Cider with Roadies - Stuart Maconie — Forum Archive

15 Apr 2008, 03:26

I know a few people have read this here. Any thoughts? I just polished it off over the weekend. Can't help but think Maconie got incredibly lucky with his career. He just sounded like a regular lad who did a few gigs, but wasn't really an obsessive and then sent a review to the NME which was chanced upon by James Brown and the rest is history. Right place, right time, lucky for him.

A few New Order anecdotes in there though. Mentions an evil atmosphere at a Blackburn gig due to the 'presence of the local NF'? Really? And there's the story about Hooky looking like a U-Boat Commander. Also, when he left the NME he got a framed photo of Morrissey from Kevin Cummins but somebody nicked that so instead Maconie himself then nicked a geetar of Barney's from the NME offices as a keepsake (the geetar was supposed to have been used in a competition). He had it restored years later and was told it was in a complete state and could obviously have never been used by a musician! :lol:

15 Apr 2008, 03:51

Wondered what happened with that competition, 1956 Gibson semi wasn't it? Think you had to come up with the best compilation of New Order tracks.

15 Apr 2008, 04:56

I thought it was an easy read and very entertaining. There were a few chuckles in it, especially the Napalm Death anecdotes :laugh:

I'll probably read it again soon, thanks for reminding me about it Al

15 Apr 2008, 05:08

James Thomas wrote: Wondered what happened with that competition, 1956 Gibson semi wasn't it? Think you had to come up with the best compilation of New Order tracks.

think you're confusing that with the competition in select to win the compilation you made plus an exclusive track you were not allowed to share. wonder what happened to that track?

yeah read this - was reading it last time stayed over at yours al & mentioned it to you then :nod: tis a good read. going to check out his next book soon.

15 Apr 2008, 05:12

hibster wrote: think you're confusing that with the competition in select to win the compilation you made plus an exclusive track you were not allowed to share. wonder what happened to that track?

Now, that's a damn good question - I remember that competition - it would be interesting to see what the track was, and indeed if anybody on here was the lucky winner! :)

:smoking:

15 Apr 2008, 07:05

Fuckwits!! The competition was a straight 3 questions about New Order related matters. The background was a photo of a very handsome looking mid-80s Barney with said guitar.

I used to masturbate over it at regular intervals. The pic of Bernard, not the guitar.

The book is a fun read. I like Stuart Maconie, and his fringe.

15 Apr 2008, 07:49

Been thinking about some of the things Al brought up. I suppose Maconie was just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, but that's life, I suppose and that kind of thing seems to happen to fairly unlikely people. I do think he's quite entertaining as a writer and he's come across as a 'normal' bloke when he's been on TV - not pretentious or whatever.

15 Apr 2008, 08:02

Chris Nash wrote: Been thinking about some of the things Al brought up. I suppose Maconie was just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, but that's life, I suppose and that kind of thing seems to happen to fairly unlikely people. I do think he's quite entertaining as a writer and he's come across as a 'normal' bloke when he's been on TV - not pretentious or whatever.

I remember him and Collins were stood near us at Glastonbury in 92 or 94 and were proper obnoxious little 'look at us, we're faaaaaaaaamous!' herberts. Both teeny as fcuk too. Took an instant dislike to the bloke, but the book has levelled that somewhat (no point in disliking someone off one impression - er, although I have done just that these past 16 years!).

His 'root to the top' was rather bizarre though, I thought. Dunno how I ever thought people got into music journalism, but he went to Uni, then was a salesman at a cotton mill, and then taught English in Skelmersdale. Maybe I'm wrong but he never gave the impression he was that passionate about the craft or was desperate to get into such a profession. He was hardly banging down doors, was he, nor even following bands around that obsessively. Just sounded like a regular bloke who did a few gigs then one day sent in a review to the NME of some band he'd seen (Electro-Hippies, I think?) and got rather lucky.

15 Apr 2008, 09:05

El Jarvo wrote:

His 'root to the top' was rather bizarre though,

Surely its Hollywood actresses that normally root to the top? Who did he shag?

15 Apr 2008, 09:06

El Jarvo wrote:

Chris Nash wrote: Been thinking about some of the things Al brought up. I suppose Maconie was just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, but that's life, I suppose and that kind of thing seems to happen to fairly unlikely people. I do think he's quite entertaining as a writer and he's come across as a 'normal' bloke when he's been on TV - not pretentious or whatever.

I remember him and Collins were stood near us at Glastonbury in 92 or 94 and were proper obnoxious little 'look at us, we're faaaaaaaaamous!' herberts. Both teeny as fcuk too. Took an instant dislike to the bloke, but the book has levelled that somewhat (no point in disliking someone off one impression - er, although I have done just that these past 16 years!).

His 'root to the top' was rather bizarre though, I thought. Dunno how I ever thought people got into music journalism, but he went to Uni, then was a salesman at a cotton mill, and then taught English in Skelmersdale. Maybe I'm wrong but he never gave the impression he was that passionate about the craft or was desperate to get into such a profession. He was hardly banging down doors, was he, nor even following bands around that obsessively. Just sounded like a regular bloke who did a few gigs then one day sent in a review to the NME of some band he'd seen (Electro-Hippies, I think?) and got rather lucky.

he seemed to follow elvis costellos dad around in the book a a bit...

15 Apr 2008, 09:42

El Jarvo wrote:

I remember him and Collins were stood near us at Glastonbury in 92 or 94 and were proper obnoxious little 'look at us, we're faaaaaaaaamous!' herberts. Both teeny as fcuk too. Took an instant dislike to the bloke, but the book has levelled that somewhat (no point in disliking someone off one impression - er, although I have done just that these past 16 years!).

His 'root to the top' was rather bizarre though, I thought. Dunno how I ever thought people got into music journalism, but he went to Uni, then was a salesman at a cotton mill, and then taught English in Skelmersdale. Maybe I'm wrong but he never gave the impression he was that passionate about the craft or was desperate to get into such a profession. He was hardly banging down doors, was he, nor even following bands around that obsessively. Just sounded like a regular bloke who did a few gigs then one day sent in a review to the NME of some band he'd seen (Electro-Hippies, I think?) and got rather lucky.

Interesting. Then again, when you meet or see someone 'famous' you never know if they're pissed, drugged up, had a bad day, trying to impress the ladies, etc.

Most of the famous people I've met have been pretty cool, maybe on their best behaviour, but I'm crap with anyone famous - I just get tongue-tied. Not much of a recommendation for someone who'd like to do a bit more music journalism is it? :laugh:

There are a few who 'get it' and put you at ease straight away and that must be either experience or warmth/talent or a mixture. John Peel was one of those people. I don't think I'd be too daunted by the thought of chatting with Stuart Maconie though. Still, you never know, I might just do my usual and screw it up :shrug:

16 Apr 2008, 01:05

hibster wrote: he seemed to follow elvis costellos dad around in the book a a bit...

First person I ever actually saw live who had any 'cred' (well, credability by virtue of who his son was).

Saw him at Pontins some time in the late 70's. :nod:

16 Apr 2008, 01:59

I'll be seeing the esteemed Mr Brown in a couple of weeks and ill ask bout Mr Maconie, got his other book (Pies and Prejudice) waiting on my bedside locker for when i finish Sneaker Wars (story of Adi & Rudolf Dassler and the companies they founded)

16 Apr 2008, 04:55

El Jarvo wrote:

hibster wrote: he seemed to follow elvis costellos dad around in the book a a bit...

First person I ever actually saw live who had any 'cred' (well, credability by virtue of who his son was).

Saw him at Pontins some time in the late 70's.

mine was the wombles

16 Apr 2008, 05:06

hibster wrote:

El Jarvo wrote:

hibster wrote: he seemed to follow elvis costellos dad around in the book a a bit...

First person I ever actually saw live who had any 'cred' (well, credability by virtue of who his son was).

Saw him at Pontins some time in the late 70's.

mine was the wombles

Which bit of the word 'cred' did you miss? :lol:

(Oooh, just remembered, I saw Dana in a pantomime - remember having odd urges about her but didn't understand them at the time! :food: )

16 Apr 2008, 05:09

My Gran took to to a Annie with that little ginger actress who's name I can't remember. For some reason she got it into her head that I fancied her and nudged me each time she came on stage. Which, as she was playing Annie, was quite a lot.

Bonnie Langford, that was her. As first brushes with stardom go, that's not bad :wink:

16 Apr 2008, 05:19

BIGINLYCRA wrote: My Gran took to to a Annie with that little ginger actress who's name I can't remember. For some reason she got it into her head that I fancied her and nudged me each time she came on stage. Which, as she was playing Annie, was quite a lot.

Bonnie Langford, that was her. As first brushes with stardom go, that's not bad

Do you want to try that first bit again? :laugh:

16 Apr 2008, 05:20

El Jarvo wrote:

First person I ever actually saw live who had any 'cred' (well, credability by virtue of who his son was).

Saw him at Pontins some time in the late 70's.

hibster wrote: mine was the wombles

El Jarvo wrote: Which bit of the word 'cred' did you miss?

are you knocking the wombles? they'll kick your arse

16 Apr 2008, 13:42

BIGINLYCRA wrote: My Gran took to to a Annie with that little ginger actress who's name I can't remember. For some reason she got it into her head that I fancied her and nudged me each time she came on stage. Which, as she was playing Annie, was quite a lot.

Bonnie Langford, that was her. As first brushes with stardom go, that's not bad

You keeping going on about this famous person you've had sex with.

Was it Bonnie Langford, then?????

16 Apr 2008, 15:08

hibster wrote:

BIGINLYCRA wrote: My Gran took me to see the musical 'Annie' with that little ginger actress who's name I can't remember. For some reason she got it into her head that I fancied her and nudged me each time she came on stage. Which, as she was playing Annie, was quite a lot.

Bonnie Langford, that was her. As first brushes with stardom go, that's not bad

Do you want to try that first bit again?

16 Apr 2008, 15:08

PETER COATES'S BELATED REDEMPTION wrote:

BIGINLYCRA wrote: My Gran took to to a Annie with that little ginger actress who's name I can't remember. For some reason she got it into her head that I fancied her and nudged me each time she came on stage. Which, as she was playing Annie, was quite a lot.

Bonnie Langford, that was her. As first brushes with stardom go, that's not bad

You keeping going on about this famous person you've had sex with.

Was it Bonnie Langford, then?????

No

16 Apr 2008, 15:57

BIGINLYCRA wrote:

PETER COATES'S BELATED REDEMPTION wrote:

BIGINLYCRA wrote: My Gran took to to a Annie with that little ginger actress who's name I can't remember. For some reason she got it into her head that I fancied her and nudged me each time she came on stage. Which, as she was playing Annie, was quite a lot.

Bonnie Langford, that was her. As first brushes with stardom go, that's not bad

You keeping going on about this famous person you've had sex with.

Was it Bonnie Langford, then?????

No

Pity.

:evil4:

16 Apr 2008, 16:08

Not really.

16 Apr 2008, 16:36

Actually, I recall that Maconie once reviewed an early Blur gig in Stoke for the NME. He's probably the only music journalist to include the word Etruria* in a review.

Did you shag Maconie, Col?

* - NB: this will mean nothing to everyone except Sam and maybe Timbo.

16 Apr 2008, 23:16

PETER COATES'S BELATED REDEMPTION wrote: Actually, I recall that Maconie once reviewed an early Blur gig in Stoke for the NME. He's probably the only music journalist to include the word Etruria* in a review.

Did you shag Maconie, Col?

* - NB: this will mean nothing to everyone except Sam and maybe Timbo.

Why on earth did he mention Etruria in the first place?

17 Apr 2008, 00:35

yeah, what blur song conjures that up?

17 Apr 2008, 02:46

Sam the Stokie wrote:

PETER COATES'S BELATED REDEMPTION wrote: Actually, I recall that Maconie once reviewed an early Blur gig in Stoke for the NME. He's probably the only music journalist to include the word Etruria* in a review.

Did you shag Maconie, Col?

* - NB: this will mean nothing to everyone except Sam and maybe Timbo.

Why on earth did he mention Etruria in the first place?

He was talking about his train ride into Stoke back when the choo-choo did actually stop in Etruria. It went summat like: "As the train lurches slowly into Etruria (yes, it is on planet earth)...."

This was way back, somewhere between Blur's first and second LPs when no-one liked them very much. Hence they played in the Potteries!

17 Apr 2008, 05:08

i thought it was in italy :scratch:

17 Apr 2008, 11:15

PETER COATES'S BELATED REDEMPTION wrote:

Sam the Stokie wrote:

PETER COATES'S BELATED REDEMPTION wrote: Actually, I recall that Maconie once reviewed an early Blur gig in Stoke for the NME. He's probably the only music journalist to include the word Etruria* in a review.

Did you shag Maconie, Col?

* - NB: this will mean nothing to everyone except Sam and maybe Timbo.

Why on earth did he mention Etruria in the first place?

He was talking about his train ride into Stoke back when the choo-choo did actually stop in Etruria. It went summat like: "As the train lurches slowly into Etruria (yes, it is on planet earth)...."

This was way back, somewhere between Blur's first and second LPs when no-one liked them very much. Hence they played in the Potteries!

I forgot all about the station at Etruria!

hibster wrote: i thought it was in italy

It is. There is also an area in Stoke-on-Trent called Etruria. I think Josiah Wedgwood named it after the Italian district.

Anyway, going back to the thread, I'm going to have to dig the book out now...

25 Apr 2008, 06:49

http://www.onemickjones.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=222&p=1