Friday, March 29, 2024

Importance or Hipness

August 21, 2012


Mr Welsh holding back a little chuckle as I play "Aw Fuck Off," the original version of "Le Freak"

The last few days in Edinburgh have been nothing short of amazing. I was there primarily for the Edinburgh International Book Festival, where I did two formal events, but I was also a part of the Edinburgh Arts Festival at Summerhall's Visual Arts Programme. I collaborated with artist Jean Pierre Muller to create 7x7, an exhibition on an entire street with him and seven musicians: Robert Wyatt, Archie Shepp, Sean O' Hagan, Mulatu Astatake, Kassin, Terry Riley and myself.

There were so many highlights that happened over the last few days, I literally could write an entire book on all of my amazing encounters. Since this is only a blog, I'll show and tell you about a mere few in no particular order of Importance or Hipness.

 


Highly opinionated author extraordinaire Irvine Welsh interviewed me at sold out event for my memoir Le Freak


Me in the foreground with Clive Anderson on BBC 4 show Loose Ends - Greg Proops from Whose Line Is It Anyway (left)


Me and the brilliant TV personality Sue Perkins, who interviewed me at the 7x7TH STREET exhibit


My little corner of the 7x7TH STREET - Check out Norma Jean poster at the Lenox Lounge


A night I'll never forget - I picked up my guitar and the whole place started singing almost every song I'd ever written


I stole the idea from a beautiful girl that I met in Ibiza when I posed for this photo at the book festival


The book signing line was so long it went outside and around the building


7x7TH STREET in the Summerhall booklet (photo taken while the street was under construction)


Playing jazz standards while the people take their seats for my first book lecture


Fan holds up one of the bowie albums I produced while heading to their seat


Me in front of the 7x7 sculputre that features my F Indigo Suite