Lloyd Cole sprung to success with his band the Commotions on the highly literate and pop-memorable album Rattlesnakes in ’84 but within a few years had moved to New York where he fell in with the likes of Robert Quine and Matthew Sweet.
He has continued to explore his intelligent, probing and exquisitely crafted pop over a series of solo albums, the most recent being Broken Record.
He lives in Massachusettes, enjoys golf, and Elsewhere has an interview from 2000 here.
In advance of a short New Zealand tour he took time to answer the fast 15 questionnaire.
The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .
The Beatles, All My Loving. First song I can remember hearing. At friends of my parents.
Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .
Marc Bolan, David Bowie.
Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?
Jacko and Ramones are the only clear winners.
If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .
Gardener.
The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .
Are You Ready to be Heartbroken? Late Night, Early Town. Part of the Wind (by Tim Hardin)
Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?
Just the usual. Vox teardrop from 1984, I guess is still cool. My son thinks so, anyway…
The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .
Nick Kent, The Dark Stuff
If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)
I enjoyed being a keyboard sideman. I guess I could learn Kristofferson songs.
The three films you’d insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . . The Man Who Knew Too Little, Five Easy Pieces, Born to Boogie
The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)
Abbatoir Blues (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn’t embarrass you in that case would be . . .
Like a Rolling Stone
The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .
I do have a Mick Rock “Bowie and the Spiders” print!
You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .
I respectfully decline
David Bowie sang, Five years, that’s all we’ve got . . . You would spend them where, doing . . .?
Same, really. Kids are off to college, must work!
And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?
I dont know if it is, but Im happy that some folk seem to have taken this position
Link to original article online
Publication: Elsewhere
Publication date: 16/01/11