Things I Have Learned

Hugh Cornwell Of The Stranglers On The Hoover Dam

Hugh Cornwell believes that the Hoover Dam is a testament to mankind's ingenuity. And that the recent one day cricket matches were a waste of time. As told to Alex Ogg

Branchage Festival Preview: Amiina On The Animation of Lotte Reiniger

Icelandic Sigur Ros collaborators Amiina will be soundtracking the films of animator Lotte Reiniger at this weekend's Branchage International Film Festival. Maria Sigfúsdóttir tells us more

Magick and Me: Blondie’s Gary “Valentine” Lachman on the Occult

Former Blondie bassist and world expert on the occult Gary Lachman talks to David Moats about participating in rituals, Mick Jagger's flirtations with magick, the Freemasons, and why there's more to the occult than being a drug fiend like Aleister Crowley

Theoretical Girl On Mental Health And Music

Theoretical Girl is musician by night, nurse by day. Here, she looks at the connection between the mind and song

John Leckie On That Stone Roses Album & The Trouble With Kids These Days

Stone Roses and Radiohead producer John Leckie On Making That Album, nuclear apocalypse-proof mixing desks, and why the ease of mySpace music distribution might not be a good thing

Blue Roses’ Laura Groves On Her Yorkshire Hometown Of Shipley

Blue Roses' music is imbued with the atmosphere of the Yorkshire where she grew up. Here, she writes about her home of Shipley

Cornershop’s Tjinder Singh On The Britisher’s Cup Of Tea

Our Quietus At Leisure series continues with Tjinder Singh lamenting the decline of the relaxed art of tea drinking

Bad Seed Warren Ellis On Smartening Up

As the Bad Seeds take to Latitude, violinist and guitarist Warren Ellis talks shoes, socks and beards. You don't want to be a mod, he tells the Quietus. Warren Ellis pic courtesy Warren Ellis.

Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes On Woody Allen & His Films

"Even though he hasn't made an essential movie in over 10 years, he definitely has the capacity to shock people." of Montreal's Kevin Barnes talks Woody Allen at Matt Kaufman.

In Pursuit Of Marilyns: The Unusual Hobby Of Hill Bagging

Daniel Patrick Quinn explains his obsession with climbing every hill in Britain that's over 150 metres high

Jackie-O Motherfucker On Dealing In Used Goods

Tom Greenwood takes us through a lifetime of buying and selling the things that the everyday folk left behind

J Mascis: Things I Have Learned About American Hardcore

As Dinosaur Jr.'s new album _Farm_ hits the shelves, J. Mascis talks to The Quietus about English punk rock, American hardcore, and of the enduring importance of both in his career

Colin Wilson: Things I Have Learned About Being In The Aussie Pink Floyd

Bachelor Boy Patrick Wolf On Sticking To His Guns

He told Universal Records and Mark Ronson to get packing, and now he's the first artist to be a Bandstocks success. As he releases new album _Bachelor_, Patrick Wolf tells Luke Turner how he held onto his vision

Clive James on Rock Music… and why it Must be Turned Down

On the eve of the reissue of his six albums from the 1970s (recorded with song-writing partner Pete Atkin) Polymath James talks us through rock – and why it needs to be turned down from 11. As told to Joel McIver

Peaches on Pussy-Licking, Iggy Pop & People Getting It Wrong

Returning with a fourth album given to rare moments of vulnerability, Peaches sets The Quietus straight on man-hating, Iggy Pop and her vulva

Jesse Hughes Of Eagles Of Death Metal On Sexiness: WOAH JESSE!

Eagles of Death Metal mainman Jesse Hughes wiggles his moustache to tell the Quietus about the importance of tight pants, loving the ladies, and why rock 'n' roll saved his life

A Hawk And A Hacksaw On The Potential & Pitfalls Of Natural Building

A Hawk And A Hacksaw's Jeremy Barnes tells The Quietus that ancient building methods would offer a solution to our housing crisis if only the authorities would rip up the planning blueprints

Eamon From Brakes On Aesop’s Fables And The Lessons They Taught Him

Brakes singer Eamon Hamilton explains why Aesop's Fables offer a lesson for life, even if following them might give you a sore rear...

Vini Reilly: Always The Bridesmaid, Never The Bride

The Quietus tracks down the musician many still rate as the most expansive and creative of the post-punk era, The Durutti Column's Vini Reilly

Bat For Lashes’ Natasha Khan On Finding Her Style

Natasha Khan tells Luke Turner her fashion dictact, what gentlemen should be sporting this season, and how divine intervention can help a shopping trip

Toys To Men: Artist Pete Fowler On His Obsessive Collecting Habit

Pete Fowler explains his lifelong fascination with collecting moulded plastic, and tells us his top three toys

Animal Collective’s Geologist On Living In The Tucson Desert

Geologist, aka Brian Weitz, lived out in the desert among the Navajo Native Americans, the cancer clusters and the tarantulas watching sunsets. He explains to Daniel Ross why people shouldn't live there.

Alan Donohoe Of The Rakes On The Joy Of Motoring

Rakes frontman Alan Donohue tells of his love for the open road and his Triumph 1300 - and his hatred of Jeremy Clarkson

Jeffrey Lewis On Watchmen And His Love Of Comics

Jeffrey Lewis talks to The Quietus about why Watchmen used to terrify him, and his love of the comic. Interview by Mairi Mackay

Robert Lloyd Of The Nightingales On Solitary Drinking

Long serving punk/alternative rock volunteer Rob Lloyd reflects on the benefits (that most won't have yet considered) of drinking on one's own. The Quietus suggests caution.

Chuffing Heck! It’s Tim Rice-Oxley Of Keane On The Night Train To Berlin

Tim Rice-Oxley of pianoforte rockers Keane tells the Quietus of the joys of the overnight rail journey to the German capital

Saint Etienne’s Bob Stanley On The Architecture Of London

As Saint Etienne release best of collection _London Conversations_, The Quietus sits down with Bob Stanley for a conversation about the architecture of the capital, modernism, and why he hates the Trellick Tower

Erasure’s Andy Bell On Hastings Life & Selling Bread To The Cheeky Girls

In advance of the release of Erasure's _Total Pop!_, Andy Bell talks to Luke Turner about his new life in the south coast town of Hastings

The Dandy Warhols: Taking An Independent Route When Your Label Fucks You Over

Since leaving Capitol Records, The Dandy Warhols have launched their own record label and a new art project that looks set to encompass music, art, science and literature. Courtney Taylor-Taylor reveals all

Barney Greenway of Napalm Death Raises The Horns To Soft Rock

Napalm Death’s Barney Greenway tells Toby Cook about the pleasures of soft rock, why it won’t be playing at his funeral and what pisses him off about the genre's modern pretenders

Darren Hayman: Things I Learned While Writing Songs About New Towns

Darren Hayman tells The Quietus about the things he learned while writing his concept album about the concrete streets of Harlow