I was reading....

Current mood:MAKING BREAD...
Category: Music

and stickering this weeks Roman Road Library copy of The NME and I came upon a Q&A with Brett Anderson formerly of Suede...

Yes boss, it was Bretts words of wisdom about how to go about a Rock 'N' Roll career...


Now, I'm always interested in peoples opinions about what it takes to become a rock star - especially the opinions of those who've either been there or been close.

So I read on with not an inconsiderable degree of enthusiasm, whilst simultaneously wondering whether Anderson was an important enough man to sticker...


And this multitasking, started me thinking about the idea of 'making it'


Yes boss, one thing Brett said was something to the effect of

'DON'T' EVER THINK YOU'VE MADE IT!!!'


And I know what he means - self congratulation is mostly the start of a fall, and it's definitely always best to think you're loosing even if you're winning 10-0...


But what is 'making it?'


When you're young and naive and you start thinking about trying to 'make it' at something unusual and tricky like music or writing, you have this idea in your head that one day you'll have this awakening when you'll know completely whether you have made it or not...!!!


But I find that as one progresses, it becomes very difficult to know what making it even is...?!?!


Take Anderson as an example...

Suede were a band, much like The Libertines or perhaps even The Stone Roses who had the startings of Rock 'N' Roll martyrdom, but never finished the job...

All 3 acts, put down the markers, released some promising material and then PISSED IT ALL UP THE WALL!!!!


Did they 'make it' or not???

Does showing promise making some good stuff and then blowing it perhaps even mean you 'made it' much better than glorious dimwits like Oasis who drone on like the traffic on a grey Wednesday??

Isn't it much more Rock 'N' Roll to fail???

And aren't all 3 of those bands far better than Oasis, even though they technically blew it???


Later this afternoon, I was chatting about the life and times of another hugely renowned, copied and adored musician, who didn't stay for what many would say was the full course..

Things got too much, his head exploded and since then he's kept and almost completely low profile...

But there's no doubt in my mind that Peter Green 'made it' even though he left Fleetwood Mac before Rumours was released, is considered by many to be the archetypal Rock 'N' Roll tragedy, and no-one much would recognise him in the street...


In personal terms - I have no real idea where I am on the PG£ success chart...

No boss, some days I feel like I've barely left the starting line and other days I know that I'm already so far ahead that NO-ONE CAN TOUCH ME!!!!

From some angles, my current position is an absolute triumph and from some angles an abject failure...

It all depends where you define that line...


Truth is genuine artistic and creative success is very difficult to know...

Some folks reputations grow and grow and grow, some climb - then in an instant fall, and some disappear almost before the lights have gone out...

All you can do is place your bets, and let history sort it out...

Currently listening: The Best Of Fleetwood Mac By Fleetwood Mac Release date: 1996-02-12