20 years ago this month saw my first piece of printed work in Select magazine.
Select was to become the parish news of Britpop, and this article was allegedly the first to trumpet that scene. Stuart Maconie's piece defined the attitude if not quite the players. I collaged it together not long after I'd left college, I couldn't paint fer toffee.
By March '93 I'd already worked with Saint Etienne, and occasionally joined their club to see various gigs. Most memorable was experiencing Pulp for the first time, yes, I do remember- Islington Powerhaus, Dec 23rd 1992. The stage was entirely covered in wrapping paper, which, during their first song, Jarvis's long fingers poked through to lob tangerines in to the audience. Evidently a great wit and intelligence coming to play. Instant convert.
After the article came out I started doing a monthly piece called Pop Tarts that lampooned the scene. It ran for 50 issues and my enthusiasm really mirrored the rise and fall of Britpop. Jarvis was the subject of the first piece. In the early days, Select was home top a load of great writers, basically half of 6 music: Andrew Collins, Mr Maconie, Steve Lamaq, Miranda Sawyer...also Graham Linehan though whatever became of him...? In those pre-computer days I'd get on the tube and take the artwork in to the office, completely nervewracking but it also meant that one became involved much more than just adding an attachment and pressing send. It felt like a scene.
Late '97 much had changed at Select and I dreaded working for them, I'd had enough so I bowed out at 50. It was ace fun for a while though, my formative years.
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