Well, Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen, now its time to "get jiggy here" with Courtney Love---
Hehehehe (laughs)
---As I mentioned earlier, I have a whole bunch of questions here to ask you directly from Courtney Love. So I'll be like, the messenger here.
Okey doke.
But just to preamble this whole thing, and you kind of mentioned it a little while back there, when did you first meet Courtney, you said when she was like, 15 or 16?
When did she first meet me I think the question should be. It might have been before she came to Liverpool in New York. I know she came to some of our New York gigs in possibly 1981. If not, it probably was in Liverpool, but it might have been one of them... is this a question from her?
No, this is just some preamble here.
Ah yeah, the old preamble there. I don't know. I'd like to ask her. She has probably got more of a vivid recollection. I mean, I was in a daze as it says in the song "I've been in a daze for days"
Did she ever steal your clothes? Because that's how I first became aware of the Courtney-Ian McCulloch connection. Because I saw some mention that she once stole your clothes. Do you ever remember anything like that?
It's quite possible, I don't know what it would have been, but I know I've got a coat missing from the wardrobe. I think she might have stole a look rather than actual clothes. But if she did steal them, good luck to her, that's fine, I don't mind.
So when was the last time you saw Courtney Love or talked to her, because there was some mention that you were collaborate with her on a solo LP, Ian?
Yeah, well I'd still like that to happen. I have a song that I'd love her to sing on. I think it's down both of our strasses. It's a bit of a rocker, it's a great tune. It's called "Really Really Want You." It's kind of like "Sweet Jane" revisited and I'd love her to sing on it. I was thinking about Courtney, oh, last week thinking, it'd be great to get in touch with her and me to ask her directly, or possibly via a messenger.
Such as me Nardwuar the Human Serviette.
Hehehehhe (Laughs)
Okay, Ian let's get right into this. Questions for Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen from Courtney Love. First question from Courtney Love to you, Ian. Courtney says, "Tell Ian, that to people who matter, he is the most important rock star ever."
Brilliant. That's lovely to hear. I was really pleased when she thanked the band on her last album. What can I say? That's not even a question to be answered. I think it's - I kind of agree, but it's sounds so much nicer, yes, it's so much nicer coming from Courtney. That means a lot.
And Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen, number two question from Courtney, or statement says, "Tell Ian that I was with U2 in New York City and that Bono said 'Ian was always better than me. We just had better management.'"
Hahaha...(laughs) yeah, that's exactly what I've been telling people. That is fantastic! I don't believe this! Can't these people tell the world? That's lovely again from him. After all the things I've said about him, what a gentleman! I'd love to have a drink with Bono, if I could get him to shut up for five minutes, he might learn something. What a dude to say that. I mean he will still embarrass me from time to time, but he's got a really good band I think, you know, and again hats off to him. Or cowboy hats off to him.
It's interesting that Bono said that because one of the questions I had for you was why was U2 more successful than Echo and the Bunnymen and I guess that kind of answers it right there! Better management!
Totally. Because this came up recently. And probably a much better record company to be quite fair. We did everything right. We were the coolest group on the planet. But Bill Drummond, I mean he was a cool maverick manager, but at some point he should have said, early on, "we're going to get a manager because I don't know what I'm doing." And you know that's why we went to Iceland because we were maverick, you know. And it was just, kind of, we didn't realize what was going on. Paul McGinnis, from day one, he obviously saw U2 and thought poor rock band, but these guys can be massive. Bill Drummond saw us, thought we were the best group he had ever seen, or that there had ever been. And thought we could be massive, but if we aren't who gives a fuck. (laughs) That's been the nature of it, ever since. I kind of like it cause at the end of the day we don't have as many millions as U2's got, but I don't know whether I'll ever use them. All I knows is that I'd be still going to the football on a Saturday, still liking pubs to drink in.