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issue 1 june 2004

there again, everyone in the entertainment business has a certain amount of the ventriloquist about them. anderson has been adamant about this in the past: “my songs tend to come from my experiences and the experiences of people who are close to me. the songs that specifically revolve around the gay world, like animal nitrate, are written because i’m involved in it through my friends – about 50% of whom are gay: they are love songs for their feelings. when people say i’m just using gay imagery it depresses me, because my friends go through emotional turmoil. i’ve felt that on their behalf, and written songs for them. the idea of gay love songs being tender seems alien to most people. i want to redress that.”

ironically the only openly gay member of the group is the drummer simon. “the whole discussion of my sexuality got way out of control,” says anderson today. “in britain it’s not so bad, but in america we were labeled as the gay glam rockers, that gay band suede. but i don’t care, that’s how i am. i’m quite effeminate, and i do want to portray a certain amount of feminine grace. maybe that comes across as camp, but i don’t want to be seen as someone like kenneth williams. i probably took it too far by wearing a blouse. but that’s just the way i am, there will always be a part of me which has a sense of femininity.”

this kind of talk is a pop star’s prerogative. as the legendary pop producer phil spector once said: “i’m dealing in rock’n’roll. i’m, like, i’m not a bona fide human being.”