S.O.S. Save our Satire

Andy: He grew his fingernails.

Yeah, and he insisted on a 4ft exclusion zone around him, as well as employing someone to catch flies – but not kill them, just catch them – that were near him. What was your interest in him?

Andy: It was more just the idea of the recluse. I think that’s just all it was really. The words are pretty simple and it’s about shying away from life. That’s it. It was the idea of him being locked up in his hotel room and not wanting to go out.

Did you ever get like that?

Andy: Not really, no. I just liked the romantic idea of writing a song about being a recluse without actually being a recluse.

Mark: I did it post-Ride. I went over to France, for like a year and a half, two years. I felt like I was totally losing my marbles.

Did you grow a big beard?

Mark: Yeah, I did. Well, sort of. I had a beard when we did the Sonic Youth thing for Channel 4.

Andy: Did you? That was when a beard used to mean something.

"Well, thank you, but frankly we couldn't give two shits what people think."

There's a momentary pause before Mark comments wryly, "Yes, we could." Andy concurs.

"Well yes, I know we could but it sounds good, doesn't it?" Ride: Sex And The Singles Band Stuart Maconie, New Musical Express, 8 February 1992

Mark in the 'Big E' interview, 1994

https://youtu.be/OIUHhnuaopE?si=ZEhomKLaoi0G6EJp