Six Q&A Chat - post here!

[jamesrich]

Hi Paul, Hope your well!

Two questions, wondered what we can we expect from the new album in terms of style and genre. I know you've been toying with the whole dance / rock divide over the last few years.

Though I was interested to see that two of the tracks are currently named BAG Part 3, and Cancer Part 2.

Can we expect a return to Six era in places, musically or lyrically ?

Secondly, were you ever tempted to peform Six in it's entirety at any stage? Or could you ever see yourself doing it in the future?

Cheers

James

[skinimanosebreak]

Please explain the line 'I scratch my knee, I have to scratch the other'.

Thanks!

Ooo I thought it was something to do with someone's obsessive complusions?

[Impending Collapser]

This post is from Lyn, because the forum's not letting her post

Hi Paul/Andie It's Lyn from FB (I'm the sad cow who does the Chadspace)

Been a fan since 1996 and saw you numerous times. I've always wanted to ask (aimed primarily at Paul), How did you get into music editing/production?
Did you start out by editing with Atari/Amiga software (as I did)?
How did you get from your early days of learning to edit/produce to knowing how to work in a proper studio with mixing desks and complicated equipment?

[artrock101]

Was there a particular reason both Inverse Midas and Witness to a Murder II were left off the US version of Six?
And was Chad suitably cheesed off about that? Not to stir the mix or anything, just curious... was it a publishing issue?

[Paul Draper]

I'm still going through the pages of blog (sorry, didn't get the email until just earlier) and enjoying it in that very head-scratching sort of way.

What I'd like to know, and I'm sorry if this has been talked to death before, but, WTF happened with the US release of "Six"? Brown promo cover, fucked up track order, no promotion- dead.

I'd had that one so long before getting the UK version that I had to retrain my ears to the album, if you follow me.

Six was just to weird for America. It was to weird for the UK to be honest, but because of the fanbase here we were ok. The Six album in the US was nothing to do with me. I think the didnt want the cover. Then they wanted the Arthur Baker remix of the track 'Six' to go out as a single to college radio so they lobotomised the album to fit it on. It was nothing to do with me and nothing to do with the album we created, just someone in a marketing department in New York, so just ignore it.

[prktz]

PD, do you ever think "F*$k being an intellectual and thinking up arty-farty, smart-arse answers for my blog/FB/PD official Forum, Im gonna sit in my day-old krebs, watch Trisha on ITV2 and mong all day!" ?? A nation awaits with baited breath.....??!!

[Poor Shakes]

so we just bung another question on the pile? hope i'm not cutting in or something.
First, Hi Paul and Andy
I could only think of two questions and they are for both of you:

1) Which band/artist was your favourite support act to tour with? (I suppose that could mean best music, or best personality).

2) Do you wish that Mansun had performed/recorded more covers of other peoples songs?
and if so, what might they be

I'm really pleased that the solo work is coming along and that Paul's studio has been overhauled. I guess things are ticking along nicely..

Thanks
Dominic

(has this just been posted three times?)

[scifisuede]

My name is Claudia, and it's rarely used in song lyrics. So it's special for me to hear you sing my name [haha] - and I have to wonder - why 'Claudia Farmgate'?

[sonic.Boom!]

Hi Paul and Andie

I'm racking my brains... Erm.

Firstly, I noticed some time ago that your merchandise range sizings come up considerably smaller than most others. Was this a conscious decision as Mansun fans tend to be scrawnier than most?

Secondly, what do both tend to have for breakfast?

Thirdly, I saw you at the Astoria in February 2001. At the end I managed to grab a setlist, but at the bottom it said 'Liverpool'. Any idea why?

Lastly (thankfully) I have a Mansun poster on my wall above my bed. About a year ago, it fell off the wall and landed on my face at about 3am. Did you do it on purpose? Because it scared the shit out of me. Closest I'll ever get to being in bed with you though....

Emma x

I think i mightve just posted this about 72 times. Apologies if i have

[Paul Draper]

Hi, Paul! Loved the excellent blog on Six. However, you don't seem to want to say much about I care, which is my favourite B-side... Could you please shed some light on the song now? A few (dozen) sentences would be enough. )

The lyrics are a bit disturbing on that track so I thought Id just leave it. It was a song I wrote after seeing something on the news about abuse in a child care home. Its a bit like 'The Cheeky Song' (Touch my bum)

[firtle]

hey paul and andie - great to see you here - hope life is treating you well!

paul - great blog today

now my starter for 10.. where and what is the painted hall? and what is south of it? I just love that song!

andy

[Teplohead]

Paul, Andie... Hi !

What's your favorite countries / cities? and why?

Thank You all for your brilliant music & lyrics... Good Luck, guys!
Beeeeeest wishes! )))

[James Ether]

Hi guys,

I've only been a fan since January last year when I picked up Grey Latern on a whim but have been a fan since. I'm only just 20 now so would've been about 10 when Six was first released.

I was wondering, How does it feel when you find out there's people as young as me becoming fans of the band (and even counting you as one of their favourites), even though we probably weren't aware of the bands existence at the time cos we were so young?

[jessaka]

So, Special/Blown It, that line "the same old faces came" ...

Did the fact that you had this huge number of maniacally loyal and persistent fans actually piss you off sometimes when that never ever translated into any greater degree of recognition, success etc? I remain to this day totaly bemused by the duality of the phenomenon that was Mansun.

But thanks for every last minute of it.

Jess x

[davesings]

Hi Paul and Andy,

1. Paul - where do you sit at Goodison? Lamb-banana-tastic! I favour the Upper Gladwys but I'm not too fussy. Are Everton doomed to compete for 5th in the Prem until we find a billionaire?

2. Paul - You've said in interviews you were going through a bad time emotionally when you wrote Six. Do you believe the greatest art has to come from suffering?

3. Did you ever consider playing the album live all the way through in track order? Would that have even been possible?!

4. Have you seen the Pearl Jam DVD, 'Single Video Theory'? It shows the band recording the album 'Yield' and captures the chemistry of the band. Leading on to my final question...

5. To what extent was the album a band effort?

Thanks loads, guys. The album is a treasure.

David