Beautiful South Exclusive - An Interview with Front Man, Paul Heaton (2/3) By Julia Grant

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3).

The inevitable question then; why did The South split up and why now? Their was an air of apathy surrounding the band, and whilst every one member of the circle remained optimistic and indeed, I feel, raised their game for Superbi, that couldn't prevent the fact that the rot had set in at radio and elsewhere in the media. We were, or had been a national institution and the arrival of a new T.B.S. record was greeted like the arrival of an old bus. Hopefully we'll be missed like the old London red buses (Route Master).

You had a "celebratory wake" for the band, how did that go? It was a quiet, pleasant drink amongst friends. I'm hoping the band will keep doing our Christmas party every year. We've had a Christmas meal for the band and friends for the last ten years or so. Were previous female vocalists, Briana and Jacqui, there? No. We were going to invite them but decided that it would be unfair to Alison if they were there. In December 1988, five of us set off from Hull and went all the way to Milan by train to record Welcome To. I think we feel quite proud that those five had survived the 19 or so years without it ever being anything other than a laugh.

Are you still in touch with them at all? No. As it was a social circle, I presumed they left because they didn't enjoy our/my company anymore. I'm not in touch with Hugh or Stan though. I would enjoy the company of most of the people I've worked with. If you had a choice of joining a band to just be the singer, which band would it be? I'd be the thin one in The Magic Numbers or the fat one in The Rakes, The popular one in The Kaiser Chiefs, or the one in Pulp that everyone hates.

In Nirvana tribute band "Curtains Cobain", I'd happily drop down dead, And in Dead head tribute band "Grateful Alive", I'd be out of touch and off of my head. That was a song for you! And if you were to create a supergroup, who would you put in the band and what would you call it? It would be called either Racing Pigeon (pronounced "Rassing") or horaceheatonjnr and would have Isaac Hayes - keyboards/vocals Sister Rosetta Thorpe - guitar/backing vocals Stephane Grappelli - violin Laura Marling - lead vocals Hugh Whitaker - drums/backing vocals Ariane Peralta - bass Who do you admire most as songwriters? Anyone recently? I admire anyone who picks up a pen or an instrument and gives a little of themselves. My taste is so transient these days that it's pointless to pick out one. If I were to, it would be John Hoeffleur . And yes, he is recent.

Continued .... Next Page (3/3)

People - An Interview With Peter Moore By Steve Rudd
	Peter Moore has been described as the Jim Carrey of travel-writing, and whoever boldly coined such a cunning comment actually isn't half wrong. Anybody who has read any of Peter's genuinely madcap travel books, such as The Wrong Way Home or The Full Montezuma, will surely agree, as he manages to negotiate all manner of Read more...

People - An Interview With Woody Woodmansey By Steve Rudd
	Brace yourselves, one and all. Michael Collins, who is actually related to the famous Irish Nationalist of the same name, is the author of acclaimed novels The Keepers of Truth, The Resurrectionists and Lost Souls. He has just finished tying up all the loose ends of his latest story in The Secret Life Of E. Robert Pendleton, which is due to hit bookstores very soon indeed. Read more...

People - An Interview With William Landay By Steve Rudd
	William (or Bill, for short) Landay is a hot new American crime writer who has recently published his debut novel - Mission Flats - to widespread critical acclaim. William is currently hard at work on his second novel, which is due to be published next year. Still, amidst his busy writing schedule, William kindly managed to take a little time out to chat exclusively to Steve Rudd Read more...

People - An Interview With Peter May By Steve Rudd
	I'd like to introduce you to Peter May, a writer of thriller novels that are genuinely exhilarating affairs from start to finish. Peter is famous for writing his series of China Thrillers - a series that includes his Firemaker novel, along with the racy Snakehead story that is set in Texas. Peter always carries out intensive research into the places in which he sets his stories; he also Read more...

People - An Interview With Peter Gadol By Steve Rudd
	Peter Gadol is the exciting author of a number of uniquely exhilarating novels including the deliciously dark, drama-driven thriller The Long Rain. His latest novel is Light at Dusk, and here he spares some time to chat to Steve Rudd exclusively about his life and times, and trials and tribulations as a highly respected and hugely talented writer of the type of stories that Read more...

People - An Interview With Meg Gardiner By Steve Rudd
	Meg Gardiner is an incredible Thriller writer, brought up in the US but currently residing in the UK. Her debut novel called China Lake provided the perfect showcase for her amazing talents, and since its publication there has been no stopping her when it comes to writing novels, with Mission Canyon, Jericho Point and Crosscut being other well-known books of hers that been Read more...

People - DJ Chris Plant Heads for the States
	DJ Chris Plant is heading to America in an effort to make his dream come true. Chris, 23, a former resident DJ at Fuel and various other nightclubs, has a quite breathtaking CV. He worked for Sunshine Radio in Ibiza, has commentated on live football matches in Chicago and was Agent X on Foxy & Tom's Viking FM breakfast show. However, after trying to crack Read more...

People - An Interview With Edwina Hayes By Steve Rudd
	Edwina Hayes is an acoustic singer-songwriter currently enjoying success opening Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues band tour. Dublin born and raised in Lancashire, Edwina now resides in Yorkshire. Here she talks to Steve Rudd about her music. Hi Edwina, how are things? Hi Steve, really well thank you! What have you been up to lately, and how has 2005 been in general? Read more...

People - Interview with Bob Sinclar by Toni Tambourine
	Bob Sinclar is the French DJ currently making his mark with the Defected label. Toni Tambourine took some time out to interview the man known as 'music's premier playboy superstar..' What were your initial ambitions and dreams for Yellow Production? Do they remain the same, or if not, how and why have they changed? It's amazing having people asking me to do promotion! Read more...

People, Interviews - Interview With The Paddingtons By Joe Hakim. Photos By Ray Ribeiro and Darren Rogers
	I've had to bite the bullet and start working again. It has to be done, and there are two reasons for this. Firstly, starting any new job means starting at the bottom again, which is a good method for keeping the ego in check. Secondly, it brings cash back into your life, which after nearly two months of bumming off people is a welcome relief. You can only live on luck alone for so long; take the piss and you burn it all up. Read more...

People - Introducing The Kipper Kids by Jane Foster
	The Kipper Kids are a performance art duo consisting of Brian Routh and Martin V. Haselberg. Brian now lives in Hull and Martin is married to Bette Midler. The two met while at England's experimental, avant-garde East 15th School. Taking their name from a fellow student nicknamed Kipper Face, the duo started performing their 'scatological slapstick' Read more...

People - An Interview with Black Wire By Caroline Murphy
	A month ago, Dan Tom and Si (AKA Black Wire) were simply three hot guys in a picture, who also played damn good music. Now however, they're still three hot guys in a picture, but in reality they're larger than life and a million times hotter than you could ever dream! Their set was simply awesome, and more than a fitting support to The Cribs. Read more...

People - Interview with John Hassall By JG Photos by Michelle Dee
	Surely everyone's heard of The Libertines, but it seems like so far, only a fortunate few have heard about Yeti. With their debut single Never Lose Your Sense Of Wonder receiving very little radio airplay, there are bound to be a lot of people left wondering who they are and what they sound like. John Hassall may be better known as being the bass player in one of Read more...

People - An Interview with Joesolo by Nick Quantrill
	Joesolo is the alter ego of Paul Thompson, formerly of Hull guitar-pop outfit Lithium Joe. As the band's songwriter and vocalist, Paul played in excess of 350 gigs as the group released a string of self-funded records through their own label, Resolve Records. After a musical hiatus, 2004 saw Paul commence recording as a solo artist with his Read more...