posted December 5, 2001

From Jim Mikoley:

Christ on a bun, Graham, it is good to be alive this year. Here's a couple for you:

1) How'd you like Rod's "Hotel Chambermaid"? I thought it was a quite servicable version, if unnecessary, until i realized that it was quite necessary for anyone who had never heard the original.

2) Have you heard or read the work of David Sedaris? He's a brilliant humorist.

3) How fun was it to play with Bruce and Southside at the Stone Pony?

TO JIM MIKOLEY:

From Steve Ziegelmeyer:

This is a great forum. I've really enjoyed reading your responses to question that us fans have been wanting to ask for years.

I've never seen you live . I had tickets for the Rock and Soul Revue (was that the name of it? ), which was to also feature Dave Edmunds and Dion, but it was cancelled. Do you have any plans to tour the US in the near future?

I saw that you played The Stone Pony with Bruce and Southside. I would have loved to see that. Speaking of Bruce, did you ever collaborate on any other material besides "Endless Nights"?

Glad you are still writing and performing. Look forward to hearing your music for years to come.

My favorites:

Album - Squeezing Out Sparks

Song - You Can't Be Too Strong

Line - "Your love letters are confetti, I ripped them up my hands are sweaty"

TO STEVE ZIEGELMEYER:

From Marc Steenbarger:

Just discovered the site. I had a chance to see you in Lansing Michigan a few years back. Here's the story:

I owned several radio stations in Flint, Michigan (somebody had to). My glorious independent record promoter (the guys that financially urged me to play New Kids on the Block) owed me a personal favor for playing some stiff record every night at 1:30 am. My request was 2 tickets so my wife and I could go see you and Elvis Costello in Lansing. As I recall, Elvis was spinning a big wheel onstage and would acoustically play whatever song came up (where's Pat Sajak when you really need him?)

So here I am, standing outside the venue, when I'm told that there are no tickets for me at will call. As you start your opening song, I'm bitching up a storm trying to get in. I never did. It seemed almost ridiculous that an ersatz record conglomerate would manage to short circuit my one best chance to see a GP show. Go figure. Maybe we'll cross paths again one day. As for me...I'm out of the radio business...bought out by Clear Channel (the guys who own 1000+ stations). Oh yeah...the question...Have you ever kicked an indy promoter or record label guy in the groin? The closest we came was serving ex-lax brownies to an Arista VP.

Catch ya

Marc

TO MARC STEENBARGER:

From Maureen:

Dear Graham,

It was a pleasure seeing you at Meriden (where were those daffy-dils). However, the Stone Pony was totally thrilling. You were more than generous in the time that you spent chatting with me and I was honored to be sharing a refreshment with you! Your energy during your set was fabulous (you just keep tearing through those strings!). The crowd was lovin' you. Yes I must say that I was completely floored by your subsequent appearance on stage with SSJ and Springsteen. I felt as though I was standing in front of some cosmic Rock n Roll alter (don't poke fun of me!). The tornado watch that was in effect made the experience even more ethereal as the wind whipped up around us. We all noticed how you made the sun appear during your set as you sang, "If It Ever Stops Raining" It has taken me days to recover from that experience (and the Cuervo). Once again, you have my deepest appreciation and gratitude. No, I will not ask the perfunctory question of how it felt to perform with SSJ and Bruce. I plan to ask THEM how it felt to share the stage with YOU. My query surrounds your fall tour with the Figgs. How much touring do you plan to do? I've read that you think that touring can be pretty hard for a variety of reasons. Do you plan to do NYC? I've already emailed the Turning Point about your upcoming tour and told them to call your agent ASAP to book you. Do you ever do the Town Crier in Pawling, NY? Should your fans be enlisted in calling their favorite venues and requesting you? Do you tour with your own sound person? You could use a good lighting person if you wanted to really stage your next show (OK you can stop laughing again but the Pony had a pink light on you that made you look like a sunburned-socks-n-sandal white boy.). And as for the self-deprecating remark you made about the photo shoot for the Aug 21 release. I'd rather see YOU than a picture of a f-cking macaw. You still weaken a lot of knees out there. I hope to be able to get to the Newtown gig in June. Speaking of weak in the knees, any chance of "Someone to Watch Over Me"? (not that I don't love "Cupid" but the swoon factor is definitely high on this one). As Etta James sings it:

Although he may not be the man son,
Girls think of as handsome
But to my heart he carries the key

Oops gotta go suppress my groupie gene. Have a great summer in the UK! A safe and happy journey to all the Parkers.

With deepest respect (xo),
Maureen

PS Thanks for not dissing me on the flower thing

TO MAUREEN:

From Christophe Pecate:

hey Graham,

i'm french and i'm looking for something new about you for a long time. I'm happy, you're going back soon. i'm living with your songwriting for a long time now, and i hope you will be in france soon for some shows. I'm so shy, that i don't know what questions i can ask to you, but please send me a short answer. A CHANGE is GONNA COME

Christophe pecate

TO CHRISTOPHE PECATE:

From Rob Smyth:

Graham -

We Australians, living light years from civilization, tend to take our culture equally from the old mother country (England), and the new fatherland (US of A). Personally, there's much in both places that I love, and much I abhor (just look at Blair and Bush, for starters) ... Anyway, you've chosen to live in the US after starting life in the UK. As an expat who doesn't look like returning "home" anytime soon, do you ever compare life in England and America? What conclusions have you come to? Regards as ever, Rob Smyth.

TO ROB SMYTH:

From Roger Wolfe:

Hope you are doing well, from the son of your number one tour manager of the 70's. Camberley is still on the map. Please send Ron e-mail to the email address attached. Kind regards son of rock child.

TO ROGER WOLFE:

From Carl Craven:

dear graham, have loved u since "pourin it all out" & dalymount concert in dublin 1977. I met john earle (sax) in dublin a few weeks ago, he seems a bit down on luck, could i ask you your memories of him?

TO CARL CRAVEN:

From Eric Tomlinson:

Graham,

Stumbled across this site a few days ago, and what a pleasant diversion it is! A few random comments and at least one question:

I read someone's synopsis of your story about the background to the song "I'll Never Play In Jacksonville Again." I live in Jacksonville, and it's a shame your experience was as egregious as it was. I recall seeing the notice about your scheduled performance, and was HORRIFIED at the venue you were booked into- I wouldn't have gone into that dump for any reason, not even to see one of my favorite musicians. All I remember thinking was, "Mr. P. should shoot his agent." Jax does have many positive attributes, but the live music scene is no better these days than it was then- the choices are Limp Bizkit clones or Garth Brooks wanna-be's, with very little in between. Gad.

Your book was most enjoyable, regardless of the review by the NY Times cretin. Keep 'em coming.

Your music has been one of the notable pleasures around my house since 1976. I have even managed to replace the CDs lost through property settlement issues (vindictive bitch snagged Burning Questions AND Live Alone In America, for crissake). Has The Pink Parker ever been migrated to CD format?

Take care,

eric

TO ERIC TOMLINSON:

From Bob Brophy:

Hey Graham,

I'll dispense with the fawning, although to admit it, I fawn deeply-to throw a few questions and observations your way.

1) Loved your GP & The Rumour reunion scenario on the web site-very informative, witty and all that...but would you and the 5 other guys want to do it? If the $$$$ was right? Is there any reason outside of the money?

2) Your songs have made myself and my idiot friends pick up guitars and play -in public no less-many times. I live in Astoria Queens, NY-and there is a big Czech beer garden where Graham Parker tunes hold court bi-monthly! Faves have included: Between You And Me (still the most haunting song I've ever heard) and Haunted Episodes.

3) Haven't picked up "Carp" yet-but I will before summer's over.

4) Nick Lowe 's example surely must give you a sense of hope. It took a long time for "What's So Funny ..." to pay off. Brinsley Schwartz, Elvis Costello.. Whitney Houston????????????? God bless him. It's interesting how his 1990's output improved.And then bingo.

5)It shows- great songs will always have their day in the sun.I remember a quote regarding John Lennon (I think it was the last time I purchased a copy of Rolling Stone.) explaining his effect on people. To paraphrase (shoddily) "it's not a big deal to capture people's attention. "Dallas"-the TV show can do that every week.. To capture our imagination-it takes someone like him." May I live long enogh to wear out every album you make. Thank You Mr.Parker

P.S. Having met you once ( @ Marti Jones @ The Bottom Line)-I already got a sense that you were a decent bloke. Your involvement with the web site confirms this. Funny, but the aforementioned Mr. Lowe, Mr.Costello, Marshall Crenshaw and others of their ilk don't seem to offer their supporters this relatively painless access. You're a good guy!

Thanks for all the music: Past, present & future!
I hope you and your family have a great summer.
Regards,
Bob

TO BOB BROPHY:

From Joe:

Hello Graham,

It is great to have a chance to ask you a few questions. Forgive me if you have answered them previously. I have read over most of your responses but not all of them.

Here it goes. The average person is not a famous musician, has not had recording contracts and does not often get the chance to jam with the likes of Dylan. Yet, your music, especially lyrics, are often tied to the experiences of the everyday person. One of my questions, I guess, is do you find that there is a great gap between your experiences and view of the world and your fan base?

Perhaps it is because we see famous musicians and rock stars as leading lives filled with travel, parties and famous friends, that it is impossible for us to imagine that your life is anything like ours. Do you consider yourself just an average person whose job happens to be a musician with international recognition? Or is your daily life remarkably different from the average bloke?

The cult of celebrity is interesting. I know what it is like to be on the fan side of the fence; I guess I am just interested in finding what your side of the fence is like.

Thanks, and thanks for the years of great music.

TO JOE:

From Kevin Murphy:

Dear Graham:

Isn't it ironic that you once defiantly sang "Don't ask me questions" and yet now you invite interrogatories from the world at large?

Sincerely,

Kevin Murphy
c/o The Old Bailey

P.S. Please respond as it has taken me three previous attempts to figure out one is supposed to "Ask Chairman Parker"?

P.P.S. Chairperson, surely?

TO KEVIN MURPHY:

From Mike Everett:

Hearing Hold Back the Night on Top of the Pops all those years ago was a moment I'll never forget. I lived in a small town without a proper music shop, so I went to the shop that made its own disco gear and asked them to order it. They started by getting me a reissue of the original but in the end I got yours. I still have it and I really love the way it gets stuck in the second chorus - Max Headroom style.

I first saw you at Leicester Poly. Came down from the bar which sort of led behind the stage and heard you and the Rumour warming up. It was amazing. I'll never forget that gig.

Seen you lots since including Blackbushe and I still have my "The up Escalator" t-shirt. I swapped another GP t-shirt for a cassette of Marble Arch with a girl I had never met before in the Dog and Trumpet in Coventry. I never saw the shirt again but I still have the cassette and I guess she had problems on the way home.

Anyway, my question: As a headteacher of a comprehensive school (honestly), I struggle to find the sort of musicians who will inspire the youth of today in the way that I was inspired. The sort of music that made the hairs on the back of my head stand on end doesn't seem so available to them now. The music they have access to seems so safe. I used to listen to live Irish folk, jazz, punk and so on. I saw Alexis Korner, Bill Wyman, the Buzzcocks and the Chieftans in the same week once. What is the answer? I've got 1000 kids in my school who would be blown away by someone like you. How about it? I promise to wear the t-shirt if you come.

Regardless, you owe me nothing. Thanks.

TO MIKE EVERETT:

From Greg Weber:

Hi Graham, I'm wondering what your views on home taping/cd burning are. You seem to be one of the fortunate ones in that most of your output is still available. But would you think it acceptable for someone to burn a copy of one of your CDs if it was no longer available? How about copying CDs vs buying used CDs? The major music retail chains seem to all be involved in selling used CDs now. Does the artist or record label get any compensation for the subsequent reselling of these CDs? If not then I would say that this practice is much more harmful than home taping/CD burning. If the item is no longer available I see no difference in burning a copy off someone elses CD or buying a used CD. If it is something that can be bought new I would say that burning a CD is wrong but no worse than buying (or selling) a used CD if the artist is to get no compensation. Thanks for all the great music over the years. Greg

TO GREG WEBER:

From Marilyn:

After 11 years of living in Woodstock 1/2 the week and NYC the other 1/2, we figured eventually we'd run into you, but that it would be at the Hudson Valley Mall w/ the kids in their White Snake T-shirts or Sevilla in NYC, rather than at Adam's. Anyhoo, it was a real thrill. I was the goofy, gawking, blonde w/ husband Peter in the produce dept on Sunday. Say, were all those chickens and that cute kid yours? Saw you at the first Wdstk Film Fest's Joyous Lake gig doing your book thing which we loved (both the show & the book). Missed your most recent Rosendale Cafe show... any chance you'll be there or elsewhere locally anytime soon? By the way, as you may know, the Lake is being totally renovated by Greg Schaffrick and it would be marvy to see you do a show there.

TO MARILYN AND PETER: