Lloyd Cole
talks to paulie
first published 2016
"When I first heard Lloyd Cole and The Commotions sing 'Perfect Skin' I had the same feeling as I got from hearing 'This Charming Man' by The Smiths. "Cheek Bones Like Geometry" - "Sexually Enlightened by Cosmopolitan". These lyrics were an education, I hadn't heard of Simone de Beauvoir until Rattlesnakes."
I've seen Lloyd Cole play a few times and still have my 12'' 'Perfect Skin' single, along with most of his albums. It was a pleasure to chat with him.
You’ve been performing a lot Lloyd, do you still enjoy it? You know fans will always want to hear those early songs...Heartbroken for example, my favourite. - pp
"Every now and then a song needs a rest, but I sing Heartbroken every night without complaint. I can almost play it, now." - Lloyd Cole
I still play ‘Undressed' on a regular basis Lloyd, I love that song, it definitely made an impression on me, was the first solo album easy / difficult to do?
It was easy like Rattlesnakes. It was exciting to start again, to be in New York City, to be drunk most of the time. Starting again is always exciting. That's why those tend to be the best records - Rattlesnakes, X, Music IAFL, Standards...
We have a section in Phacemag ‘Books That Changed Your Life’. Do you have one? It doesn’t have to be that drastic just something that moved you?
Well there's a few. Michael Moorcock got me into reading when I was 14 or so. Joan Didion made me want to write. Jodie in Rattlesnakes is a combination of a couple of Joan's protagonists. Raymond Chandler taught me about dialogue - he's the best. Raymond Carver got me excited about using less words. Most recently George Saunders's early works are fantastic.
I think that's the top answer Lloyd. (your still educating me)
I read somewhere that Morrissey was a fan of Yourself & The Commotions, I have to say between you and him I got quite a literary education. Simone de Beauvoir amongst others from you, and Oscar Wilde from him.
Were you friends?
Well there's a few. Michael Moorcock got me into reading when I was 14 or so. Joan Didion made me want to write. Jodie in Rattlesnakes is a combination of a couple of Joan's protagonists. Raymond Chandler taught me about dialogue - he's the best. Raymond Carver got me excited about using less words. Most recently George Saunders's early works are fantastic.
I think that's the top answer Lloyd. (your still educating me)
I read somewhere that Morrissey was a fan of Yourself & The Commotions, I have to say between you and him I got quite a literary education. Simone de Beauvoir amongst others from you, and Oscar Wilde from him.
Were you friends?
We were friends for a year or so, when he moved from Kensington into Wilde's old flat, but he kept changing his phone and then he would send me postcards saying "You don't call me!" I got a little tired of that, but I believe I am still 'Cousin Lloyd.'
Your eldest son Will is an accomplished musician in the band EZTV. I know he’s played gigs with you, have you written together? (I really like them by the way.)
He's not in EZTV, he's friends with them and they needed a 2nd guitarist for a tour just after Will's band BFA (Bachelors of Fine Art) split so that was a nice hiatus for him. He's back working on his own stuff again. He has a chance. We don't write together but we act as sounding board for each other's ideas all the time.
It’s 33 years since Rattlesnakes did you know you were set for success with it? It was a great time for British bands and you had stiff competition..
We were pretty confident, but the level of success was far greater than we'd dared to hope for. It was a great time, and 84 was our year.
Finally Lloyd I had a 2CV when the album (Rattlesnakes) came out, I have to ask were you a fan?
Blair (Commotions) had one. They had a certain charm, for a death trap... Nice chatting.
Thanks so much Lloyd Cole.
pauliepaul
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