no, I was quite polite about it.
Last book you read Since I’ve had the illness and stuff I find it really hard to read books. When I lived in a caravan in the middle of nowhere I read about 20 a day it seemed like. I’m more into maps now. A map would be the last thing I read. Last extravagant purchase you made Probably my 16-track digital recorder thing at the start of last year. It cost me about 500 quid – with the condenser mic and headphones I probably spent about 700 quid. Which isn’t like me. I haven’t got 700 quid normally, I had to save up for it. I’m busy recording my album . . . although I’m getting really complicated because I’m trying to record two albums at the same time. I’m running out of time, so I have to put everything in one pot.
Last time you were star struck I was star struck in Wales two years ago. I was in a pub and [iconic road haulier] Eddie Stobart came in with his two brothers and his childhood mate. And I’ve always respected Eddie Stobart, even though a lot of people
WeLike The things making our world just that little bit better
slag him off. But he kept the country going in the strikes . . . Apart from a bit of gold and stuff he’s still the same person he was when he was a kid. Very simple sort of chap with a very simple approach to things. I really like him. First thing you’d do if you ran the country I’d probably go pretty heavy on the old cars to be honest with you. Just getting rid of the things, y’know. It would piss a lot of people off. But, someone’s got to make a move; someone’s got to be brave about it.
Last time someone criticised your work [The artworks] have never really been seen to be criticised! The stuff that you’ll see, you’re talking early 80s, coming
down off mushrooms, out of me head on speed . . . it’s just this stuff that Will [Carruthers, former member of Spacemen 3] has managed to get off people. It’s a bit of a hotchpotch of stuff . . . So far, from what I’ve gathered, the response has been quite positive, but if anybody slagged it off it wouldn’t bother me at all.
First thing you think of when you wake up in the morning Just let the dog out in the garden, have a cup of tea, get dressed and get out. Last thing you think of before you go to sleep Could be fuckin’ anything!
■ Natty Brooker Debut Print Show, Mono, Glasgow, Sun 17 Jan. Free entry.
■ This month, we’re all in favour of Puritanism, self-flagellation and
detoxification, obviously. Our joyless new year regime has obviously paid off, as we’re delighted to announce the DVD release of The List, a brand new feature film that we assume must share some connection with List Towers. US comedian Wayne
Brady stars (playing a hapless 2 THE LIST 7–21 Jan 2010
Scottish arts journalist maybe?), gets dumped at a baseball stadium by wee Ashley from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, (playing our editor?) . . . obviously we haven’t watched it, but we’re still waiting for our royalties, right enough. Anyway, aside from self-delusion and body-fascism, we’re also enjoying buffalo steaks (what? they’re totally
healthy!) from
Puddledub Farm in Fife, who also supply
meat to Glasgow foodie-haven
Delizique; downloading the Collins and Herring Podcast (that’s former Empireed Andrew Collins and vaguely grating comedian Richard Herring, but somehow it totally works) and sending ourselves on time-wasting little internet treasure hunt missions, courtesy of Google Mystery (www.mysterygoogle.com).