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Exclusive interview with David Nolan
DAVID NOLAN HINTS CHRIS NASH MAY BE A 'TWAT'
I first had contact with David Nolan via the networking site, 'MySpace'. We exchanged a few messages and a couple of weeks ago, his publisher sent me a review copy of his latest book, 'Confusion: Joy Division, Electronic And New Order Versus The World'.
David kindly agreed to do a 'Q&A' interview for NewOrderOnline and his answers are detailed below. He's a very approachable gent, with a rather cheeky sense of humour. Surrounded by his children, who are on their school holidays, he still managed to reply to our questions and as anyone who has children will confirm, that shows perseverance and strength of character!
What is the 'Twat' reference? Well, read the interview, but this is the basis - 'The trouble is that the first person to suggest a Wilson book now looks like a twat.'
Okay, I'll stick my hand up, but if a biography of Tony Wilson is written, maybe one of the better people to write it would be David Nolan.
Hopefully you'll enjoy both the questions and answers and get a better mental picture of the author of 'Confusion'.
Buy this book on:
Amazon UK
Amazon USA
Amazon Canada
Enter the NewOrderOnline competition to win a free signed copy of this book by clicking here
I first had contact with David Nolan via the networking site, 'MySpace'. We exchanged a few messages and a couple of weeks ago, his publisher sent me a review copy of his latest book, 'Confusion: Joy Division, Electronic And New Order Versus The World'.
David kindly agreed to do a 'Q&A' interview for NewOrderOnline and his answers are detailed below. He's a very approachable gent, with a rather cheeky sense of humour. Surrounded by his children, who are on their school holidays, he still managed to reply to our questions and as anyone who has children will confirm, that shows perseverance and strength of character!
What is the 'Twat' reference? Well, read the interview, but this is the basis - 'The trouble is that the first person to suggest a Wilson book now looks like a twat.'
Okay, I'll stick my hand up, but if a biography of Tony Wilson is written, maybe one of the better people to write it would be David Nolan.
Hopefully you'll enjoy both the questions and answers and get a better mental picture of the author of 'Confusion'.
Buy this book on:
Amazon UK
Amazon USA
Amazon Canada
Enter the NewOrderOnline competition to win a free signed copy of this book by clicking here
DAVID NOLAN HINTS CHRIS NASH MAY BE A 'TWAT'
I first had contact with David Nolan via the networking site, 'MySpace'. We exchanged a few messages and a couple of weeks ago, his publisher sent me a review copy of his latest book, 'Confusion: Joy Division, Electronic And New Order Versus The World'.
David kindly agreed to do a 'Q&A' interview for NewOrderOnline and his answers are detailed below. He's a very approachable gent, with a rather cheeky sense of humour. Surrounded by his children, who are on their school holidays, he still managed to reply to our questions and as anyone who has children will confirm, that shows perseverance and strength of character!
What is the 'Twat' reference? Well, read the interview, but this is the basis - 'The trouble is that the first person to suggest a Wilson book now looks like a twat.'
Okay, I'll stick my hand up, but if a biography of Tony Wilson is written, maybe one of the better people to write it would be David Nolan.
Hopefully you'll enjoy both the questions and answers and get a better mental picture of the author of 'Confusion'.
When you left school, what was your original job goal? Did you see your career going in the direction that it has taken?
How did you first get into journalism?
I can answer those two questions in one. I left school at 16 and went straight onto a magazine as a trainee reporter. Man and boy. Did newspapers and magazines – wrote for Penthouse for a while – then was a reporter at what used to be called Piccadilly radio in Manchester before going into telly.
Your writing style is very accessible and easy to read, though you haven't 'dumbed down' – probably more so than many other biographers – is that a conscious decision or something that has evolved?
It's all I've ever done – I've never had a proper job. I've made a living from writing since I was a kid ... so it is what it is. I love music biographies – I collect them, so I write the kind that I like to read. If it's a good story I'll read it even if I don't actually like the music.
Do you suffer from writer’s block and how do you deal with it?
I place an unpaid utility bill by the side of the keyboard and that normally does the trick.
Do you prefer the writing or making television programmes?
I did telly for 13 years – made lots of shows and a few music docos. I loved it but the time came to do something different, otherwise you end up dead aged 50 ... conked out in the gallery with a heart attack. It's not the healthiest of professions.
You’re well known for your book, ‘I Swear I Was There’. Did you approach the ‘Confusion’ book in the same manner?
Rather pretentiously, I Swear was done in the manner of a play. It was one of the first books to use that 'oral' style when it first came out in 2001. This is more of a 'normal' style, like a proper book!
Are you a New Order fan? Do you prefer the music of Joy Division or New Order?
I have to say Joy Division. That's my era. In my head it's still 1978.
What gave you the original idea for the book and what made you chose Bernard Sumner as the subject of a biography?
I was asked to do it – it was a commission. At first I thought it was a terrible idea ... mainly because any idea that isn't mine is automatically terrible. Once I got into it I became obsessed.
From the initial idea to holding a copy of the book, how long did the whole process take?
10 Months. The killer was the name/background stuff. I remember being in the Salford records office with all these maps and census reports trying to make sense of it. When I cracked it I was hugging the bloke behind the counter ... then I remembered that Bernard is a bloke and it's his life and it was really incredibly personal and I felt a bit ashamed. His background is unique.
Are you completely happy with the book, or in retrospect, are there things you would like to add or change?
Never ever completely happy. Ever ever. Ever. There were a fair few legal issues, a few copies sneaked out early with some typos, but that's been sorted ... there were a few taste and decency issues and a few things that I wanted that the publishers didn't. You've got to compromise.
When you set out to research the book, how and where did you start?
The register of births in Salford. That was a waste of time. Wrong name, wrong city.
Did you run into any problems or obstructions during the research and interviews for the book? If so, what were they?
The issue with biographies is always this: if you go direct to the subject and say 'Will you be in my book?' and they say 'No' ... the word goes out and nobody else will talk to you. So it's a delicate chicken and egg situation. It's nice to find people like school friends and the guy from Stop Frame animation as well music people.
Was there anyone who was particularly helpful to you during the whole process? Terry Mason seems to be a major contributor as far as explaining events is concerned. My favourite quote from the book is from Terry, ‘Every photo I’ve seen of him (Bernard)…had him looking like he’s just come from a lemon eating competition’. What is your overall impression of Bernard in one sentence?
I love Terry. He's very good company ... my favourite quote was about their peer group being like a series of federations. He needed some convincing initially, but he eventually agreed. Bernard? Christ ... If he doesn't want to do something he doesn't do it ... I think he has amazing reserves of perseverance.
Tell us how the inclusion of Bernard’s comments on the text came about.
Shit the bed, how long have you got? He said no for a long time. I felt that if he read the book – especially the first chapter – he might change his mind. He did. Think he thought, 'I'll just do it this once, then have done with it.'
At the end of the book, you talk about ‘Barney’s Angels’ in the last chapter. Were you aware at the time that it started off as a joke suggestion on NewOrderOnline.com?
I stumbled across them and it was love at first site. Sometimes it's good to be reminded that rock music's supposed to be fun. We often forget that.
If asked, would you write biographies of the other New Order members, or is that already on your ‘things to do’ list?
I told Hooky that I was going to do him next. Just kidding. I'd like to think that Confusion isn't a JD/NO book as much as it's a book about this bloke who's had this amazing life. Maybe I could track down the ginger haired bloke who answered the advert for a singer...
You met the late, lamented Tony Wilson several times and interviewed him - he's quoted a few times in the book – would you want to write a comprehensive biography?
I used to work with him. Sat with him in the open planned newsroom at Granada for a long while. I was head of the journalists' union at the time he said 'fuck' during the news. That was an odd one ...He's was in several of my docos. I actually suggested a book about Tony a year ago. It was so weird having lunch with him, doing the interview then he's off to hospital and now he's gone. The trouble is that the first person to suggest a Wilson book now looks like a twat.
Would you like to write the screenplay for a feature film/’docu-drama?
I don't do telly anymore, it's bad for your health.
What is your next project?
I'm co-writing a book about Damon Albarn – called Gorillaz and Other Fables – which is out at the end of October. Dunno after that. I'm in no rush ...I'm not trying to fill a shelf or anything.
The launch for ‘Confusion’ is due on 1st September. Many people will want to attend. Could you tell us about it please? What can people expect?
It's just a bit of fun. I've made contact with a lot of people doing this and I thought it would be nice to get a few in the same room ... more fun than sitting behind a table in Waterstones ... so a few tunes, a few readings ... music from Transmission ... get to chat to people. You can walk up the road and see Strawberry Studios. Nice one. Nice cheap night out in Stockers.
If there was one piece of advice that you would give to any aspiring writers, what would it be?
If you want to get published, go to your book shelf, choose your five favourite books and target the people who published them. That's what I did. And don't do it for money. You'll starve.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Be nice to each other – especially you NOOL's and you Angels. Life's short as we've just been reminded.
A big thank you to David Nolan for taking the time to read and reply to a few questions.
If you want to win a signed copy of his book, enter the competition on NewOrderOnline.
Writter by Chris Nash.
Buy this book on:
Amazon UK
Amazon USA
Amazon Canada
Enter the NewOrderOnline competition to win a free signed copy of this book by clicking here
I first had contact with David Nolan via the networking site, 'MySpace'. We exchanged a few messages and a couple of weeks ago, his publisher sent me a review copy of his latest book, 'Confusion: Joy Division, Electronic And New Order Versus The World'.
David kindly agreed to do a 'Q&A' interview for NewOrderOnline and his answers are detailed below. He's a very approachable gent, with a rather cheeky sense of humour. Surrounded by his children, who are on their school holidays, he still managed to reply to our questions and as anyone who has children will confirm, that shows perseverance and strength of character!
What is the 'Twat' reference? Well, read the interview, but this is the basis - 'The trouble is that the first person to suggest a Wilson book now looks like a twat.'
Okay, I'll stick my hand up, but if a biography of Tony Wilson is written, maybe one of the better people to write it would be David Nolan.
Hopefully you'll enjoy both the questions and answers and get a better mental picture of the author of 'Confusion'.
When you left school, what was your original job goal? Did you see your career going in the direction that it has taken?
How did you first get into journalism?
I can answer those two questions in one. I left school at 16 and went straight onto a magazine as a trainee reporter. Man and boy. Did newspapers and magazines – wrote for Penthouse for a while – then was a reporter at what used to be called Piccadilly radio in Manchester before going into telly.
Your writing style is very accessible and easy to read, though you haven't 'dumbed down' – probably more so than many other biographers – is that a conscious decision or something that has evolved?
It's all I've ever done – I've never had a proper job. I've made a living from writing since I was a kid ... so it is what it is. I love music biographies – I collect them, so I write the kind that I like to read. If it's a good story I'll read it even if I don't actually like the music.
Do you suffer from writer’s block and how do you deal with it?
I place an unpaid utility bill by the side of the keyboard and that normally does the trick.
Do you prefer the writing or making television programmes?
I did telly for 13 years – made lots of shows and a few music docos. I loved it but the time came to do something different, otherwise you end up dead aged 50 ... conked out in the gallery with a heart attack. It's not the healthiest of professions.
You’re well known for your book, ‘I Swear I Was There’. Did you approach the ‘Confusion’ book in the same manner?
Rather pretentiously, I Swear was done in the manner of a play. It was one of the first books to use that 'oral' style when it first came out in 2001. This is more of a 'normal' style, like a proper book!
Are you a New Order fan? Do you prefer the music of Joy Division or New Order?
I have to say Joy Division. That's my era. In my head it's still 1978.
What gave you the original idea for the book and what made you chose Bernard Sumner as the subject of a biography?
I was asked to do it – it was a commission. At first I thought it was a terrible idea ... mainly because any idea that isn't mine is automatically terrible. Once I got into it I became obsessed.
From the initial idea to holding a copy of the book, how long did the whole process take?
10 Months. The killer was the name/background stuff. I remember being in the Salford records office with all these maps and census reports trying to make sense of it. When I cracked it I was hugging the bloke behind the counter ... then I remembered that Bernard is a bloke and it's his life and it was really incredibly personal and I felt a bit ashamed. His background is unique.
Are you completely happy with the book, or in retrospect, are there things you would like to add or change?
Never ever completely happy. Ever ever. Ever. There were a fair few legal issues, a few copies sneaked out early with some typos, but that's been sorted ... there were a few taste and decency issues and a few things that I wanted that the publishers didn't. You've got to compromise.
When you set out to research the book, how and where did you start?
The register of births in Salford. That was a waste of time. Wrong name, wrong city.
Did you run into any problems or obstructions during the research and interviews for the book? If so, what were they?
The issue with biographies is always this: if you go direct to the subject and say 'Will you be in my book?' and they say 'No' ... the word goes out and nobody else will talk to you. So it's a delicate chicken and egg situation. It's nice to find people like school friends and the guy from Stop Frame animation as well music people.
Was there anyone who was particularly helpful to you during the whole process? Terry Mason seems to be a major contributor as far as explaining events is concerned. My favourite quote from the book is from Terry, ‘Every photo I’ve seen of him (Bernard)…had him looking like he’s just come from a lemon eating competition’. What is your overall impression of Bernard in one sentence?
I love Terry. He's very good company ... my favourite quote was about their peer group being like a series of federations. He needed some convincing initially, but he eventually agreed. Bernard? Christ ... If he doesn't want to do something he doesn't do it ... I think he has amazing reserves of perseverance.
Tell us how the inclusion of Bernard’s comments on the text came about.
Shit the bed, how long have you got? He said no for a long time. I felt that if he read the book – especially the first chapter – he might change his mind. He did. Think he thought, 'I'll just do it this once, then have done with it.'
At the end of the book, you talk about ‘Barney’s Angels’ in the last chapter. Were you aware at the time that it started off as a joke suggestion on NewOrderOnline.com?
I stumbled across them and it was love at first site. Sometimes it's good to be reminded that rock music's supposed to be fun. We often forget that.
If asked, would you write biographies of the other New Order members, or is that already on your ‘things to do’ list?
I told Hooky that I was going to do him next. Just kidding. I'd like to think that Confusion isn't a JD/NO book as much as it's a book about this bloke who's had this amazing life. Maybe I could track down the ginger haired bloke who answered the advert for a singer...
You met the late, lamented Tony Wilson several times and interviewed him - he's quoted a few times in the book – would you want to write a comprehensive biography?
I used to work with him. Sat with him in the open planned newsroom at Granada for a long while. I was head of the journalists' union at the time he said 'fuck' during the news. That was an odd one ...He's was in several of my docos. I actually suggested a book about Tony a year ago. It was so weird having lunch with him, doing the interview then he's off to hospital and now he's gone. The trouble is that the first person to suggest a Wilson book now looks like a twat.
Would you like to write the screenplay for a feature film/’docu-drama?
I don't do telly anymore, it's bad for your health.
What is your next project?
I'm co-writing a book about Damon Albarn – called Gorillaz and Other Fables – which is out at the end of October. Dunno after that. I'm in no rush ...I'm not trying to fill a shelf or anything.
The launch for ‘Confusion’ is due on 1st September. Many people will want to attend. Could you tell us about it please? What can people expect?
It's just a bit of fun. I've made contact with a lot of people doing this and I thought it would be nice to get a few in the same room ... more fun than sitting behind a table in Waterstones ... so a few tunes, a few readings ... music from Transmission ... get to chat to people. You can walk up the road and see Strawberry Studios. Nice one. Nice cheap night out in Stockers.
If there was one piece of advice that you would give to any aspiring writers, what would it be?
If you want to get published, go to your book shelf, choose your five favourite books and target the people who published them. That's what I did. And don't do it for money. You'll starve.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Be nice to each other – especially you NOOL's and you Angels. Life's short as we've just been reminded.
A big thank you to David Nolan for taking the time to read and reply to a few questions.
If you want to win a signed copy of his book, enter the competition on NewOrderOnline.
Writter by Chris Nash.
Buy this book on:
Amazon UK
Amazon USA
Amazon Canada
Enter the NewOrderOnline competition to win a free signed copy of this book by clicking here
From the NewOrderOnline archive.
Thanks to: Chris Nash / David Nolan
Location: London, UK
