Nicola Griffith's Blog, page 93
March 30, 2014
Hild links roundup #16
Bunch of reviews--one I particularly like, the one in the form of an email colloquy from Addison Recorder. In a few days my radio interview with To the Best of Our Knowledge goes live; I'll link. Next week Hild goes on sale in the UK and Commonwealth; tomorrow I'll post a bunch o' buy-links (pre-order in Australia!).
That's about it, news-wise. But if you're a glutton for punishment go read the gigantic roundup of links roundups.
REVIEWSAddison RecorderShedding Light on an Unfairly Darkened Age, Christopher Walsh and Andrew J. Rostan[Great email colloquy about Hild. Definitely worth reading.]"Chris: Fiction about the Middle Ages can be a very mixed bag of idealized medievalisms and anachronistic pageantry. Knights gallivant across countrysides regardless of a historical tradition of chivalry in that country, dressed in armor shining bright despite the technology or preferred protection of the time. Honor and such are paramount. I love the Middle Ages, but reading historical fiction set in the time period can be a considerable chore given how many authors opt to write what feels medieval instead of what is medieval. Such is gloriously not the case with Hild."
BookishHild by Nicola Griffith, by Silvia McIvers"Hild is the second daughter of a dead king, but her mother dreamed that Hild will be the Light of the World, and is determined to make her dream come true. / Half the book takes place before Hild is old enough to wear a veil band and girdle, which means she's never gotten her period. She is a little, little kid with a big, big brain."
Bisexual BooksHild by Nicola Griffith, Ellie"If you like historical epics with a leisurely pace and detailed world building, and your only complaint is that none of those books have queer protagonists, then Hild is for you."
Book Banter"Hild" by Nicola Griffith"Griffith doesn’t look to tell your average medieval historical novel of back to back action scenes and historic battles, but a moving story of people interacting and living through this tumultuous time and what they did to make a difference. And then of course, there is the captivating cover to draw any reader in."
Great Book EscapesHild by Nicola Griffith"I enjoyed reading this book slowly, getting a real sense of how society worked in the 7th C. At first I struggled to read the strange names and words of a language that is so unfamiliar, but this enhances the experience of imagining the 7th C and the book would be poorer without it. The use of unfamiliar words become part of the world unfolding, so that an understanding of their meaning becomes clearer, and with the glossary at the end of the book all is revealed. I think you absorb this story so that it becomes familiar."
University of St. Francis LibraryBook Review—Hild: A Novel, Brigitte Bell[Scroll down—the PDF has no internal linkage.]"Hild is the first novel in quite some time I’ve literally been unable to put down. It is a richly diverse, beautifully written novel with a little something for everyone. If you are a historical fiction enthusiast or are simply looking for something new to read, I highly recommend it!"
Camden Public LibraryMarie’s Reading Hild by Nicola Griffith[Sadly, Marie doesn’t think there’s any character development in the novel, but she does compare it—again—to Umberto Eco and MZB. One of these days I need to revisit the comps count.]
MISCELLANEOUS
Cassie, owned by Brian Zottoli, ponders Hugo nominations
Oh, and I changed my profile pic--photo by Jennifer Durham
That's about it, news-wise. But if you're a glutton for punishment go read the gigantic roundup of links roundups.
REVIEWSAddison RecorderShedding Light on an Unfairly Darkened Age, Christopher Walsh and Andrew J. Rostan[Great email colloquy about Hild. Definitely worth reading.]"Chris: Fiction about the Middle Ages can be a very mixed bag of idealized medievalisms and anachronistic pageantry. Knights gallivant across countrysides regardless of a historical tradition of chivalry in that country, dressed in armor shining bright despite the technology or preferred protection of the time. Honor and such are paramount. I love the Middle Ages, but reading historical fiction set in the time period can be a considerable chore given how many authors opt to write what feels medieval instead of what is medieval. Such is gloriously not the case with Hild."
BookishHild by Nicola Griffith, by Silvia McIvers"Hild is the second daughter of a dead king, but her mother dreamed that Hild will be the Light of the World, and is determined to make her dream come true. / Half the book takes place before Hild is old enough to wear a veil band and girdle, which means she's never gotten her period. She is a little, little kid with a big, big brain."
Bisexual BooksHild by Nicola Griffith, Ellie"If you like historical epics with a leisurely pace and detailed world building, and your only complaint is that none of those books have queer protagonists, then Hild is for you."
Book Banter"Hild" by Nicola Griffith"Griffith doesn’t look to tell your average medieval historical novel of back to back action scenes and historic battles, but a moving story of people interacting and living through this tumultuous time and what they did to make a difference. And then of course, there is the captivating cover to draw any reader in."
Great Book EscapesHild by Nicola Griffith"I enjoyed reading this book slowly, getting a real sense of how society worked in the 7th C. At first I struggled to read the strange names and words of a language that is so unfamiliar, but this enhances the experience of imagining the 7th C and the book would be poorer without it. The use of unfamiliar words become part of the world unfolding, so that an understanding of their meaning becomes clearer, and with the glossary at the end of the book all is revealed. I think you absorb this story so that it becomes familiar."
University of St. Francis LibraryBook Review—Hild: A Novel, Brigitte Bell[Scroll down—the PDF has no internal linkage.]"Hild is the first novel in quite some time I’ve literally been unable to put down. It is a richly diverse, beautifully written novel with a little something for everyone. If you are a historical fiction enthusiast or are simply looking for something new to read, I highly recommend it!"
Camden Public LibraryMarie’s Reading Hild by Nicola Griffith[Sadly, Marie doesn’t think there’s any character development in the novel, but she does compare it—again—to Umberto Eco and MZB. One of these days I need to revisit the comps count.]
MISCELLANEOUS
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Cassie, owned by Brian Zottoli, ponders Hugo nominations
Oh, and I changed my profile pic--photo by Jennifer Durham
March 27, 2014
Hild coming to the UK in just two weeks
Exactly two weeks today, on Thursday 10 April, Hild will be published in the UK as an ebook.
The hardback and paperback are due 15 weeks later, on Thursday 24 July. (Pre-order from your local independent book shop in the UK or Australia or India. Better buy-links closer to the date, I hope.)
I am thrilled at the prospect: Hild finally being available in my own country--in the country Hild herself helped make.
Here's how it will look: the cover and the flap- and back-copy.
‘You are a prophet and seer with the brightest mind in an age. Your blood is that of the man who should have been king … That’s what the king and his lords see. And they will kill you, one day’
Britain in the seventh century – and the world is changing. Small kingdoms are merging, frequently and violently. Edwin, King of Northumbria, plots his rise to overking of all the Angles. Ruthless and unforgiving, he is prepared to use every tool at his disposal: blood, bribery, belief. Into this brutal, vibrant court steps Hild – Edwin’s youngest niece.
With her glittering mind and powerful curiosity, Hild has a unique way of reading the world. By studying nature, observing human behavior and matching cause with effect, she has developed the ability to make startlingly accurate predictions. It is a gift that can seem uncanny, even supernatural, to those around her.
It is also a valuable weapon. Hild is indispensable to Edwin – unless she should ever lead him astray. The stakes are life and death: for Hild, for her family, for her loved ones, and for the increasing numbers who seek the protection of the strange girl who can see the future and lead men like a warrior.
In this vivid, utterly compelling novel, Nicola Griffith has brought the Early Middle Ages to life in an extraordinary act of alchemy. Drawn from the story of St Hilda of Whitby – one of the most fascinating and pivotal figures of the age – Hild transports the reader into a mesmerising, unforgettable world.
Praise for Hild
‘You will never think of them as the Dark Ages again. Griffith’s command of the era is worn lightly and delivered as a deeply engaging plot. Her insight into human nature and eye for telling detail is as keen as that of the extraordinary Hild herself. The novel resonates to many of the same chords as Beowulf, the legends of King Arthur, Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones– to the extent that Hild begins to feel like the classic on which those books are based’Neal Stephenson
‘Vivid, vital, and visceral, Hild’s history reads like a thriller’Val McDermid
‘You could describe Hild as being like Game of Thrones without the dragons, but this is so much deeper than that, so much richer. A glorious, intensely passionate walk through an entirely real landscape, Hild leads us into the dark ages and makes them light, and tense, and edgy and deeply moving. The research is flawless, the characters fully alive’Manda Scott
‘Nicola Griffith is an awe-inspiring visionary, and I am telling everyone to snatch this book up. Hild is not just one of the best historical novels I have ever read – I think it’s one of the best novels, period’Dorothy Allison
‘Dazzling … Griffith’s lyrical prose emphasizes the savagery of the political landscape, in which religion, sex, and superstition are wielded mercilessly for personal gain’ Rachel Abramowitz, Paris Review Daily
‘In its ambition and intelligence, Hild might best be compared to Hilary Mantel's novels about Thomas Cromwell’
Jenny Davidson, Bookforum
The hardback and paperback are due 15 weeks later, on Thursday 24 July. (Pre-order from your local independent book shop in the UK or Australia or India. Better buy-links closer to the date, I hope.)
I am thrilled at the prospect: Hild finally being available in my own country--in the country Hild herself helped make.
Here's how it will look: the cover and the flap- and back-copy.
‘You are a prophet and seer with the brightest mind in an age. Your blood is that of the man who should have been king … That’s what the king and his lords see. And they will kill you, one day’
Britain in the seventh century – and the world is changing. Small kingdoms are merging, frequently and violently. Edwin, King of Northumbria, plots his rise to overking of all the Angles. Ruthless and unforgiving, he is prepared to use every tool at his disposal: blood, bribery, belief. Into this brutal, vibrant court steps Hild – Edwin’s youngest niece.
With her glittering mind and powerful curiosity, Hild has a unique way of reading the world. By studying nature, observing human behavior and matching cause with effect, she has developed the ability to make startlingly accurate predictions. It is a gift that can seem uncanny, even supernatural, to those around her.
It is also a valuable weapon. Hild is indispensable to Edwin – unless she should ever lead him astray. The stakes are life and death: for Hild, for her family, for her loved ones, and for the increasing numbers who seek the protection of the strange girl who can see the future and lead men like a warrior.
In this vivid, utterly compelling novel, Nicola Griffith has brought the Early Middle Ages to life in an extraordinary act of alchemy. Drawn from the story of St Hilda of Whitby – one of the most fascinating and pivotal figures of the age – Hild transports the reader into a mesmerising, unforgettable world.
Praise for Hild
‘You will never think of them as the Dark Ages again. Griffith’s command of the era is worn lightly and delivered as a deeply engaging plot. Her insight into human nature and eye for telling detail is as keen as that of the extraordinary Hild herself. The novel resonates to many of the same chords as Beowulf, the legends of King Arthur, Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones– to the extent that Hild begins to feel like the classic on which those books are based’Neal Stephenson
‘Vivid, vital, and visceral, Hild’s history reads like a thriller’Val McDermid
‘You could describe Hild as being like Game of Thrones without the dragons, but this is so much deeper than that, so much richer. A glorious, intensely passionate walk through an entirely real landscape, Hild leads us into the dark ages and makes them light, and tense, and edgy and deeply moving. The research is flawless, the characters fully alive’Manda Scott
‘Nicola Griffith is an awe-inspiring visionary, and I am telling everyone to snatch this book up. Hild is not just one of the best historical novels I have ever read – I think it’s one of the best novels, period’Dorothy Allison
‘Dazzling … Griffith’s lyrical prose emphasizes the savagery of the political landscape, in which religion, sex, and superstition are wielded mercilessly for personal gain’ Rachel Abramowitz, Paris Review Daily
‘In its ambition and intelligence, Hild might best be compared to Hilary Mantel's novels about Thomas Cromwell’
Jenny Davidson, Bookforum
March 20, 2014
Latest HILD research
The second edition of The River, Mountains and Sea-Coast of Yorkshire. With Essays on the Climate, Scenery, and Ancient Inhabitants of the Country, by John Phillips (MS, FRS) was printed in London, by John Murray, in 1855. It won't win any edge-of-your-seat awards but if you like looking at graphs and tables of odd (some of it very odd) information collected by gentlemen natural philosophers, it can be pretty interesting.
Here's a (sadly not very representative) snip:
The best bits are those tables. Phillips details the labourious heights (and depths) he went to to conduct his research, for example hoisting various receptacles on poles of various heights in his garden to gauge how elevation might affect precipitation.
Seeing several scientific disciplines at their dawn is fascinating, as is casting my imagination even farther back in time to what someone of Hild's time may or may not have been able to observe of the natural world. I have had some cracking ideas about how Hild might maintain her seerly prowess...
In other words, here in Seattle I'm enjoying myself thoroughly.
Here's a (sadly not very representative) snip:
The best bits are those tables. Phillips details the labourious heights (and depths) he went to to conduct his research, for example hoisting various receptacles on poles of various heights in his garden to gauge how elevation might affect precipitation.Seeing several scientific disciplines at their dawn is fascinating, as is casting my imagination even farther back in time to what someone of Hild's time may or may not have been able to observe of the natural world. I have had some cracking ideas about how Hild might maintain her seerly prowess...
In other words, here in Seattle I'm enjoying myself thoroughly.
March 17, 2014
HILD UK cover reveal
The UK edition of Hild will be published by Blackfriars
ebook April 10 (pre-order)hardback and paperback July 24 (pre-order)audiobook (already available)The ebook and paperback will be available in fifty-plus territories: UK, Australia, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland, South Africa, Malaysia, Myanmar, Jordan, Sri Lanka etc. The hardback will mainly be for the UK, I think, but I'm guessing some enterprising retailers will be willing to ship. More on links to retailers in another post.
Blackfriars agree with my original notion of Hild cover art: no representation of Hild. Perhaps it's a cultural thing. I am very, very happy with this:
Original art Anna and Elena Balbusso, original design Charlotte Strick, Blackfriars design Sian Wilson I particularly like the way that, without Hild and her unfathomable gaze taking up all the air, the lettering and the cross come to the fore. They hint (to me) of knife cuts on wood, and bloody deeds.
As soon as I have a full set of retailer links I'll post them.
You want to hear some of those bloody deeds? Then on April 6th tune into your local NPR station and To the Best of Our Knowledge; I'll be reading a one-minute segment of Hild being the butcher bird of Elmet, plus two other snippets as well. And, of course, talking to Anne Strainchamps. I hope you'll join us.
ebook April 10 (pre-order)hardback and paperback July 24 (pre-order)audiobook (already available)The ebook and paperback will be available in fifty-plus territories: UK, Australia, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland, South Africa, Malaysia, Myanmar, Jordan, Sri Lanka etc. The hardback will mainly be for the UK, I think, but I'm guessing some enterprising retailers will be willing to ship. More on links to retailers in another post.
Blackfriars agree with my original notion of Hild cover art: no representation of Hild. Perhaps it's a cultural thing. I am very, very happy with this:
Original art Anna and Elena Balbusso, original design Charlotte Strick, Blackfriars design Sian Wilson I particularly like the way that, without Hild and her unfathomable gaze taking up all the air, the lettering and the cross come to the fore. They hint (to me) of knife cuts on wood, and bloody deeds.As soon as I have a full set of retailer links I'll post them.
You want to hear some of those bloody deeds? Then on April 6th tune into your local NPR station and To the Best of Our Knowledge; I'll be reading a one-minute segment of Hild being the butcher bird of Elmet, plus two other snippets as well. And, of course, talking to Anne Strainchamps. I hope you'll join us.
March 15, 2014
21st century sky
I was outside in the brilliant sun, looking at the trees, thinking, "This is something like Hild's sky," when a plane came by and reminded me that, in fact, a lot has changed in fourteen hundred years...Next week I won't be around much. I'll be with Hild. I hope you also have plans for something you're looking forward to.
March 14, 2014
Hild roundup #15
Not too much today, so here is a quick note about some upcoming dates:April 6. An interview on To the Best of Our Knowledge, including three mini-readings from Hild--at least one of which you have never heard before. Check local NPR station for listings. But, hey, initial air date is same day that Game of Thrones Season 4 begins...April 10. The UK (and Australian, and Indian, and Irish, etc--more than 50 territories) ebook of Hild is out from Blackfriars. More on this anon.April 13. Clarion West one-day workshop on "The Magic of Immersive Fiction." The workshop sold out in 90 mins so I've been asked to teach it again. I'm thinking about it. Let me know in comments if you're interested.May 9. I'm reading at Elliott Bay, with Mattilda Berstein Sycamore and Chavisa Woods, at 7 pm. Come help us celebrate our nominations--in Bisexual Fiction, Trans Non-Fiction, and Lesbian General Fiction--for the Lambda Literary Award.May 17. Nebula Awards. San Jose. Be there! (Par-ty!)Previous links roundups here. (Tell me when you get tired of this; Hild has, after all, been out four months now.)
REVIEWSBrown StudyHild by Nicola Griffith, Selena Frye"I didn't plan it this way, but I can't think of a better book to champion during Women's History Month. Griffith's work is historical fiction at its finest, illuminating a slice of Anglo-Saxon history that begins and ends for most of us with Beowulf and the heroic culture of the mead hall."
Reading the AgesHild by Nicola Griffith, Kathleen Ingram"I very much enjoyed this long but beautifully written tale of a favourite time and person."
INTERVIEWSCobaltIn which I talk to Rafe Posey about Hild, what did/n’t change in my life after publication, voice, and more.
MISCELLANEOUSWell ReadListing some novels that readers might like, Mary Ann Gwinn mentions Peter Tremayne’s novels. "These books are so popular, they have inspired their own fan club, the International Sister Fidelma Society. I would like to start a similar club for Hild. Can I sign you up?" (She and Terry Tazzioli had some lovely things to say about Hild when Terry interviewed me for PBS's Well Read.)
REVIEWSBrown StudyHild by Nicola Griffith, Selena Frye"I didn't plan it this way, but I can't think of a better book to champion during Women's History Month. Griffith's work is historical fiction at its finest, illuminating a slice of Anglo-Saxon history that begins and ends for most of us with Beowulf and the heroic culture of the mead hall."
Reading the AgesHild by Nicola Griffith, Kathleen Ingram"I very much enjoyed this long but beautifully written tale of a favourite time and person."
INTERVIEWSCobaltIn which I talk to Rafe Posey about Hild, what did/n’t change in my life after publication, voice, and more.
MISCELLANEOUSWell ReadListing some novels that readers might like, Mary Ann Gwinn mentions Peter Tremayne’s novels. "These books are so popular, they have inspired their own fan club, the International Sister Fidelma Society. I would like to start a similar club for Hild. Can I sign you up?" (She and Terry Tazzioli had some lovely things to say about Hild when Terry interviewed me for PBS's Well Read.)
March 12, 2014
Charging towards spring
Three photos. The first taken exactly four weeks ago, the morning we flew to the UK. The last is this morning at the same time I took the first. The middle was ten days ago, around the same time of day. Seattle weather in full flower, and charging towards spring.
March 11, 2014
HILD HAS A GLOSSARY. HILD HAS A GLOSSARY. HILD HAS--
If you check the Hild table of contents, THERE IS A GLOSSARY AT THE BACK.
Just had to get that off my chest; if I get one more email or DM or FB message chastising me sorrowfully about this my brain will burst.
If you're reading a Kindle version of Hild, the file automatically opens at the beginning of the narrative, so you don't see that there's a map, a family tree, a glossary, a historical note, and a pronunciation guide. If you don't think of looking, or if you simply don't know how (you really should learn) then feel free to download the handy PDFs of the extras I've assembled here. (In order to demonstrate my intimate understanding of human laziness, I haven't bothered to create an internal link; you'll just have to--gasp!--scroll down to More Information.)
That's all.
Just had to get that off my chest; if I get one more email or DM or FB message chastising me sorrowfully about this my brain will burst.
If you're reading a Kindle version of Hild, the file automatically opens at the beginning of the narrative, so you don't see that there's a map, a family tree, a glossary, a historical note, and a pronunciation guide. If you don't think of looking, or if you simply don't know how (you really should learn) then feel free to download the handy PDFs of the extras I've assembled here. (In order to demonstrate my intimate understanding of human laziness, I haven't bothered to create an internal link; you'll just have to--gasp!--scroll down to More Information.)
That's all.
March 10, 2014
Good lesbian science fiction novels, again
I don't normally think of myself as a handy recommendation app, but, hey, today I'm feeling mellow. (A tip for approaching writers in the future: at least make an effort to say something nice about the writer's work before launching into the "Gimme, gimme!" portion of the conversation. Also, try using the search function in the right sidebar.)From: Andrew
Hi, I recently stumbled onto your blog looking for a good sci-fi or fantasy book with a lesbian protagonist. I've enjoyed books like the Hunger Games, Lorien Legacies, Harry Potter, and Star Wars books, starting Divergent and A Game of Thrones. However I want something a little different with the main character or supporting character. I don't want a book that focuses on the characters sexual orientation, but just happens to be a lesbian. I want some romance, but don't want it to feel like it is the main purpose of the book. So I was wondering if you could help me picking one out. Thank you.
About a year ago I discussed good lesbian science fiction novels at length--in a blog post titled, oddly enough, Good lesbian science fiction novels. Read it, especially the comments. Of the books mentioned, I suspect you might enjoy both Santa Olivia and The Chronicles of Tornor. Then there's Kelley's Solitaire and my own Ammonite . Once you've tried those I suggest using the various volumes of Heiresses of Russ as a way to find authors to your taste.
Have fun. And next time do consider giving before asking.
March 8, 2014
International Women's Day
When I lived in Hull, the women's community--and it really was a community; we were in each others lives to an extent I think most Americans would find amazing, amusing, or appalling depending on cultural background--went to town on celebrations for IWD.
I remember one in particular because it the day Janes Plane debuted (32 years ago today). So here, because I'm feeling nostalgic, is a post I wrote three years ago to celebrate a slightly different anniversary and reveal, for the first time, video of the band...
Dead Kennedys, The Damned, The Undertones, Cocteau Twins, Killing Joke, Stiff Little Fingers, and my band, Janes Plane. What do we all have in common? We played at the Ace, Brixton, in 1982. (So did, uh, Kajagoogoo, but we don't admit to that. Though in my defence of coolness I will point out that this was before their pop hit, "Too Shy.")
To be precise, twenty-nine years ago today I sang in front of a sell-out crowd and four TV cameras. I had a blast. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll was not a metaphor.
If you've read my memoir, And Now We Are Going to Have a Party , you'll have heard some of the Janes Plane songs. You can read an exerpt about the band's formation, and how singing brought me to writing, here. Or, ah fuck it, just listen to "Bare Hands."
It was recorded in August 1982, when the band was still together--and when the following video (for a UK TV show called Whatever You Want) was recorded.
I've been sitting on this video for a long, long time. It makes my toes curl. (Do you have any idea how hard it is to edit video when you can't actually look at it??) I was 21, trying to hard to look laid back and world-weary, but so stressed out about that kitten. (And with a wicked hash hangover--the night before was the first time I'd smoked Nepalese Temple Ball. I smoked a lot.) Note that my nose looks different: it was a couple of years before I got it broken in a fight.
While I'm throwing caution to the wind, here's video of part of that Ace gig, filmed December 9, 1982. We were woefully under-rehearsed (we'd split up not long after that August interview, and reformed for this one gig) and this was the song we'd played least. (You won't find this one on the CD in the memoir. It was the last song we wrote.) Also, Jane's guitar was horribly out-of-tune. It was always out of tune; even pooling our resources, we couldn't afford to replace the machine heads.
We were incredibly poor. That white shirt I was wearing cost 20p in a jumble sale and I cut the collar off with a knife (ditto that shirt in the other video). The waistcoat was knitted for me by a lover's mum. The pink trousers were hand-me-downs that I wore all the time. I was reminded just the other day that on the day of the gig I didn't have tube fare to get there and had to borrow it. But, hey, we got paid in cash--union rates--right after the show. That night we partied. The only snag is, I don't remember a thing about it :) Eh, I was 22; I thought I ruled the world. I remember that young person fondly.
Enjoy.
I remember one in particular because it the day Janes Plane debuted (32 years ago today). So here, because I'm feeling nostalgic, is a post I wrote three years ago to celebrate a slightly different anniversary and reveal, for the first time, video of the band...
Dead Kennedys, The Damned, The Undertones, Cocteau Twins, Killing Joke, Stiff Little Fingers, and my band, Janes Plane. What do we all have in common? We played at the Ace, Brixton, in 1982. (So did, uh, Kajagoogoo, but we don't admit to that. Though in my defence of coolness I will point out that this was before their pop hit, "Too Shy.")To be precise, twenty-nine years ago today I sang in front of a sell-out crowd and four TV cameras. I had a blast. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll was not a metaphor.
If you've read my memoir, And Now We Are Going to Have a Party , you'll have heard some of the Janes Plane songs. You can read an exerpt about the band's formation, and how singing brought me to writing, here. Or, ah fuck it, just listen to "Bare Hands."
It was recorded in August 1982, when the band was still together--and when the following video (for a UK TV show called Whatever You Want) was recorded.
I've been sitting on this video for a long, long time. It makes my toes curl. (Do you have any idea how hard it is to edit video when you can't actually look at it??) I was 21, trying to hard to look laid back and world-weary, but so stressed out about that kitten. (And with a wicked hash hangover--the night before was the first time I'd smoked Nepalese Temple Ball. I smoked a lot.) Note that my nose looks different: it was a couple of years before I got it broken in a fight.
While I'm throwing caution to the wind, here's video of part of that Ace gig, filmed December 9, 1982. We were woefully under-rehearsed (we'd split up not long after that August interview, and reformed for this one gig) and this was the song we'd played least. (You won't find this one on the CD in the memoir. It was the last song we wrote.) Also, Jane's guitar was horribly out-of-tune. It was always out of tune; even pooling our resources, we couldn't afford to replace the machine heads.
We were incredibly poor. That white shirt I was wearing cost 20p in a jumble sale and I cut the collar off with a knife (ditto that shirt in the other video). The waistcoat was knitted for me by a lover's mum. The pink trousers were hand-me-downs that I wore all the time. I was reminded just the other day that on the day of the gig I didn't have tube fare to get there and had to borrow it. But, hey, we got paid in cash--union rates--right after the show. That night we partied. The only snag is, I don't remember a thing about it :) Eh, I was 22; I thought I ruled the world. I remember that young person fondly.
Enjoy.
