BBC Interview Steph Warren (POW) about Banksy

[drip]

I was wondering about the whole enervating thing. I read it before I went to bed last night and couldn't sleep.

[robo]

I’ve finished listening to the future series and it is BRILLIANT. Enjoyed every minute. Great work James and R4.

[robo]

By the way I’d have had a few early days tales to tell 😀

[radio4]

Oh shoot - this is my bad. I did not mean 'enervating' as in 'causing one to feel drained of energy or vitality', but 'energising'- I can't even claim it was spellcheck, I just literally used the wrong word because I'd been drinking whisky. So, yeh, 'energising'. And I'm sorry about your lost night's sleep, Drip.

The UAA is an awesome repository of information about a fascinating world and I hope both honourable and dishonourable members will forgive me fashioning it into a sort of Greek Chorus commentating on Banksy's rise and rise, when I know there is so much more to the UAA than that. One thing that struck me, rummaging through 15-year-old pages, is the love and respect commonly shared for Steph - who was a total star to work with, and who has been through a hell of a lot in the name of furthering street art. I know she has a lot of love for you guys and everything the members do to celebrate the furtherance of it.

So for those of you that listened, thank you. And for those of you who put up with hearing stuff they already knew, thank you again. Although this series was aimed at a general listenership new to Banksy's origin story, it was important to me that you all didn't hate the series too much.

Some quick responses to queries in the thread:

- The voices were the only way I could think of to get Banksy's own words in there in a way that wasn't tiresome and samey. You may have found it tiresome and samey, but it would have been worse if we'd just used one voice. Which one would we have used? Besides, Banksy needed quoting. I have always thought that his written material, in particular the anecdotes in the early books, are not celebrated anywhere near enough for their quality, as they are always in the shadow of the art itself. Banksy, or whoever writes his copy, is fricking funny and I wanted to steal as many of his jokes as possible.

- Yes, I've been a new member on here for years now.

- Steve Lazarides' story would be very interesting to hear, but it wasn't the story I was telling

- Patrick is a very wise, endlessly perceptive, honourable and delightful bloke, and his book Beyond The Street: 100 Leading Figures in Urban Art' is a barnstorming work. It is great to see him celebrated so widely on this forum, proving you guys do recognise quality when you see it.

- Getting kicked out of Beyond The Streets exhibition was a real highlight for me, but it did mean I missed the opening night party, which I'm told was a banger. At the time I wondered whether this was an unusual way to grab some column inches for the show, but the show didn't need that kind of help. I was binned for asking insensitive questions. About two mins before this happened, I accidentally knocked Roger Gastman's mobile phone out of his hand, and it smashed on the floor. This did not endear me to him. Anyhow, being called "an asshole" by a furious Roger made Steph laugh so much that this whole production was worth it for that alone.

Also, quick queries:
Where can I get one of those 'Never Look Directly At The Sun' prints? Who was the artist please?
And who can sell me a 'Hated By The Daily Mail' T shirt?

Anyway, thanks again for listening. If you think I may have missed out vital stuff that needs putting in a podcast one day, do please let me know. ta.

[Lazy Jesus]

Harriet Richardson is the artist of the print. You can usually buy direct but her website is redirecting to a new project linktr.ee/hatsrichardson


Print can however be found at this gallery: 


stopwatchgallery.com/product/never-look-directly-at-the-sun-orange-hats-richardson/

[storm breaker]

Sept 2, 2023 20:36:47 GMT 1 radio4 said:

Oh shoot - this is my bad. I did not mean 'enervating' as in 'causing one to feel drained of energy or vitality', but 'energising'- I can't even claim it was spellcheck, I just literally used the wrong word because I'd been drinking whisky. So, yeh, 'energising'. And I'm sorry about your lost night's sleep, Drip.

The UAA is an awesome repository of information about a fascinating world and I hope both honourable and dishonourable members will forgive me fashioning it into a sort of Greek Chorus commentating on Banksy's rise and rise, when I know there is so much more to the UAA than that. One thing that struck me, rummaging through 15-year-old pages, is the love and respect commonly shared for Steph - who was a total star to work with, and who has been through a hell of a lot in the name of furthering street art. I know she has a lot of love for you guys and everything the members do to celebrate the furtherance of it.

So for those of you that listened, thank you. And for those of you who put up with hearing stuff they already knew, thank you again. Although this series was aimed at a general listenership new to Banksy's origin story, it was important to me that you all didn't hate the series too much.

Some quick responses to queries in the thread:

- The voices were the only way I could think of to get Banksy's own words in there in a way that wasn't tiresome and samey. You may have found it tiresome and samey, but it would have been worse if we'd just used one voice. Which one would we have used? Besides, Banksy needed quoting. I have always thought that his written material, in particular the anecdotes in the early books, are not celebrated anywhere near enough for their quality, as they are always in the shadow of the art itself. Banksy, or whoever writes his copy, is fricking funny and I wanted to steal as many of his jokes as possible.

- Yes, I've been a new member on here for years now.

- Steve Lazarides' story would be very interesting to hear, but it wasn't the story I was telling

- Patrick is a very wise, endlessly perceptive, honourable and delightful bloke, and his book Beyond The Street: 100 Leading Figures in Urban Art' is a barnstorming work. It is great to see him celebrated so widely on this forum, proving you guys do recognise quality when you see it.

- Getting kicked out of Beyond The Streets exhibition was a real highlight for me, but it did mean I missed the opening night party, which I'm told was a banger. At the time I wondered whether this was an unusual way to grab some column inches for the show, but the show didn't need that kind of help. I was binned for asking insensitive questions. About two mins before this happened, I accidentally knocked Roger Gastman's mobile phone out of his hand, and it smashed on the floor. This did not endear me to him. Anyhow, being called "an asshole" by a furious Roger made Steph laugh so much that this whole production was worth it for that alone.

Also, quick queries:
Where can I get one of those 'Never Look Directly At The Sun' prints? Who was the artist please?
And who can sell me a 'Hated By The Daily Mail' T shirt?

Anyway, thanks again for listening. If you think I may have missed out vital stuff that needs putting in a podcast one day, do please let me know. ta.

You didn't answer my question or was the 'yes I've been a new member here for years' a swerve around it? 

[radio4]

Do I have to spell it out? It's a swerve around it.

[robo]

Great to have you here James.

Give the man a break folks.

[Romulus]

I really enjoyed the podcast - well played to all involved.

Interesting addition about accidentally smashing his phone before the interview though, isn't there a chance this influenced what followed?

[njr911]

Really enjoyed the podcast, thanks! Reminded me of the good old days

[Mr Duck]

Sept 2, 2023 20:36:47 GMT 1 radio4 said:

...The voices were the only way I could think of to get Banksy's own words in there in a way that wasn't tiresome and samey. You may have found it tiresome and samey, but it would have been worse if we'd just used one voice. Which one would we have used? ...

Brian Blessed

[Blue]

Sept 2, 2023 20:36:47 GMT 1 radio4 said:

Also, quick queries:
Where can I get one of those 'Never Look Directly At The Sun' prints? Who was the artist please?

The artist who produced the ‘never look directly at the sun’ print is called Hats Richardson.

You can pick one up on the below link for a mere £30. It always makes people chuckle.  

stopwatchgallery.com/product-tag/never-look-directly-at-the-sun/

ps great work on the series 

[sicando]

Have you listened to the extra episode- interview with Banksy? 😊

[The Rat King]

Really enjoyed the bonus material
I’d never heard that before
Confirms the other interview as genuine which I never doubted as it has the same quick witted humour and self assurance

Think it was lovely to listen to that today
03 was a great version of banksy a younger more hungry banksy
He’s an old man now !
I miss that banksy one that was almost still accessible in a way as a human rather than the banksy machine we know today
The interviewer makes him think and consider a different angle
Good job