SMG643Y

A random weird query:

Read an old interview (done by a "Dave Rimmer") that sheds some new light on the strange interruption during the '83 Tolworth gig. Dunno if this appeared in _Smash_Hits_ or some other rag...

"S.S..Sorry to interrupt you here but we got a very important announcement here. There's someone who owns a scooter, SMG643Y, that's SMG643Y, now if they can go and remove it, because it's causing obstruction to one of the trucks. Thanks a lot, and don't spit at me."

Apparently, this scooter was the property of somebody who was planning to write a book about Joy Division (that the group had decided was not something they wanted to see, especially written by this individual), and who had used the advance from the manuscript (which New Order thought was full of mistakes) to buy it, and New Order had decided to have his bike hauled up in the air onto the tail-lift of the truck. If that wasn't enough, it's also alleged that some roadies found the would-be author and tossed him headfirst into a tub of icy water.

My questions...

(1) Is any of this true? (2) If so, was the scribe in question Mark Johnson?

--Sam

Originally posted by The Happy One A random weird query:Read an old interview (done by a "Dave Rimmer") that sheds some new light on the strange interruption during the '83 Tolworth gig. Dunno if this appeared in _Smash_Hits_ or some other rag..."S.S..Sorry to interrupt you here but we got a very important announcement here. There's someone who owns a scooter, SMG643Y, that's SMG643Y, now if they can go and remove it, because it's causing obstruction to one of the trucks. Thanks a lot, and don't spit at me."Apparently, this scooter was the property of somebody who was planning to write a book about Joy Division (that the group had decided was not something they wanted to see, especially written by this individual), and who had used the advance from the manuscript (which New Order thought was full of mistakes) to buy it, and New Order had decided to have his bike hauled up in the air onto the tail-lift of the truck. If that wasn't enough, it's also alleged that some roadies found the would-be author and tossed him headfirst into a tub of icy water.My questions...(1) Is any of this true?(2) If so, was the scribe in question Mark Johnson?--Sam

Yes, it's all true. Mark Johnson was that man, and he says as much in the book ! he had decided that he was rather important, and had taken to dropping into the dressing room unanounced as though he owned it - not wise with as private a group of individuals as the Order !

Ah, I had just found another interview that mentioned Mark Johnson by name, and mentions that he's an _American_ (heh, figures).

--Sam

The book was quite good though, if you skipped Paul Moreley's philosophical bits. Nice pictures, concert-by-concert accounts.

Originally posted by Julijana Zitnjak The book was quite good though, if you skipped Paul Moreley's philosophical bits. Nice pictures, concert-by-concert accounts.

I've avoided getting it all these years...cuz of its less-than-stellar reputation among those that demand accuracy from their biographers. Christ, if I want a copy, I have to fork over $70US? (forgot to note that this was it was listing for on Amazon) Bah!

--Sam

I had the (mis)fortune to bump into Mark twice and had a chat with him on both occasions. As Tim states, it was absolutely true about the events during the Tolworth gig. I have a Radio 1 inteview with Mark as he discusses his book. about 20 mins in total.

Anyone know what he has done since in the writing world?

Originally posted by Julijana Zitnjak The book was quite good though, if you skipped Paul Moreley's philosophical bits. Nice pictures, concert-by-concert accounts.

In amongst that Paul Morley random bollocks was a lot of well-concealed useful technical information. If you can get past the pretentious twaddle, it does contain some good stuff !

Didn't he buy that scooter with the advance he received for the Ideal for Living book?

Originally posted by Philip Collins Didn't he buy that scooter with the advance he received for the Ideal for Living book?

Yes, yet another reason for the band to want to suspend it from the Salford Van Hire tailgate !

Originally posted by Al Jarvis > Originally posted by Solitude> I had the (mis)fortune to bump into Mark twice and had a chat with him on both occasions.> As Tim states, it was absolutely true about the events during the Tolworth gig.> I have a Radio 1 inteview with Mark as he discusses his book. about 20 mins in total.

What was he like as a person, Pete?!

Al, he seemed quite abrupt and arrogant at the time but also keen to talk about New Order as a fan (not just a biographer) and seemed very proud to show me a pre copy of his book.

Originally posted by The Happy One A random weird query:Read an old interview (done by a "Dave Rimmer") that sheds some new light on the strange interruption during the '83 Tolworth gig. Dunno if this appeared in _Smash_Hits_ or some other rag..."S.S..Sorry to interrupt you here but we got a very important announcement here. There's someone who owns a scooter, SMG643Y, that's SMG643Y, now if they can go and remove it, because it's causing obstruction to one of the trucks. Thanks a lot, and don't spit at me."Apparently, this scooter was the property of somebody who was planning to write a book about Joy Division (that the group had decided was not something they wanted to see, especially written by this individual), and who had used the advance from the manuscript (which New Order thought was full of mistakes) to buy it, and New Order had decided to have his bike hauled up in the air onto the tail-lift of the truck. If that wasn't enough, it's also alleged that some roadies found the would-be author and tossed him headfirst into a tub of icy water.My questions...(1) Is any of this true?(2) If so, was the scribe in question Mark Johnson?--Sam

Loved that bit in the gig!!

It's a pity that the first definitive book (and useful gig list) to hit the shops was so full of shit really - some great photos and interesting anecdotes (if they can be trusted), but the whole thing is so dressed up in pretence and pomposity it drags it down. Wonder what happened to all the set-lists he reckoned he had ? It wouldn't have hurt to have listed the songs played, even if they didn't have space for the set-list scans.

On the subject of MorleyBollocks, I've just finished his recent "Words and Music": plenty of NO/JD mentions, and the section where he talks about Kraftwerk makes you want to go out and buy all the albums......again!!

Recommended.

I have the interview with Mark Johnson.

It was on Richard Skinner on Radio One. The interview has Rob Gretton 'discussing' the book An Ideal for Living with Mark Johnson.

The final comment from Rob Gretton is 'Its not like anyone is going to make a film out of it (the book) is it'.

If you can find the interview its excellent, gives an indication of the bands attitude, from RG, towards the book and Mark Johnson and Mark Johnson's thoughts on the book.

I personnaly loved the book because of the pictures and the info that was contained inbetween Morley's hyperbolic swill. But the story about MJ is pretty good.

I first ran across the whole "scooter" episode in Mick Middles' book (though I don't think the 'suspending scooter' incident was recorded in that, it did come through that the band thought little of him). The guy probably hasn't done anything since :p