On my radar: Paul Simonon’s cultural highlights
Born in London in 1955, Paul Simonon was the Clash’s bassist from the band’s formation in 1976 until its dissolution 10 years later. He then started rockabilly band Havana 3am; after their split in 1996, he pursued a career as a painter. He returned to music with supergroup the Good, the Bad and the Queen in 2007 and was also involved in the 2010 Gorillaz album Plastic Beach. Last year, TGTBATQ released their second album, Merrie Land; they are on tour from 12 April in Norwich to 19 April in London.
1. Fiction
The Time Machine by HG Wells I heard about this on BBC Radio 4 recently. It’s about a time traveller who goes way into the future and meets these people called the Eloi, who are a society of childlike adults. The whole planet has become a garden, they live on fresh fruit, but they have no curiosity or discipline. In contrast, he discovers another group called the Morlocks, who in the dead of night capture the Eloi and eat them. I found it quite interesting: you’ve got the leisured classes who have become ineffectual and the downtrodden working classes. You could read a lot of that into now.
2. Gallery
David Zwirner Gallery, London W1 My friend, the artist Nora Berman, introduced me to this gallery. It opened my eyes to other contemporary artists: at present, they’ve got an exhibition on Franz West. Every now and then, I might see a gem of a painting that I am familiar with, maybe by John Bratby or someone like that. I find galleries and museums a good place for food; mental food, not a sandwich or anything like that. Modern art always turns my thoughts about what I do on their head. Jay Jopling’s the White Cube also promotes contemporary artists, and it’s eye-opening.
3. Poetry
Paul Verlaine
I moved to Paddington, west London, about 10, 15 years ago and I’m curious about the environment where I live and what has taken place there. I discovered that Paul Verlaine had come to London in about 1872, where he wrote a poem about Paddington [Streets – O la rivière dans la rue!]. It describes the area very well, I think – it’s not too dissimilar to today. I like
the way he talks about the canal, how it rolls along but doesn’t murmur, as such, and how it clarifies “all the houses yellow, black and small”.
4. Place
Hastings
I was in Hastings recently and it reminded me of how London used to be full of quirky shops and bookshops – it was a bit like how Portobello used to be. There’s even a tobacco shop that sells jars of oriental mix and pipes, but not normal, ready-rolled cigarettes. I walked around Hastings and the fishing fleet is just fantastic to look at. I was fortunate enough to see the pier in its heyday – we actually did a concert on it. Right at the back was the dressing room with a window on to the sea and the tiniest fireplace I ever saw.
5. Website
YouTube
I like YouTube – it’s like a visual reference library. There are obscure film noirs or strange, forgotten French films. I’ve found a lot of clips of music hall star Dan Leno and other people of his ilk. There’s even early footage of Vince Taylor, who was an English singer from Isleworth, west London, even though everyone thought he was from Hollywood. I find YouTube a good source of ideas and information regarding the music hall, for example, because it’s not easy to find – to see some live footage is enlightening.
6. Restaurant
Locanda Locatelli
Giorgio Locatelli and his wife, Plaxy, are good friends of mine. I’ve known Plaxy since she was about 15 – she used to follow the Clash around back in the day. I eat very well when I go to the restaurant. There’s this block of anchovies that Giorgio grates over a pasta dish that he cooks called orecchiette con cime di rapa. I’ve learned a lot from him. I’ve cooked since I was a kid – I’d hop off school and sneak back home, starving, so I’d look in cookery books. That developed my interest in learning how to feed myself.