Reggie_Perrin
pipoldchap wroteEmbarrassment perhaps, Reggie, but I'll always give him credit for his Mojo in Sheffield. A great club, in the mid-60s probably second to the Twisted Wheel in Manc as a top Northern mod spot.
Fair enough. Hated his Thatcherite tubthumping for the last 35 years.
There'll be some stories now no doubt.
scootay
Stringfellow was a nice bloke behind it all.. a really nice bloke.. and pips right about the mojo club. He was very helpful to a lot of bands in the 69s, the small faces being one. He spent a bit of time with Steve Marriott too in 91 before he died. Rip Peter
Reggie_Perrin
I take it all back. Wonder why he turned into the obnoxious tit he was in later life. Maybe his public persona was one that was constantly defending his niff joints and he was fed up of it.
Travis_Bickle
Old man played King Mojo a few times with his band.
Stringfellow wanted to manage them at one point. He wanted them in matching suits and the like. They told him to fuck off.
Just been on the phone with him. Started talking about Stringfellow and he told me a great story about a weekend with Steampacket (Rod Stewart's old band) and Long John Baldry in the North-East.
It involved an old, converted army truck that broke down (they gave it to the old man's band), a beach that he woke up on and was, I quote, 'so high' that he didn't know where he was and, in the pitch dark with the sea crashing around him, thought he may have died and gone to heaven/hell. This was after they'd been pretending to be gangsters when mortally pissed with guns they found in Mike Jeffrey's house (manager of The Animals).
He has so many tales from '62 to '65 ish. There's a cracker when they ate the biscuits for the revolutionary communists that met in the house they lived in and ended up finding a Bren gun. And one about 'Rod The Mod', as he was, taking a shine to my Mum when Dad was singing with John Mayall's band. Funny that back then so many people that became huge names weren't stars. He sang with loads of them but doesn't see it as a big deal.
Lived a life that's full, I'll give him that....
Expanding_Man
Great stories
Cutsyke
Lived a life that's full? Just a bit.
CBIT
He must be so disappointed his lad has ended up wearing silk :P
Sounds a top bloke
scootay
My dad had a restaurant in the mid to late eighties. I worked there as maitre d barman/wine waiter. He ended up setting on a chef who had worked at stringfellows London for about twenty years. He was an ace fella and a great chef, Nick the Greek.. he only had lovely things to say about peter. One time I took a phone call for Nick and it was the man himself. He wanted Nick to go to new York and work for him there. He offered him at least double what we were paying him plus free accommodation. Nick turned it down. I couldn't believe it. When I asked him why he said it was because he was in his late fifties, didn't want to move to new York and wasn't interested in the money. He was a huge gambler , he was teetotal and he said the only difference it would make would be extra bets each week. Peter kept ringing back and begging him to go but he wouldn't he took it very graciously and wished him all the best. He still kept in touch and occasionally he would ring. I would have the odd phone conversation with him and he used to ask how the business was going, wish us all the best and I'd have a laugh with him. He used to say he'd try come up and eat but I said don't bother unless you fetch me two fitties
CharlieG
Travis Bickle wroteOld man played King Mojo a few times with his band.
Stringfellow wanted to manage them at one point. He wanted them in matching suits and the like. They told him to fuck off.
Just been on the phone with him. Started talking about Stringfellow and he told me a great story about a weekend with Steampacket (Rod Stewart's old band) and Long John Baldry in the North-East.
It involved an old, converted army truck that broke down (they gave it to the old man's band), a beach that he woke up on and was, I quote, 'so high' that he didn't know where he was and, in the pitch dark with the sea crashing around him, thought he may have died and gone to heaven/hell. This was after they'd been pretending to be gangsters when mortally pissed with guns they found in Mike Jeffrey's house (manager of The Animals).
He has so many tales from '62 to '65 ish. There's a cracker when they ate the biscuits for the revolutionary communists that met in the house they lived in and ended up finding a Bren gun. And one about 'Rod The Mod', as he was, taking a shine to my Mum when Dad was singing with John Mayall's band. Funny that back then so many people that became huge names weren't stars. He sang with loads of them but doesn't see it as a big deal.
Lived a life that's full, I'll give him that....
Daddy Cool.
fulmine
Anthony Bourdain. Committed suicide, reportedly. Very sad.
Reggie_Perrin
fulmine wroteAnthony Bourdain. Committed suicide, reportedly. Very sad.
Shocked. Loved his stuff. Has a young daughter too.
fulmine
Kitchen Confidential was such a great book. Once saw him ihanging around in the street in Soho and I don’t usually do this but thought, “sod it, I’m going to tell him how much I enjoyed his book” and he was just so gracious and cool, just how you always want an American to be.
Bod
Only watched him the other day. Kitchen Confidential, good book, very sad. Lots of suicides lately.
Reggie_Perrin
[quote=fulmine]Kitchen Confidential was such a great book. Once saw him ihanging around in the street in Soho and I don’t usually do this but thought, “sod it, I’m going to tell him how much I enjoyed his book” and he was just so gracious and cool, just how you always want an American to be.[/quote]
Great description. It's just how I imagine he would be. I want to go to Vietnam solely because of his eloquence and love of the place.
This has shocked me.
Ray_Hankin's_shorts
Similarly shocked
I did a little pilgrimage to Les Halles in NYC when I was last there (it's shut now, gone bust apparently) on the strength of him having ran it previously - was very nice
His style on telly was great, pretty laid back but (at times) almost rabid when he was passionate about something. Difficult to describe but I guess those that have watched him know what i mean
RIP
Travis_Bickle
Mrs is gutted. She's been a fan for years. Reckoned he captured the reality of being a chef. And had real passion for food.
Cutsyke
What a shocker to wake up to. I really have never had any desire to meet a celebrity but I always thought I would like to meet Tony. Kitchen Confidential is one of my favourite books, one I've read repeatedly and one I've driven people mad with with my gushing about it over the years. Christ knows how many people I've given a copy of it to as a gift. I gave it to my eldest in one of those great (to a parent, maybe not to a kid) moments of I don't know what really, trust, when she was younger and told her she'd love it but maybe don't let your Mam see you reading it for a few years. She loved it and gave it to the nun who taught her English, who loved it also. When we did the college tours the first thing we both said about Vassar was Anthony Bourdain dropped out of here.
We had a young lad working the summers with us back in the apartment building, I forget his name but he was nice quiet kid, his uncle had a hook with the steam fitters union and he was in line for an apprenticeship. At the time I think only the Elevator installers made more money out of all the trades, possibly the iron workers. At the time we had a good crew who would pass books back and forth, for such a poorly educated, school wise, bunch we were pretty well read. Anyway, this kid lent me Kitchen Confidential and said you might like this. I devoured it, two days, 6 train, E train home, over tea, my wife and me were both pretty big readers at the time and there was no issue with reading at the table causing offense, indeed it was more, what are you reading, can I have it after you, in the bath, fighting the heavy eyes in bed, straight back at it over breakfast, E train, 6 train, at work, fuck work... Amazingly, the lad said when I gave him his book back that the book inspired him to knock back the Steam fitters and become a chef. He was off to the CIA. My pal Tom Riley, an Irish American character who traded books with me smiled, a said he figured I'd have read that ages ago. He invited me down to Les Halles, said he sometimes dropped in for a few drinks with his girlfriend after work before pushing on to the local bars in his Brooklyn nabe. I declined. Anyway, what a book. In my mental list of essential NY books it was biting firmly at the heels of Westies. Tom had met Anthony a few times and said he was one of the coolest guys, laid back, loved music, had got clean, everyone seemed to be or at least trying then, another thing that amazed me, like it was a given that you'd been through the ringer. This was prior to the TV shows and I had no idea what he sounded like or anything really other than the mental image in my mind from the book. Fuck. It makes me so sad just thinking about it. What a loss. I watch his show and I think he's special that lad. Have you ever seen the one where he's in Israel and then goes to Palestine? The way he asks pertinent questions of both sides without offending anyone? So disarming yet getting to the guts of the issue. You'd want to hang out with him wouldn't you? His genuine love of music, his affection for dive bars and acceptance of anyone irrespective of race, creed or colour. He moved freely in all circles, fitting in naturally all the while simply been himself. I've been up to Newport, seen his Rhode Island, loved it. I would have stayed, fucked NY off but then again maybe not as a young man? Like everyone who spends any amount of time there, he had his NY, I had mine, I'm sure Mike Jones off here has his and can relate. I liked T's NY. I watched the episode from Uruguay the other week then advised Dead Bloke to seek it out. Fucking amazing place for a meat eater. I've forgotten how many times I've watched the Quebec episode, ditto Montana where he spends time with one of my favourite writers and poets, one time hell raiser Jim Harrison. He's in awe of Harrison but his equal in every sense of the word. His reverence shines through but so too does the comfort he felt in his own skin (was it all an act?) sitting there having a beer with Jim. Or the one from Italy where the guy's sticking dead fish on the end of his spear gun and Tony gets hammered over dinner. Of late he's been very vocal about Harvey Weinstein and full of praise and support for his partner, Asia Argento, who is allegedly a victim of Weinstein, destroying the idiots on Twitter who come out of the woodwork at times like these. I really don't know what I feel right now. Part of me, the cynic is thinking I hope nothing bad comes out from his past. Given the culture of the kitchens described in KC it wouldn't be the biggest shock would it? Part of me thinks, he's the everyman who got on, got fucked up, got clean, made good, entertained, prodded and poked the establishment, retained his integrity, had a wicked sense of humour and an amazing humility about him. I'll never understand suicide but maybe it's part of who and what we are as humans, I honestly don't know. I realize fully that I'm rambling so I'll stop now but for a man I never met I sure will miss him. I feel like knocking work and going out on the ale round what's left of the East Village but I'm too old for stunts like that these days. Today I feel sad.
One thing he said that I really loved was that he preferred street food to a fancy restaurant. If a cook or chef did one thing and did it well he preferred that, honoured their skill even, above a Le Cirque type gaff. If anyone else had said that I'd have called BS but I believed him.
Fuck the To Read pile, I'm giving Kitchen Confidential another run through today.
RIP Anthony, you will be missed.
Travis_Bickle
Cutsyke wroteWhat a shocker to wake up to. I really have never had any desire to meet a celebrity but I always thought I would like to meet Tony. Kitchen Confidential is one of my favourite books, one I've read repeatedly and one I've driven people mad with with my gushing about it over the years. Christ knows how many people I've given a copy of it to as a gift. I gave it to my eldest in one of those great (to a patent, maybe not to a kid) moments of I don't know what really, trust, when she was younger and told he she'd love it but maybe don't let your Mam see you reading it for a years. She loved it and gave it to the nun who taught her English, who loved it also. When we did the college tours the first thing we both said about Vassar was Anthony Bourdain dropped out of here.
We had a young lad working the summers with us back in the apartment building, I forget his name but he was nice quiet kid, his uncle had a hook with the steam fitters union and he was in line for an apprenticeship. At the time I think only the Elevator installers made more money out of all the trades, possibly the iron workers. At the time we had a good crew who would pass books back and forth, for such a poorly educated, school wise, bunch we were pretty well read. Anyway, this kid lent me Kitchen Confidential and said you might like this. I devoured it, two days, 6 train, E train home, over tea, my wife and me were both pretty big readrs at the time and there was no issue with eating at the table causing offense, indeed it was more, what are you reading, can I have it after you, in the bath, fighting the heavy eyes in bed, straight back at it over breakfast, E train, 6 train, at work, fuck work... Amazingly, the lad said when I gave him his book back that the book inspired him to knock back the Steam fitters and become a chef. He was off to the CIA. My pal Tom Riley, an Irish American character who traded books with me smiled, a said he figured I'd have read that ages ago. He invited me down to Les Halles after work, said he sometimes dropped in for a few drinks with his girlfriend after work before pushing on to the local bars in his Brooklyn nabe. I declined. Anyway, what a book. In my mental list of essential NY books it was biting firmly at the heels of Westies. Tom had met Anthony a few times and said he was one of the coolest guys, laid back, loved music, had got clean, everyone seemed to be or at least trying then, another thing that amazed me, like it was a given that you'd been through the ringer. This was prior to the TV shows and I had no idea what he sounded like or anything really other than the mental image in my mind from the book. Fuck. It makes me so sad just thinking about it. What a loss. I watch his show and I think he's special that lad. Have you ever seen the one where he's in Israel and then goes to Palestine? The way he asks pertinent questions of both sides without offending anyone? So disarming yet getting to the guts of the issue. You'd want to hang out with him wouldn't you? His genuine love of music, his affection for dive bars and acceptance of anyone irrespective of race, creed or colour. He moved freely in all circles, fitting in naturally all the while simply been himself. I've been up to Newport, seen his Rhode Island, Like everyone who spends any amount of time there, he had his NY, I had mine, I'm sure Mike Jones off here has his and can relate. I liked T's NY. I watched the episode from Uruguay the other week then advised Dead Bloke to seek it out. Fucking amazing place for a meat eater. I've forgotten how many times I've watched the Quebec episode, ditto Montana where he spends time with one of my favourite writers and poets, one time hell raiser Jim Harrison. He's in awe of Harrison but his equal in every sense of the word. His reverence shines through but so too does the comfort he felt in his own skin (was it all an act?) sitting there having a beer with Jim. Or the one from Italy where the guy's sticking dead fish on the end of his spear gun and Tony gets hammered over dinner. Of late he's been very vocal about Harvey Weinstein and full of praise and support for his partner, Asia Argento, who is allegedly a victim of Weinstein. I really don't know what I feel right now. Part of me, the cynic is thinking I hope nothing bad comes out from his past. Given the culture of the Kitchens described in KC it wouldn't be the biggest shock would it? Part of me thinks, he's the everyman who got on, got fucked up, got clean, made good, entertained, prodded and poked the establishment, retained his integrity, had a wicked sense of humour and an amazing humility about him. I'll never understand suicide but maybe it's part of who and what we are as humans, I honestly don't know. I realize fully that I'm rambling so I'll stop now but for a man I never met I sure will miss him. I feel like knocking work and going out on the ale round what's left of the East Village but I'm too old for stunts like that these days. Today I feel sad.
One thing he said that I really loved was that he preferred street food to a fancy restaurant. If a cook or chef did one thing and did it well he preferred that, honoured their skill even, above a Le Cirque type gaff. If anyone else had said that I'd have called BS but I believed him.
Fuck the To Read pile, I'm giving Kitchen Confidential another run through today.
RIP Anthony, you will be missed.
I really do love OMJ at times.....
Ray_Hankin's_shorts
Nice Cuts, can feel the passion coming from the screen
And yes, the Israel/Palestine episode was tremendous - no ego, just wanted to know what the hell was going on. Like the rest of us really
Expanding_Man
Great post cuts.
Shocked by this too.