An Exclusive KIU Interview with...
Interviewed by Amanda Hallay
Andrew Loog Oldham. His name is truly legend. As discoverer, producer and manager of The Rolling Stones, Andrew Loog Oldham is as synonymous with Sixties England as Mary Quant and The Beatles (who, incidentally, A.L.O promoted.) Going on to form Immediate Records, he launched Marianne Faithful, Twice As Much, and countless others, his fame as Britain’s top impresario heralding a new way of looking at the music industry. Barely out of his teens, Andrew Loog Oldham single-handedly convinced a nation that pop music was serious business, his legendary chutzpah and talent-spotting eye the template still used by promoters and producers everywhere.
With his omnipresent shades and fabulous wardrobe, Oldham was as famous as the people he managed, his long-awaited autobiography, Stoned (and its sequel, 2Stoned) recently published to rave reviews and becoming ‘must haves’ on every music lover’s shelf.
Stoned and 2Stoned
A.L.O's two-part autobiography is a riveting
'must have' for anyone to whom music (and life) really matter.
Now living in Colombia, Andrew Loog Oldham’s life is as busy and exciting as ever. In an unprecedented coup for Kittens in Underpants, Amanda cyberly caught up with him, and (in true Andrew Loog Oldham spirit) boldly asked for an interview.
And he very kindly agreed!
Photo by Paul Smith © The ALO Collection.
KIU
Andrew Loog Oldham, you have been described as the 'coolest person of all time'. In your opinion,
what makes a person cool? (And does it have anything to do with sunglasses?)
I've just been re-listening to the Iggy Pop song Shades, off the Blah-Blah-Blah CD, co-written with and produced by Dame Bowie. It's a wonderful record, and the song and the shades may not have Iggy cool but they certainly have him happy. My mother told me when I was about thirteen, in one of her many well-intentioned blunders, that my eyes were like raisins; this is not good for a young lad unless you are Sidney Poitier and get to do A Raisin In The Sun. Mums and dads should be careful of the casual data they give their kids, every word has weight and effect. Hence my affection for shades. As for staying cool it's conviction, perception and never being lazy about it....
KIU
Your autobiography, Stoned, and its sequel, 2Stoned, are truly
amongst my Top Ten Favourite Books. Have you ever considered writing fiction, because we think
you'd be dead good at it? And if you did decide to write fiction, what would you write about?
Probably a lot of data that good manners and libel laws would not allow me to wade into in Stoned and 2Stoned. Fiction is such a bizarre beast - the thin line between trash and Get Shorty is subjective and blurred and in the eye of the beholder. I've got a hero, Nick O'Teene and a title, Pimpressario, (that's the illustration in the front of Stoned). I've also got a story that I'm working towards an ending on. I just have to find the interest, month and right hotel to finish it in. Naturally, it's about the music, film and drug industries of the 60's through to the 90's. Murder, mopiates, music, mayhem, money and sin....
KIU
Andrew, you were known for your sartorial flare. How should a boy dress today if he wants to be
a pop impresario?
Lordy, what a responsibility! Well, let's get it in one. When I was first dressing up it showed having overcome a system that was bent on suppressing youth into blandness, obedience and conformity, and that was an accomplishment, because the pickings were thin. Dressing down meant you were not going to play the game, or get into war with the system; it meant you'd kind of given up. It doesn't mean that anymore; dressing up or down, done correctly, speaks louder than words because most people speak instead of listen therefore only remember what they see. Follow your heart, respect your body and study the masters.
KIU
What recent bands/artists do you rate? (And are there any you think are particularly over-rated?)
Over the past few years, out of the UK, Gene and the Divine Comedy, and Juanes from Colombia and La Ley from Chile. Right now...present time I Want It Now ...V-Twin, a band out of Glasgow I hope to be producing in the New Year. As for over-rated I don't go there; anybody who gets a recording contract, gets the money-button pushed and gets their music in front of the public in sufficient volume to be chosen or not deserves a medal.
KIU
Chocolate or Strawberry?
Depp and Bergman. Neither. I eat according to my blood type and I'm O, the Hunter, so both are Neutral for me. I'm a Mango and Horseradish guy. They are both Highly Beneficial to me.
KIU
What band from the Sixties surprised you the most in later years?
A man as a band. Bob Dylan. Everything he's done since Oh, Mercy in '89 and since I saw him in that little theatre next to Madison Square Garden in January of '98 with Van Morrison. I don't know how much of it was oedipal but he sure got handling being 60, as opposed to being of the 60's, in one stroke, hammer & nail.
KIU
What's your favourite bit in Oliver! (And please do not fall into the same trap as our friend
Peter Noone and answer the question vis-à-vis Broadway/West End productions. We are of course
referring to the movie of Oliver!, starring our idol, Mark Lester.)
Peter didn't fall into a trap...he was just remindful of the world he's been fortunate enough to enjoy. For me ? The trailer. ‘Didn't have time for the film. ‘Got spoilt seeing so many wonderful performances of it on stage....and that does not include Phil Collins... I was lucky enough at the time of Oliver! on stage to be spending a lot of time with its creator, Lionel Bart, and the set-designer Sean Kenny. I was kind of studying in their world and they both graciously allowed me to do so. After that experience the film is kinda second-hand. Being at school with Lionel Bart and Sean Kenny was sitting in the lap of the Gods.
KIU
Marianne Faithful, Lorraine Child, Barry St. John and the lovely Vashti were all Andrew Loog Oldham
Girls. What does a girl need to do to acquire the ALO appeal?
So you've seen that Decca CD. I think that's an awful way to present an artist. Kinda like the Zeigfeld Follies in reverse. ALO girl appeal ? Same appeal as a guy. Appeal is universal, and in my world, cross-over appeal has had the advantage....
| Andrew Loog Oldham's Girls | |||
 Marianne Faithful |
 Adrienne Posta |
 Vashti |
 Amanda Hallay |
| (That last one is a lie. I'm just pretending.) | |||
KIU
A little bird told me that you have some very interesting new projects lined up. Is there anything
you'd like to tell the International KIU Community (or is it all hush-hush for now. If you don't
want to tell us, that's okay.)
I try to make every day interesting and to be interested in every day. Right now my wish to produce V-Twin is #1 on my agenda. I'm toying with a third part of my triography, which is a tough one because, as you know, I've pretty much covered the lot in Stoned and 2Stoned. I liked the Art Linson (movie producer, Heat, The Untouchables) books, they entertained in a How-To way, and I dearly loved the Steve Martin novella Shopgirl. I could be influenced by all of that if I go to the page again. Then I've got Pimpressario. I'm also enjoying the reception to 2Stoned and the Abkco re-masters that include so much of my early work with the Rolling Stones.
KIU
What one tip would you give to a budding pop impresario?
That's tough, because the B.P.I has to adjust and devote his life to the artist and I'd have to imagine the artist in order to give tips. The reality, however, is that the act has to be the impresario today, because given the 10% creation, 20% performance, 70% promotion factor of today, it's the artist who ultimately does the selling, therefore perhaps the "minder of the store" has to make sure that the artist can handle the balance of that percentage factor without going nuts, and still find the room to create in.
KIU
KIU's Caitlyn Hallman is doing her Masters dissertation on Boys Bands. What is your opinion of
this phenomenon?
It's kinda like the end of the 50's - unless you are 14 in which case it's all divinely new and just for you. The sixties kind of merged it all and put that process on hold. Now, in terms of cycles, we are back to the end of the 50's, and N'Sync is Fabian and Dion & the Belmonts combined scoring with street corner symphonies. It's always been kiddie-porn to the vendor and joy and discovery for the vendee. The first love is the deepest. And that first time that a singer and a song checks into your heart and lets you know your body is changing is a wonder to behold....and yours for life...
Just some of the legendary artists ALO created.
KIU
What is the one song that you were involved with that you're personally the proudest of?
The one I last heard in a supermarket or at a cinema near either of us.
KIU
What was the last C.D you bought?
Beck.
KIU
In my first novel, Fab! (“A tale of life, love and rock n' roll, set once upon a time, when London
swung!”), I give you many name-checks; how do you feel about this? (Basically, is it okay that
I give you mention?)
I'd love to read it. Is it finished, or a work in progress...or denial ?
KIU
I really, really love the song I'd Much Rather Be With the Boys which you penned with Keith Richards.
(That's not actually a question; I just wanted to tell you that.)
Thank you. I like it too.
KIU
Gladiator or Titanic?
Either for twenty minutes. Neither really changed my life; I preferred Sexy Beast ....
KIU
Andrew, your life is very private and we at KIU respect that. However, we are trying to be 'hard
nosed press ladies', and with that in mind, would you please answer this question; Do you have
any pets (and if so, are they cats?)
If you look to page 459 of 2Stoned and see the picture, you'll see the answer. Her name was Ruby and she enriched my family’s life from 1989 until February of this year. She was a beagle who, for half of her life, until I got my life back in order, cared for me better than I did for myself.
KIU
I think that the duet between Twice as Much and Vashti (Baby It's Cold Out There) should be re-released
for the Christmas market, because it's so completely brilliant. Do you agree? (And if so, can
I do the Vashti part?)
Agreed.
Photo by Alfonso Durier © The ALO Collection
KIU
What are you listening to RIGHT NOW?!
The sound of Juan Finger typing, breakfast being prepared and V-Twins’ The Blues Is A Minefield.
KIU
Finally, what - in your opinion - is the most perfect pop song of all time ever?
The one that most recently changed your life for the better.
“Happy to be part of the the industry of human happiness.”
The ethos behind Andrew Loog Oldham's 'Immediate' label.
(Thank you!)
• Official Andrew Loog Oldham Website: www.andrewloogoldham.com
• 2Stoned: www.loog2stoned.com
• A Memoir of London in the 1960s: Channeled by Modem
