Will Self
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In 2003's "The Sound and the Fury: 40 years Of Classic Rock Journalism", Self writes:
"I'd been doing occasional pieces for 'Life', the 'Observer' newspaper's magazine supplement, when the opportunity to interview Morrissey came up in November 1995. I remember the exact date (unlike so many others in my life), because I'd just moved back to London after more or less four years out of town. I was living at the less fashionable end of Notting Hill at the time and I kept running into a friend who had a small studio on the Portobello Road. This friend had done quite a bit of work with Morrissey and I knew he knew him well, but for reasons of nerdishness and probity (an odd combination), I decided not to ask this guy if he could give me the inside edge before the interview. I say nerdishness because I was a BIG fan of Morrissey (in as much as I've ever been a big fan of anyone). I'd bought most of his work over the years, both with the Smiths and solo, and knew a lot of the lyrics by heart. I didn't want to be completely disabused about the man before I met him, and I suspected my friend would do just that. I say probity because I did (and still do) believe that a responsible interviewer should trust to his own impression of his subject. I've never interviewed anyone looking to publish gossip about them (whether substantiated or not). I expect people to take me as they find me (something I confess they seldom do), and I do my best to honour others in the same way. In truth the experience of actually meeting Morrissey was intimidating. He was big, he looked fit, he clearly didn't suffer fools at all. I felt seedy and small and foolish. Nevertheless, I thought we got on fairly well, and at the end of the interview he suggested that I ask for him after the Wembley gig and perhaps come backstage. When it came to the gig I committed the unspeakable solecism (at leats that's how I like to see it) of taking my then girlfriend. After the gig Morrissey's PA came out to the backstage bar area, spoke with me, then retreated, only to return a few minutes later to say that Stephen (sic) had decided to go home immediately. I was gutted. After I'd filed the piece I asked my musician friend about his time working with Morrissey. He told me things that were disturbing and libellous in equal meaure. For once I regretted my decision not to ask around about an interview subject in advance of meeting them. ~ W.S"
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William Woodard Self (born 26 September 1961) is an English writer, journalist, political commentator and broadcaster. He has written 11 novels, five collections of shorter fiction, three novellas and nine collections of non-fiction writing. Self is currently Professor of Modern Thought at Brunel University London, where he teaches psychogeography. His 2002 novel Dorian, an Imitation was longlisted for the Booker Prize, and his 2012 novel Umbrella was shortlisted. His fiction is known for being satirical, grotesque and fantastical, and is predominantly set within his home city of London. His writing often explores mental illness, drug abuse and psychiatry. Self is a regular contributor to publications including The Guardian, Harper's Magazine, The New York Times and the London Review of Books. He has been a columnist for the Observer, The Times, the New Statesman, the Evening Standard and The New European. His columns for Building Design on the built environment, and for the Independent Magazine on the psychology of place brought him to prominence as a thinker concerned with the politics of urbanism. Self has also been a regular contributor to British television, initially as a guest on comic panel shows such as Have I Got News for You. In 2002, Self replaced Mark Lamarr on the BBC comedy panel show Shooting Stars for two series, but was himself replaced by comedian Jack Dee when the programme returned in 2008. He has since appeared on current affairs programmes such as Newsnight and Question Time. Self is a contributor to the BBC Radio 4 programme A Point of View, to which he contributes radio essays delivered in his familiar "lugubrious tones". In 2013, Self took part in discussions about becoming the inaugural BBC Radio 4 Writer-in-Residence, but later withdrew.
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