FAMOUS LAST WORDS

Graham Coxon

Imagine him in pyjama bottoms and an Osmonds hat. Recline in his Charles Eames chair and enjoy his rum metal solo album. Marvel at the shy lucidity of the Blur guitarist as you ask...

How the devil are you?
Um... Feeling quite well. Quite happy. But a bit guilty because I ate a horrible thing last night that makes me ill. What was that? Just chips.

What was the first gig you ever went to?
The Osmonds. I must have been about three or four. I was in Berlin. I sort of remember lights and people. There's a good picture of me that my parents have got with my pyjama bottoms on and a plastic trumpet and an Osmonds hat when we got back from the show.

What were you like at school?
I was quite quiet but a bit clowny. My school report said I was a gregarious extrovert who should channel his energies wisely in the future. I had to look up what gregarious means.

If you weren't a rock'n'roll star what would you be?
I propably would have carried on with my art school aspirations, trying to be a painter. I'm very lucky, because if I hadn't got the music together I think I'd still be squatting in Camberwell.

What's your most treasured material possession?
I'm not going to say a guitar. I've got this Ray & Charles Eames chair which I really like. I hate materialism but even so I'm quite materialistic.

What's the worst record you've ever made?
Hmm... Worst is such a negative word. The Great Escape I find quite troubling but I don't think it's really bad album. I just think it reminds me of a certain time. It's a very depressed record. What's my least favourite track? I can't even remember what's on it. Well, Country House I should imagine. It's a pretty horrible song. Well, it's quite clever actually. It's just the way we approached it - the knees-up approach. We killed it with too much catchiness.

When did you last cry and why?
I think it was when I was sitting contemplating my baby. Suddenly the sheer weight of it struck me - my responsibilities, all the usual things. That was eight weeks ago. She's called Pepper. She's a little Piscean like me.

What's your poison?
I do like a nice glass of wine. I don't drink anything stronger. Not anymore. And to be honest I really don't like beer. They're so aggressive, pubs and beer. I'm not really a wine buff, though. I just think, Well that's over eight quid, it should be good.

Pick five words to describe yourself.
Moody. Unpredictable. Frustrating. Happy. Energetic, heh heh.

What's in your pockets right now?
Nothing. If I was out there'd be a packet of cigarettes, a lighter, my mobile phone, my wallet, and a huge amount of change.

Who was the last person you punched?
I think it was [Food Records boss] Andy Ross, heh heh. We both punched each other because we were in very high spirits watching an Idlewild show in Colchester Arts Centre, which is an old haunt of mine. Me and Andy have some good scraps.

What was the last record you bought?
The Singing Hatchet by The Radar Brothers.

What are you most likely to complain about in a hotel?
I'm quite sociable, I suppose, so I don't like it when they shut the bar and you have to go and sit your room. I don't complain much actually. I don't like the attention it creates.

What characteristics do you think you've inherited from your parents?
Mild manners. And they're very sociable too, so I think I get my sociability from them. And my mum's mouth and my dad's nose.

What's your most unpleasant characteristic?
Aggressiveness for no apparent reason sometimes. Did the drinking make that worse? Yeah, a bit. I'm too self-aware as well.

What's your culinary speciality?
Chick pea and potato Thai curry. It's garlic, black peppercorns and ground coriander all smashed together, fried up a little bit, then some coconut milk, some chopped potatoes, some chick peas, some curry powder, a bit of sugar and light soy sauce and then let it bubble away. It's very nice.

What's your greatest fear?
Regret. It's very difficult to know what you may regret, but I don't think I regret anything so I'm doing all right so far.

What music would you have played at your funeral?
I'm Your Man by Wham! I think it's one of the grossest pieces of music ever. It's nonsensically happy and it's got that horrible saxophone in it. I wouldn't want to make a funeral more tragic by playing something extremely sad.

What's the greatest film ever made?
Short Cuts. Or The Real Blonde. I like films about the everyday, and aren't full of machismo

Can you recite a line of poetry?
Yeah. "Why so pale and wan fond love?/Oh prithee why so pale?/Will, when looking well can't move her, looking ill prevail?/Prithee why so pale?" I can't remember where I read it. Once something's in my head it's difficult to shake it off. I could probably sing most Blur songs.

Have you ever been arrested?
Yeah. It was my first week at college and I misbehaved in the student union and ended up in a cell in Brixton. I damaged a window, and then I just wouldn't sod off home. The police saw me so they arrested me for being a pain. I was released very early the next morning and had to walk all the way back to Camberwell.

What turns you on?
Love, man.

Happiness is...
Easy, according to Mark Hollis, heh heh. Being straight, balanced and not having any regrets.

Where are you off to now?
I'm going to meet a friend and enjoy the sunshine. And maybe have a little skate.

Dorian Lynskey
Typed up by Veikko's Blur Page
 

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