On the Prince Essential 100

So, Prince’s death was a surprise and a shock. He seemed like he would live forever. But this is about one of the inevitable consequences of his death: the loosening up of control of his work and his image. During his lifetime, control was a central theme of Prince’s work. Once he was gone, it … Continue reading On the Prince Essential 100 →

On Nostalgia

Nostalgia is both a feeling and a retail pattern. I’ve noticed that it seems to increase as a person (this person) gets older. In my early life, remembering the past took a very specific form. When I was growing up, there was no choice for me or my brothers: we had to be collectors. I … Continue reading On Nostalgia →

On Losing an Imaginary Friend

Prince came to live with me in Xmas 1984 (or maybe '85), via the kind of cassette tape you could pick up for a couple of quid at any market stall in the country during those prehistoric, lawless times. As I listened, wearing out the tape, he told me strange, unknowable things, things I sometimes … Continue reading On Losing an Imaginary Friend →

Movies: the Early Years

There are two things that are true about my relationship with the movies. First, I love them. Adore them. Nothing makes me happier than sitting for two hours watching somebody else’s weird dream float across a screen the size of a small whale. Second, I am a philistine. My taste in movies is the very … Continue reading Movies: the Early Years →