tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post8691232513612677042..comments2023-10-03T11:41:21.191+01:00Comments on The Truth About Lies: Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead (and other things I learned from famous people)Jim Murdochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-4729190815119014582011-07-12T13:33:17.322+01:002011-07-12T13:33:17.322+01:00Thanks for the comment, Jenny. It’s always nice to...Thanks for the comment, <b>Jenny</b>. It’s always nice to see a new name. I’ve always been interested in music. My main problem is that my tastes are catholic to say the least – everything from Gregorian Chant to heavy metal – and that makes it all the harder for me to keep it all in my head. I don’t bother any more. There is just too much and every day there is more. The thing is I want to know it all but I’ve come to know my limitations.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-82009852325046840412011-07-11T17:52:03.149+01:002011-07-11T17:52:03.149+01:00I never knew who most of these people were even wh...I never knew who most of these people were even when I was very young. That has saved me from feeling old about still not knowing!Jenny Woolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-39305714649724046402011-07-10T16:43:53.464+01:002011-07-10T16:43:53.464+01:00And yet, Dave, I bet when you saw the list of name...And yet, <b>Dave</b>, I bet when you saw the list of names, like me, one of two would have jumped out at you. That’s why I agreed to review the book in the first place. There were enough names of people that I was genuinely interested in but to only get snippets of their interviews was frustrating. I do wish the Gallagher brothers would grow up. There’s a lot of talent there. Or maybe they need their anger at something (if only themselves) to fuel it.<br /><br />Sorry, <b>Jessica</b>, I know <i>of</i>Jane’s Addiction – the cover to <i>Nothing’s Shocking</i> is quite memorable but I’ve never listened to it. I’ve also heard of Porno for Pyros but you’ve lost me with The Afghan Whigs. I didn’t see them in the book.<br /><br />And, <b>Art</b>, that’s exactly it, all it takes it a bad day and the world’s impression of you gets totally skewed. I didn’t expect great profundity from a lot of these guys but then it’s also not a good idea to form opinions based on looks. I remember the first time I heard Bob Geldof interviewed – way before Band Aid – and I was taken aback by how articulate and intelligent he was so I was open to be impressed by this book – no prejudgements – but there simply wasn’t enough of what I was looking for. I’m not one for flicking through books and reading bits here and there and I <i>certainly</i> never read on the loo so I think I’ll read the press releases a bit closer the next time I get offered something like this.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-74510677033527657682011-07-10T14:14:12.482+01:002011-07-10T14:14:12.482+01:00The problem with an anthology like this is that it...The problem with an anthology like this is that it's rife with cliché, including those clichés of life and performance spouted by the famous themselves, who (let's face it) are for the vast majority not philosophers and not introspectively verbal. The reason why is because a book like this only ever stays on the surface, where clichés live and thrive.<br /><br />I've just been reading a book about Joni Mitchell, the first in which she granted extensive interview access, and she comes across as a very different person than what you represent here (or rather Strauss does). Perhaps that's just an example of how short excerpts skew perceptions. <br /><br />But it also shows how the short interview is never going to get very deep, go very far into real questions, or elicit much beyond the cliché. It's no surprise that this book isn't very deep, therefore, or that you don't get much that's new. It's therefore a book one is *supposed* to dip into, not read cover to cover.<br /><br />As for Oasis, the Beatles comparison with them has itself become a cliché. As has the infighting and bad boy behavior. None of that is new or surprising. Oasis did a few great songs, but then they let their celebrity status take over their lives, which turned them into brats. Got no time for brats.Art Durkeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07463180236975988432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-48931037668351942292011-07-10T11:00:32.984+01:002011-07-10T11:00:32.984+01:00Firstly, I think it's hilarious that Liam babb...Firstly, I think it's hilarious that Liam babbles on about so much and never actually SAYS anything.<br /><br />Secondly, I can see why you wouldn't read this cover to cover, I wouldn't be able to either. But I would certainly interested in what Patti Smith and Joni Mitchell have to say.<br /><br />And wow, you don't know Jane's Addiction? They're an early 90's band. You sure you don't know them? They eventually became Porno for Pyros. You ever heard of them? They were both fantastic bands. <br /><br />Did the book have anything about The Afghan Whigs? Loved those guys too.Jessica Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10889900730906728317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-64106669744533727502011-07-10T10:56:03.729+01:002011-07-10T10:56:03.729+01:00By another of those quirks of synchronicity I read...By another of those quirks of synchronicity I read this in yesterday's Guardian immediately before opening your blog. Concerning the Gallagher siblings taking their spat on line at Twitter:<br />"As Noel announced his debut solo album and told the press conference his brother 'nearly took his face off' the night Oasis split, Liam tweeted simply: 'SHITBAG'.<br />Such incidents represent more or less the total of my knowledge or involvement with them, though I do have to admit that I enjoyed much of Oasis's music for a while.<br />As always your post is thorough and full of interest, though for me it probably fell on stony ground.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.com