In honour of Q Magazine's 25th anniversary, Username answered the questions that were put to 25 leading artists in edition 304 of that fabled tome.
Warning: contains anti-Meat Loaf sentiments.
How are you, how's your day been?
Ja: I’m very well thanks. I’ve been enjoying the warm October sun and contemplating what to eat next.
Sim: I’m fine – my day’s been quiet, slightly frustrating and hot.
Ja: That’s the sun for you. It makes heat you know...
What's the first album you bought?
Ja: Mine was Adventures Of The Hersham Boys by Sham 69, on cassette. Polydor Records. I played it every day for months, as my beleaguered Brother will testify.
Sim: I bought David Bowie’s Hunky Dory from a second hand record shop (long since closed) in the town I grew up in.
Ja: Where was that?
Sim: Thame, in Oxfordshire, which considering its size (medium sized market town) always used to be quite a thriving place. Oh, and it had an unfeasibly large number of pubs... around 17 I think.
What's your favourite album of the past 25 years?
Ja: That’s like asking: “How many ants are there in the world, to the nearest 100?” [Thinks for 5 minutes] From an attitude point of view, Angel Dust by Faith No More. Though I must say Hatful Of Rain by Del Amitri is by far and away the best ‘Greatest Hits’ record ever.
Sim: The past 25 years??? It changes periodically depending on how I feel, and where my life is – but here are some of the tops: Relics by Pink Floyd, Rubber Soul by the Beatles, The Velvet Underground by... well... and Lou Reed’s Transformer, Astral Weeks by Van Morrison and – of course The Doors, the first Fleet Foxes album, etc.
Ja: Those are older than 25 years!!!
Sim: Oh no! I thought they meant my faves over the past 25 years... not records produced over the last 25 years. Poo.
Are any of the records in your collection autographed?
Sim: Noooooo... Is that a thing to do???
Ja: You haven’t lived Sim. I’ve got quite a few signed Big Country records, and one of Stuart’s socks, somewhere. It’s got a certificate of authentication, written by the Big Man himself. Stuart that is, not God.
What were you up to 25 years ago?
Sim: I was 17, living in a flat over a travel agents, working in a store selling make-up, and drinking and smoking way too much.
Ja: Rebel!! I was playing drums in my first band with some school mates. And I was experiencing the joys of love for the first time, so it was quite a good time. Sex and drums and rock ‘n’ roll.
What were you listening to back then?
Ja: The Clash, Big Country, Ramones, That Petrol Emotion, Sid Presley Experience, The Godfathers, Van Halen, U2. Being in a band meant having new music thrust upon you. It was like musical boot camp.
Sim: Paul Simon’s Graceland, and Suzanne Vega. Oh, and that was the time I got into choral music so I also listened to Thomas Tallis and William Bird quite a bit.
Ja: Ooooh! Get you! Vega’s first two albums are treasures.
Which band made you want to be a musician?
Sim: I’m a singer – does that count as a musician?? Some of my school friends got a band together, when we were about 13, just to play in a school assembly – and I wandered into the hall when they were rehearsing and I just thought I HAVE TO DO THIS.
Ja: I think it’s pretty safe to classify you as a musician Sim. That Sham 69 cassette (see above) made me learn to drum. As for guitar, that has to be The Clash, though Stuart (Adamson) inspired me to persist with it, to find a style.
Sim: Oh my God – you had a famous person offer you advice? You can’t buy that kind of stuff. Actually, I don’t think you can even steal that kind of stuff.
Ja: [Laughs] No, you have to be the editor of an irreverent Big Country fanzine...
What's the first gig you went to?
Ja: Without my folks? That would be German metal band Accept, with Dokken supporting, at the Hippodrome in Bristol, about 25 years ago. I’d seen bands at festivals prior to that, but as a kid, you don’t really take much notice. Ice cream was more important.
Sim: I went into London to see the Violent Femmes just because my friend Karen wanted to shag one of them. She spent the whole gig making eyes at the pretty bassist, who – irritatingly, because she looked so lovely - totally failed to notice her.
Ja: Bassists are usually the quiet ones... she should’ve gone for the drummer.
Sim: What is it about Germany and metal?
Ja: A plentiful supply of ore.
What was the last record to give you goosebumps?
Sim: Ahhhh that doesn’t happen very often, and it mainly happens with singers for me. Eva Cassidy gives me goosebumps, as does Betty Carter and Nora Jones.
Ja: There’s a moment in Ramshackle Day Parade by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, where Joe sings: "Buried underneath this road". That never fails to raise the hairs on my neck.
What's the one song of the last 25 years that you wish you'd written?
Ja: I guess this is where I should name a big money-making uber-tune, but I’m going to say Shining by Kristian Leontiou. It wasn’t a huge hit, but it’s the song I turn to when I need to lift my spirits. It’s quite splendid.
Sim: You’re making the assumption that there’s just one... I love the lyric in White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane, and the energy of Teenage Kicks by Mr Sharkey.
Ja: That was The Undertones...
Sim: Now this is gonna sound weird... but I met Feargal Sharkey a couple of times when he was dallying with being an A&R man... and I‘m convinced he referred to it as his song... but that’ll be singers for you.
Ja: No comment! Trying telling that to John O'Neill.
What's the one acknowledged classic album that does nothing for you?
Sim: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is hard work, and I’m a Beatles fan.
Ja: Sgt Pepper’s... has a good cover though. Me... to be honest, Nevermind isn’t one I’d take with me to the next life.
Sim: Yeah... but I don’t think they had much to do with the cover. Although, I might be wrong there.
Which song makes you cry?
Ja: Sweet Song by Blur makes me weep on a regular basis. It’s very honest and Damon sounds genuinely grief-stricken.
Sim: Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd – guaranteed tears... every time.
Ja: And now I know your one weakness. Mwaaahaaa haaa haa etc.
Sim: Or yet another one of my weaknesses.
What's the last album you bought?
Sim: The second Fleet Foxes one... which was a bit of a let down, probably why I can’t remember the name.
Ja: Don’t mention foxes! I downloaded Manic Pop Thrill by That Petrol Emotion from iTunes. Hadn’t heard it in a long while and it still made me feel energised. It was released 25 years ago, so it’s topical too.
Have you ever used music as a soundtrack to sex?
Ja: Yes. Mezzanine by Massive Attack springs to mind. That’s a well-paced album...
Sim: Yeeeessss, but unless you plan it very well it can all go pear shaped. I think you can shag to a specific set of tracks if you’ve chosen them well, but random iPod tunes can be quite – erm – off-putting.
Ja: You need to shuffle less.
What's your earliest musical memory?
Ja: Jumping up and down on my Mum and Dad’s bed listening to Goodbye Blackberry Way by The Move. I was about 2 years old. That probably explains my obsessive use of that clompy two-four beat.
Sim: Singing along to the Rupert Bear theme tune single my Mum bought for me. [Sings] Ruuuuupert, Rupert The Bearrrrrrrr, everyone knows his naaaaaaaaaame!
Ja: Rupert The Bear reminds me of staying at my Nan and Grandad’s house in the summer holidays.
Sim: I used to stay at my Nan’s house a lot when I was quite small. I usually think of Mary, Mungo and Midge as the background to those times.
Ja: A classic if ever there was one. Watch With Mother...
How do you store your albums?
Ja: Most of my staple diet is on MP3 these days, so lots of albums now reside in boxes. Having so much music with you at all times [on iPhone] is bliss. Back in the day, you could only cram a few tapes into your pockets.
Sim: In a box in my parent’s loft.
Ja: Basically, our music is boxed.
Which album do you think is playing on repeat in Hell?
Ja: Bat Out Of Hell. No contest. Dislike. Lots.
Sim: Or, even, a selection of elevator muzak versions of Meat Loaf’s classics.
Ja: [Shudders] It’s pretty safe to assume we both dislike Meat Loaf, then...
In 25 years time, what do you think people will be saying about you?
Ja: Probably: “Isn’t Ja looking old now...” – though hopefully it’ll be pleasant things about how I finally found some success after all the years of effort.
Sim: Sorry mate - never heard of her.
Ja: You kidding me?!
Who, dead or alive, would you like to collaborate with?
Ja: It would have to be Prince. A month recording with him in the studio. We’d have three albums written in that time. Genius. Writing with Stuart Adamson would be great too.
Sim: Jason Allen.
Ja: Awww, that’s sweet! But I’m alive and we already are collaborating. Can I add Sim to my list now? [Updates list]
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Ja: I used to want An Ending (Ascent) by Brian Eno, but now I think it would have to be Score (Monsters Theme) by Jon Hopkins. It’s filled with possibilities and would be a good soundtrack for me in the Next Room, while I find my way over my new ground.
Sim: Gotta be Wish You Were Here by the Floyd.
Ja: [Sings] So, so you think you can tell...
Sim: Stop it!
Ja: OK then.
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