From today's Times
My culture fix: Richard Hawley
The musician lets us into his cultural life
My favourite book
Treasure Island, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea are wonderful books from childhood, but in adulthood Patrick O’Brian and John Steinbeck really hit me. I enjoyed the Aubrey-Maturin stories and every ten years I’ll reread them.
The book I’m reading The Uhtred Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell. The characters leap off the page.
The book I wish I had written Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck. At school we had to do East of Eden and The Grapes of Wrath, but they aren’t my favourites. I love his little books, this and Cannery Row. The characters are so vivid. They are revealing of the way the paisanos lived, not just for possessions, but for wine. I can fully relate to that.
The book I couldn’t finish One of Andrew Motion’s sequels to Treasure Island. The first is brilliant, Silver: Return to Treasure Island, and the second, The New World, less so. I lost interest in the characters. But I am in no way slagging off Andrew Motion, because he’s brilliant.
The book I’m ashamed I haven’t read The Golden Bough by James George Frazer.
My favourite film Harvey with James Stewart. I have to be careful when watching it as I end up in tears. Also Goodbye, Mr Chips and Zulu: it’s a warning about imperialism and has great music too.
My favourite play I was in Romeo and Juliet at school and it was a beautiful experience to watch that! I was Juliet’s father, Capulet, and got to shout really loud, which I enjoyed. In later life I ended up playing the guitars on Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet; it still had the same weight to it.
The box set that I’m hooked on The way I switch off is to watch Star Trek in bed in chronological order. It’s the same story every time, pretty much, and I get 15 minutes in and find it’s morning. I’ll watch even the new ones.
My favourite TV series Every tour we’re on, me and the band will all go: “Have you remembered to take Craig Cash’s Early Doors?” We watch it on the bus. Everyone pisses themselves laughing.
My favourite piece of music I am still in mourning for Scott Walker, a fabulous artist who became a dear friend. His legacy is colossal. They are all masterpieces, but Scott 3 is my favourite. I met and worked with him on the last Pulp album in 2000-01 and we stayed friends. He asked me to do a Prom of his music [with Jarvis Cocker and John Grant at the Royal Albert Hall in 2017].
The last movie that made me laugh/cry I laugh when I watch Laurel and Hardy with my kids, in particular an episode called Brats.
The lyric I wish I’d written Pale Blue Eyes by the Velvet Underground. Lou Reed and I did a concert in Norway together; Lou was headlining and I was the second to last on. At the time I had a No 1 album in Norway, which is a bit like having a No 1 album in Rotherham. Lou said, “Is it OK if we have a chat?” I said, “Wow,” and he said, “You are the guy with the No 1 album, you go on last.” I said, “There is no f***ing way Lou Reed is supporting me.” He was determined. He said: “You are going to play to a full crowd and we will come on and then people will go home.” I said: “No way, I have too much respect for you.” We went on and it was a full crowd and then Lou did . . . and people went home. He was right.
The song that saved me If I am feeling emotionally constipated and need to vent emotion I put on Bob Lind’s Drifter’s Sunrise. He always stays at our house when he comes over.
The instrument I play I started playing guitar at six when my dad got me one, but I only took it seriously at 12. My father and uncle, Frank White, were musicians and guitarists, and were both huge influences on me. They were really quite sneaky. I would listen to songs and wanted to learn them, they would show me the first bit and then say, “Sorry I have to go and do something else,” leaving me to figure out the rest. It wasn’t a free gift.
The instruments I wish I’d learnt The piano and the violin. My grandfather was a soldier, steelworker, pianist and violinist. I was so enamoured with the guitar that I never paid any attention to other instruments, and I was completely wrong. I learnt music theory from grandad.
The music that cheers me up You put on the Banana Splits, don’t you?
If I could own one painting it would be . . . I already own them: I am a big fan of a Sheffield artist called Pete McKee. He does sort of cartoonish work, but it has such heavy pathos. We used to live together in Hawley Street in Sheffield and I love him.
The place I feel happiest Sheffield. The End.
My guiltiest cultural pleasure Is Guinness cultural?
I’m having a fantasy dinner party, I’ll invite these people . . . Muhammad Ali, Marilyn Monroe and me mum. I’d love to be a fly on the wall.
and I’ll put on this music . . . My neighbour Martin Simpson, he’s a fabulous guitarist.
I wasted an evening watching . . . I can’t stand reality TV. I always feel dirty at the end of it.
The play I walked out of My own musical, Standing at the Sky’s Edge [recently on at the Crucible, Sheffield], because I was desperate for a pint. I went to see it six times and it was on the fifth time. I didn’t leave, I went to the bar.
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