ven it" you‘re not a dedicated fan you probably know the plot to the Belle and Sebastian story already: band t‘orms. makes groovy underground record. everyone loves it. they make a bunch more. become the biggest indie pop band in the world and then get voted the best Scottish band of all time in The list‘s 2005 poll. So far so good. Ten years and seven albums later. they‘ve presented its with
their latest progeny. The life Pursuit. another
hour of as Stevie Jackson himself puts it ~ ‘poetic-chamber-bart)que—pop‘. Rather than ask them the same old ‘where did you get your ideas l‘rom'." questions we asked l‘ans. hacks and members of the general public what they wanted to know about Belle and Sebastian. Here are jtist some ol‘ the things they wanted to know . . .
Has it become harder or easier to make records in the last ten years?
Stuart Murdoch (vocals/guitar): “The group got together and we had beginners‘ luck. then it got harder. Iiasy. harder. then easy again. I think we‘ve learned how to get on with it.‘
You played in a football match in LA with Robbie \Mlliams, didn’t you?
Stevie Jackson (guitar/vocals): 'I think that‘s (‘hinese whispers. Ile was talking about forming
a British musicians‘ team to take on the rest of
the world and play at the new Wembley. He said we‘d certainly be in the running for the team. I‘d love it. to play. Of course there‘d be a problem playing in a British team. the SliA would see it as a threat.‘
How would describe the band to someone who’d never heard of it before?
Beans: ‘What is it you say to taxi drivers‘." Stevie: ‘I used to have a stock answer that was 'poetic-chamber-baroque-pop‘. At that point the taxi drivers stop and ask you to get otit.‘
Beans: ‘I used to use “melodic” with taxi drivers a lot. they like that.‘
What is the strangest gift ever given to you by a fan?
Stevie: “A disturbing painting. I think we all got one. I‘ve still got mine. I don‘t know why. I‘m disturbed by it. bttt because someone did it for me I can‘t throw it out.‘
In case it’s got some voodoo curse on it? Stevie: ‘Yeah. maybe. It‘s not on the wall. it‘s leaning against it. hidden by a chair or something.‘
If you could model any bands’ heads in clay a la Lionel Richie in the ‘Hello’ video, who would you do?
Stuart: ‘I‘d spend quite a while on Debbie Harry. I wouldn‘t care to do the whole of Blondie but I could see a bust of DH sitting at the end ol‘ my bath surrounded by green foliage or something.‘ Ever had a magazine subscription?
Stuart: 'Yes. The List.‘
Stevie: ‘When I was a kid. Beatles Monthly. from the age of 13 to l5 or something.‘
Beans: ‘I took Living Marxism fora while.‘ Sarah Martin (violin/vocals): 'My uncle and aunt get me Prospect every month which is an attempt to keep tne politically educated in my blinkered lil‘estyle.‘
Has anyone ever called a child after you? Stuart: ‘You always get some crazy couple from Omaha or something. who are just waiting on the day when the baby arrives and they find out if it‘s going to be "Belle" or “Sebastian“.‘
Beans: ‘We‘re popular with pets as well. There were the hamsters that ate each other named after us all.‘
Who ate whom?
Sarah: ‘I think Isobel eat everyone.‘
Explode a myth about Belle and Sebastian. Stevie: ‘livery interview I do I try to explode the myth but they jtist print the myth. and it took me a long time to realise that the myth is tar more interesting than the truth. I‘m quite happy for people to print the myth.‘
Stuart, can you really relax in white jeans? Stuart: ‘Yes. because I don‘t lind mysell‘ getting in mucky situations. I‘m sure I‘m very sober and conlt‘ollcd.‘
Sarah: ‘I remember we wanted to walk up to Jack White at a thing in Barcelona. and say. “Is it practical wearing so much white on tour‘."“ What’s your favourite cheese?
Stuart: “Bonnet. It‘s a sheep‘s milk cheese or a goat‘s milk cheese or something.‘
Beans: 'I quite like manchego btit that‘s because I‘ve just had some and it‘s fresh in my mind.‘ Have you made loads of money?
Sarah: ‘(‘ompared with my former incarnation as a John Smiths book shop employee. where I got £7200 a year think that comparatively. yes.‘
Stuart: ‘l was called a millionaire in The Sun. No. I‘ve got a small one bedroom flat in the West lind that I own. Make ol‘ that what you will.‘
If your band could control the universe for one day what would you change?
Stuart: ‘I know you‘re supposed to stop the world and go about sortie sordid business and then start it tip again. but I‘d love to pave over a load of the roads in Glasgow and turn them into pedestrian precincts and then create one of the best tram systems in the whole world. and open all the old railway lines that already exist.‘
Who’s most politically aware person in the band and how does this manifest itself?
All: ‘C‘hris and his stalls at the back of every gig.‘
Stuart: 'What‘s it going to be at these gigs. save the whales‘." Sarah: ‘Just that one whale.‘ Beans: ‘Iior Manchester and Liverpool we‘ve got love music hate racism. And London and Brighton we‘ve got War on Want.‘
What’s the best rumour you’ve heard about the band?
Stevie: We were going to record with Angelina Jolie. It was just the tabloid newspaper talking to (‘hip Taylor. Angelina‘s uncle. and he mentioned how she liked the band and how cool it would be if we recorded with her. Next thing you know . . .‘ What makes you proud to be Scottish? Stevie: ‘I will always feel it every time just getting in a car and heading northwest among mountains and valleys. I just love the fact that it‘s so near by.‘
Stuart: “I dreamt that Scotland won the World (‘up last night. It was really surreal because I missed the games and l was out in the street and the news came in that Scotland won the World Cup. As a child I dreamt of this. and then to think it happened without knowing anything about it. it was surreal.‘
What would make you emigrate?
Stevie: ‘The love ofa girl Isighsl.‘
Stuart: ‘My girl is trying to drag me away right now. She‘s Sicilian. she needs heat like a baby spider.‘
Sarah: ‘I could probably be dragged away by a more progressive social system. Scandinavia is
gross. I
‘I COULD SEE A BUST OF DEBBIE HARRY SITTING AT THE END OF MY BATH'
BELLE & SEBASTIAN
beckoning.‘
If you could repeal one law what would it be? Beans: ‘l’robably the my reforms that allowed the rich to pay less lay in the oils.‘
Stuart: ‘I would only change immigration laws. Let them all in. Then we‘d hay e a decent lootball team.‘
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Stuart: 'Yeah.‘
Stevie: .NU.‘
Sarah: 'I was in the Rogano the other night and I saw a bloke who looked like Roger Moore. and he was really drunk on high quality cocktails. lle wandered over to my boy friend and alter a while he was like. “llere man. are you famous?" .‘\nd he was like. '.\‘o. l‘tn a librarian.“ “Are you a famous librarian'."‘ "The only famous librarian is Philip l.arkin and I‘m not him.“ And then he started giving advice for the young and in love. and then he just kind of wandered oy er to me and said. "Well. young lady. I wish you ha—penis tor the rest ol‘ your lil'e.“‘
And you’d think Ragano was a classy joint. Sarah: ‘II is a classy" jointl‘
Who is your most famous showbiz pal? Stevie: ‘Johnny from the Fence (‘ollectiye I‘ve only just met him. He emailed tne last night so I don‘t know it that makes us show bi/ pals. I also had an interesting conversation with Juliet Lewis‘ sister. Does that count."
Stuart: "Then there‘s Robbie Williams. I‘ve still got his number.‘
What would be the ingredients of a 8&8 cocktail?
Sarah: ‘I-‘resh mint is in every cocktail. gin‘s always quite reliable. although gin and mint might not be very good.‘
Beans: ‘(‘an we just adopt the Mojito'."
Stevie: ‘l‘m a white Rtissian man mysell‘.‘
Sarah: ‘I don‘t like dairy. l like herbs in my cocktails.‘
What would you sing at the Cathouse rock karaoke? Stevie: “‘You Ain‘t Seen Nothing Yet“ by Bachman Turner ()verdrive.‘
Stuart: “‘l)on‘t Stop Believing“ by Journey.‘ Beans: “‘Iiye ol‘ the Tiger“ by Survivor.‘
Do you think you’re overrated?
Stuart: ‘ll‘ anything we‘re underrated and kind ol‘ dismissed. Mind you. I haven‘t seen the NM]: this week. We might get a two-page spread.‘ Stevie: ‘I don‘t have any complaints. I think it‘s been pretty balanced. I certainly don‘t feel overrated. Usually when I read a review. I agree with it when they slag ol‘l‘one ot‘our records.‘ Stuart: ‘There‘s a danger in being too critical. because you‘d never make anything. It‘s vastly more important to take the next step and make something new.‘
Are you surprised you’re still together? Stuart: ‘We just sort of chug away and we get on. that‘s the core of why we‘re still here. It doesn‘t seem such a long time we‘ve been together.‘
Sarah: 'You can identify the peaks and troughs. For every action there‘s an equal and opposite reaction.‘
Stuart: 'I kind of hoped we‘d have made a few more classic LPs by this stage. But I think that‘s the thing that drives you continually.‘
The Life Pursuit is out Mon 6 Feb on Rough Trade. See review, page 63.
2-16 Feb 2006 THE LIST 19