Q OCTOBER 1998 - EVERYTHING MUST GROW UP
Q spends 5 months with Sean (and the others) at Monnow Valley Farmhouse Studios, Monmouthshire. They made their visit in April 1998, towards the end of the recording of the album.
Drummer (yes we know) Sean Moore reckons the Manics are “still a bit too clever for some people” It’s tempting to delineate the Manics according to tastes. Sean Moore fills his Bristol home with state of the art gadgets. Though he can’t drive [at the time] he advises Q knowledgeably for some time on the purchasing of cars and, astonishingly, provides brochures from his suitcase. “Get one with plenty of boot space” Why? “Incase you buy a lot of stuff in Dixons one afternoon” He may well be the only person in Britain to own a Digital Video Disc Walkman.
Richey was the leader, wasn’t he?
Sean: It had become this tragic, grotesque downward spiral. Hard to understand where he was coming from. He’d got pretty confused.
Is (being Welsh) about feeling hard done by?
Sean: Failure’s got a lot to do with it. There’s almost too much realism in the Welsh culture. The Irish would probably have a dance about it.
... Sean is in his dressing gown still watching White Versus Hendry... (it’s late at night)
Do the others set impossible standards?
James: Yes, they do. They nag me all the time about my drinking.
Does lad culture generally revolt you, Sean?
It’s about being decent, behaving properly. The cult of laddishness is just an excuse to not change your socks and feel proud.
Is that the central rock ‘n’ roll dilemma: how can you strive to escape yet retain your identity?
Nicky: I always travel first class on the train because I always wanted to and the conductor still says to Sean and I “Do you realise this is first class?” So Sean gets his expensive laptop and new mobile out.
August in London, Sean hides in his room with The Shawshank Redemption on the DVD... Nicky suggests Leonardo DiCaprio could play Sean in a film of their life...