Metamatic Forums John Foxx John Foxx Questions, questions, questions

First off, just to say that the Brighton gig was tremendous. The gig was at the small venue known as the Gloucester which used to be a dive, but has now been refurbished in a retro-chic way. The sound system was good and Louis and John seemed to really enjoy themselves as, of course, did the audience.

Anyway, rather than get on with some work, I've been pondering some questions which relate to John and which I'd like to share with others who know far more about the man (and the myth) than me.

1. When John/Dennis answers the phone, who does he say is speaking?
2. Where exactly does John live? Does he live in more than one place? Does he have a flat or a house?
3. Is it true he has a dog (which would suggest a fairly settled home life)?
4. Is John single?
5. How much do we know about those ‘missing years’ between 1985-1995?
6. How do students view John at his university?
7. How do staff view him?
8. How much of his work is used to demonstrate taught theories for the students?
9. Does he perform/exhibit any of his work at uni or, for that matter, at other universities?
10. Does John/Dennis ever give guest lectures at other institutions?
11. When playing with Louis, what parts of the music is John playing ‘live’?
12. How much of his book has been written?
13. Is John about to prioritise film/music projects over just musical gigs? If so, what does that mean for his future relationship with Louis?
14. After the remastering of Metamatic and tour, is there likely to be remastered versions of the other albums? If so, would this mean Louis and John tackling some of these other tracks live?
15. When will John’s second collaboration with Harold Budd be released?
16. Has John ever considered working with Brian Eno (again)?
17. What writers/theorists/artists are the biggest influence on John at the moment? John certainly knows a great deal about Debord, Sinclair, Ballard, and ideas around subjects such as psychogeographies, but what else?
18. [Not a question, more a request] Why don’t people suggest to Steve Mallins to consider using John as support for a Gary Numan gig, especially, for the next retro tour next year.

....

Hmm, some good questions here, but I think it's faily obvious that half of them won't be answered. At least not without opening a can of worms, then still not having a definitive answer at the end of it!

Tread careful.

1. When John/Dennis answers the phone, who does he say is speaking?
- Maybe it depends who's phoning!

2. Where exactly does John live? Does he live in more than one place? Does he have a flat or a house?
- I've heard he lives in Leeds. I've also heard he lives in London.
Both would be logical... maybe he does live in both.. but obviously not at the same time.

I would suspect he does need to be close to the university he lectures at. And he probably travels by train

At the same time, Manchester wouldn't be at all surprising...

3. Is it true he has a dog (which would suggest a fairly settled home life)?
- he looks like a dog person.

4. Is John single?
- I'd be surprised if he was. We'll never know. He's the quiet man.

5. How much do we know about those ‘missing years’ between 1985-1995?
- Not enough. Possible marriage, Cathedral Oceans, Blitz, Nation 12 and bits of production work here and there. Maybe the start of the lecturing.

6. How do students view John at his university?
- A friend of mine was awestruck when she saw him walking down the corridor one day.

7. How do staff view him?
- Depends how much they have to pay him!

8. How much of his work is used to demonstrate taught theories for the students?
- this would be really interesting to know. I would suspect very little of his music though. Or maybe not so now we've got TCM.

9. Does he perform/exhibit any of his work at uni or, for that matter, at other universities?
- I'm sure Rob can answer that!

10. Does John/Dennis ever give guest lectures at other institutions?
- I'm sure Rob can answer that!

11. When playing with Louis, what parts of the music is John playing ‘live’?
- this is the starting point for a whole new debate... and it'll probably end in tears.

12. How much of his book has been written?
- quite a lot by the sound of it from the Metal Beat interview.

13. Is John about to prioritise film/music projects over just musical gigs? If so, what does that mean for his future relationship with Louis?
- I think we'll have to wait and see with that one. best not read too deep into the odd blog post.

14. After the remastering of Metamatic and tour, is there likely to be remastered versions of the other albums? If so, would this mean Louis and John tackling some of these other tracks live?
- Remastered Garden has already been mentioned as the next in the list. I think over the summer they also remastered Shifting City and Pleasures of Electricity.

15. When will John’s second collaboration with Harold Budd be released?
- does it have to be? Who knows! Perhaps never!

16. Has John ever considered working with Brian Eno (again)?
- Who knows, but Eno always brings something unique to the artists he works with, so it would certainly be interesting.

17. What writers/theorists/artists are the biggest influence on John at the moment? John certainly knows a great deal about Debord, Sinclair, Ballard, and ideas around subjects such as psychogeographies, but what else?
- probably still all the same ones!

18. [Not a question, more a request] Why don’t people suggest to Steve Mallins to consider using John as support for a Gary Numan gig, especially, for the next retro tour next year.
- That would be an incredible gig!!! I'm sure Steve has already bounced the idea around though...

On that last request.I think at least equal billing would be fair.I think however Numan has gone down the industrial guitar grunge sound live so wouldn't sit that well with John's stuff.
I used to want to see those 2 team up but musically/artistically they are very different nowadays (for me John's stuff is miles better sonically live and on cd, and also artistically in terms of lyrics and for me the synths win hands down.Numan is however doing a tour of the Tubeway Army album "Replicas" next year (following the successful tour of "Telekon") so in that context it might work.But on the whole I'd rather he got more exposure through working with people like Bjork,Bowie,Dave Gahan...as well as less mainstream people like Steve Jansen,Bobby Bird...

In retrospect - Peter's right. Some things just don't need to be discussed.

Numan and Foxx together though - NO WAY.

mongrel

Some interesting questions but I don't want to get drawn into Johns private life. After all he is the Quiet Man. At the end of the day I'd rather have facts than pure speculation/rumours/gossip.

As for John supportting Gary for me a definite NO NO. I like both and they both deserve equal billing.

Peter

It's quite refreshing, the lack of info about John's private life.

I can't see a problem with John supporting Gary on the Replicas tour.

Psychogeography: an interesting topic!

A friend, whom may b a member here Imust ask him, swears he saw John shopping in Sainsburys in Bath so perhaps he lives their. Louis mentioned a cottage in Shropshire to me at one gig. Who knows where he lives? Man's got a right to privicey.

No.

Personally I wouldn’t like to see John playing second fiddle to Numan. I adore Gary’s early work but am no fan of this goth-metal nonsense he’s peddling these days. It saddened me deeply to read his website and see how excited he got about mentions in Kerrang! Bring back the android we knew and loved.

Being a huge fan of both John and Garys work I would like to see them both in one show but then again I wouldn't,if you know what I mean... John would certainly deserve equal billing imho.I do notice when in London at Foxx gigs there is always a few who shout "Nnooomaaann!!" (I know who you are!! ) but saying that at Numan gigs in London ther is generaly a few shouts of "Foooxxx!" (Yeah! I know you too )

Interestingly enough Louis did re-mix "Dominion Day" for Numan but it never saw the light of day* (Gemma thought there were too many Synths...allegedly )

A Foxx/Numan gig won't ever happen. I love the work of both artists equally. Both are diverse within the same field - nowadays different ends of the spectrum if you like.

Although it would be great to see these two idols in one show, I think it just wouldn't be appropriate, given where both artists are today.

Many fans of Numan like John and vice-versa. But they need to be seen in their own 'place'.

A joint-headline gig idea would be interesting though - like a double gig - especially if both artists were to play an entire album, like they have both done. The problem then, is that it starts to look like a cash-in on old glories...