New book announcement

Out in October, something lovely for your mind and soul.

What do Neneh Cherry, Pete Shelley, Andrew Weatherall, Maxine Peake, Jeremy Deller, Bernard Sumner, Raymond Carver, Lemn Sissay, Miki Berenyi, Kevin Rowland, Paddy Considine, Jarvis Cocker, Jonathan Franzen, Mark E Smith, Trackie McLeod, Afrodeutsche, Viv Albertine, and Terry Hall all have in common? They’re all in my new book, out in October.

After forty years of interviewing people for various magazines, and also onstage, I’ve ended up with a large archive. To put this new book together, I’ve delved into the archive for some of my favourites, and also conducted several recent interviews. Almost none of the interviews in the book have ever been transcribed in full and put into the public domain before.

The other thing those people have in common is how much I admire their creative output. How could it be otherwise!? They produce work which is neither lightweight nor derivative. They’re great examples of how so much good work is done outside, or on the periphery, of the mainstream.

The book is called Creative Journeys. There’s a subtitle which tells you exactly what’s in the tin - “Intimate conversations with artists, actors, writers and musicians”.

And it’s got a beautiful cover...

I’ve picked interviews that are in-depth, and included inspiring characters from various arts. As I’m aware not all readers will necessarily be familiar with everyone featured in this selection, there’s an introduction to each of the interviews, briefly summarising the interviewee’s work. I hope devotees will find new insights and appreciate how revelatory many of the interviews are, but, on the other hand, readers discovering an interviewee for the first time will be prompted to find out more.

Sadly, a few of my interviewees are no longer with us. The Pete Shelley interview is the last one he ever gave before he died just a few months later. He was charming, chatty, and playful. The Terry Hall interview included in the book took place in November 2010; it’s probably both one of the funniest and also one of the most intense interviews in the book.

Raymond Carver has been described by the New York Times as “the most influential writer of American short stories in the second half of the 20th century”. He died in 1988. I’ll never forget the interview, from 1985; me a fresh-faced twenty-three year old in awe, desperately hoping I’d flawlessly pressed ‘play’ and ‘record’ on my cassette tape recorder.

They’re just such interesting people. Viv Albertine discusses ‘Typical Girls’; Paddy Considine recalls key scenes in A Room for Romeo Brass and Dead Man’s Shoes; Jarvis Cocker goes deep into ‘This is Hardcore’; Jonathan Franzen talks about torturing his characters.

The interviewees speak with honesty about their creative journeys; jumping barriers, navigating negativity and personal setbacks. Terry Hall, Miki Berenyi and Afrodeutsche speak about deep childhood trauma; Bernard Sumner recalls the loss of Ian Curtis. Kevin Rowland really opens-up. Maxine Peake admits “I’m still trying to prove to those teachers who said I wouldn’t do it”.

For me, the creative journeys are fascinating human stories too. We read about dealing with dysfunctional families, and poverty, and fame, and success. There’s emotion, politics, addiction. Solace in books, solace in music.

Trackie McLeod talks of his art being motivated by a desire to “unpick” the experiences of growing up queer and working class in Glasgow in the 2000s. Lemn Sissay talks about Bob Marley and Linton Kwesi Johnson; Jeremy Deller discusses Brexit, Beryl Cook, and Rod Stewart ; Mark E Smith explains why he’d never want to move to Swindon; Neneh Cherry recalls Tricky eating his way through a box of Coco Pops.

Neneh Cherry. Photo by Elspeth Moore.

The book will be published in October 2026 by Manchester University Press.

October is a seven months off but already a few UK online retailers are listing Creative Journeys and providing links to pre-order. Including signed copies here; Creative Journeys pre-order

There’s also a pre-ordering option in the USA; Creative Journeys Target pre-order

Nearer the time I’ll post again with links to other recommended retailers.

Nearer the time I’ll also be announcing various readings and signing events. These are currently being organised. If you run book events or have connections or suggestions, please let me know.

Journalists, radio presenters, and podcast hosts please note I do like to say “Yes” to stuff – I’ll chat about anything you like, but if you’re an interviewer who’d like to interview an interviewer about interviewing people, then I’m your man.

Paddy Considine. Photo by Sal Thompson.

I’m the meantime please subscribe to this Substack to keep up with news of the book, and the launch events, and for writing of all kinds. You’ll find past posts about Joy Division, a fake Rodin, and an underappreciated Moss Side group big in the 1970s called Sweet Sensation. Subjects in upcoming posts include actress Jean Seberg, and traditional pubs.