I remember the first article I ever wrote, and I saw my name in the paper, and I already knew I was undocumented, and I was thinking: ‘How can they now say I don’t exist?’
Then I decided I couldn’t just crawl in the corner and die, so I started putting pen to paper and wrote some songs. I had no idea what for or who I was going to work with. I tried to find my way and direction.
It had run as a column – I had worked at the paper since 1976, but the column had been running for 13 years, and I think it was a strong column, criticizing the war when the paper was supporting it.
I also remember the second band I was in ever. We were called Hybrid. We got a show at this local street fair, and we were playing on the back of a flatbed truck. There was an ad in the paper, and it said that ‘Hybird’ is playing. I was so mad.
There is no need for neighborhood informants and paper dossiers if the government can see citizens’ every Web site visit, e-mail and text message.
Someone with 4As at A-level from Eton may look good on paper and come across as very smooth, but push a bit more, and often you get the impression they have learned to pass exams rather than think for themselves.
Where I thrive is with my hands on the keyboard or my pen on the paper. One of the things I get to do is I get to rewrite. I rewrite, and I work hard on my scripts. You can rewrite until you’re ‘perfect,’ and that’s something that’s safe for me.
I consider the process of gestation just as important as when you’re actually sitting down putting words to the paper.
