Ian Svenonius talking to Graham Coxon; Soft Focus on VBS, 2008

Following my series of completely unrelated references I continue with a guitarist of spec-tac-u-lar grace and elegance who is a very stylish chap indeed. The interviewer Ian Svenonius, is equally stylish but in a very different way and more agitprop than most musicians or artists. Inventor or disseminator of the Gospel Yeh-Yeh theology, as well a singer in bands like The Make Up and Nation of Ulysses, Svenonius regales the virtues of a democratic musical landscape that is equally politicised and funky at the same time.

Svenonius> “They (the american government after the Vietnam war) pondered “How are we gonna go to war again?” and so they began to sell soldiers as rock stars.. with films like M.A.S.H and Apocalypse Now…[sic]“

Coxon> “Yeah, It’s a bit like The Doors…”

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