I’m not trying to achieve perfection. I don’t like this forced control people have over work.
“I’m not trying to achieve perfection. I don’t like this forced control people have over work.” Billy Childish
I’m going to get a pair of wire-snips, and I’ve also started a new campaign to have blank CDs on jukeboxes so you can play the silence.
“I’m going to get a pair of wire-snips, and I’ve also started a new campaign to have blank CDs on jukeboxes so you can play … Read More
I gave up drinking lots of whiskey and began to practice yoga and meditation. As a result I am not dead.
“I gave up drinking lots of whiskey and began to practice yoga and meditation. As a result I am not dead.” Billy Childish
I don’t spend a lot of time working if I can help it.
“I don’t spend a lot of time working if I can help it.” Billy Childish
I’ve not been an admirer of contemporary music since punk rock went off the boil in 1977, but once a year I’ll listen to ‘Spiral Scratch’ by the Buzzcocks, or ‘Hippy Hippy Shake’ by the Swinging Blue Jeans. Otherwise, I can put up with Chopin or shakuhachi flute in the background.
“I’ve not been an admirer of contemporary music since punk rock went off the boil in 1977, but once a year I’ll listen to ‘Spiral … Read More
I think that the mythology of Van Gogh’s life, and the beauty of his paintings, is unstoppable.
“I think that the mythology of Van Gogh’s life, and the beauty of his paintings, is unstoppable.” Billy Childish
Bowie and McCartney arrived, and the biscuits and caviare started and I left immediately. I don’t like shouting across rooms, with people in shiny suits who look like used-car salesmen.
“Bowie and McCartney arrived, and the biscuits and caviare started and I left immediately. I don’t like shouting across rooms, with people in shiny suits … Read More
We had the same kind of unemployment here as they had in the worst hit places in the North and you’re meant to be on a cushy wicket in the South. If you go up to Newcastle, you can tell that the town’s really had money, or Liverpool, you know, the northern towns have got grandeur, whereas Medway, being just a sort of garrison town and dockyard town, you don’t have anything like Earl Grey Square or anything like that.
“We had the same kind of unemployment here as they had in the worst hit places in the North and you’re meant to be on … Read More
I’ve always liked New York, as I like towns with an edge and New York has a European feel, so when I came to play music here in the ’80s it was a surprise to me.
“I’ve always liked New York, as I like towns with an edge and New York has a European feel, so when I came to play … Read More
I coined this term ‘freedom thru limitation’ back in the ’90s because I was sick of art being treated like pop, because of this boring ‘anything can be art’ theory.
“I coined this term ‘freedom thru limitation’ back in the ’90s because I was sick of art being treated like pop, because of this boring … Read More
When I was better known than her, she put my name in that tent. I was asked to do Celebrity Big Brother, but why should I? We live in an age where fame is not related to what you do.
“When I was better known than her, she put my name in that tent. I was asked to do Celebrity Big Brother, but why should … Read More
I make sure I make a painting – that’s my job. And I cook the Sunday dinner.
“I make sure I make a painting – that’s my job. And I cook the Sunday dinner.” Billy Childish
A moustache to a man is the same as a fringe is to a woman. When you’ve got it, you want to grow it out; when you’ve grown it out, you want to cut it.
“A moustache to a man is the same as a fringe is to a woman. When you’ve got it, you want to grow it out; … Read More
Artists who don’t paint aren’t artists.
“Artists who don’t paint aren’t artists.” Billy Childish
I like feeling at home and knowing people. I like talking about ideas and being friendly.
“I like feeling at home and knowing people. I like talking about ideas and being friendly.” Billy Childish
It is an artist’s duty to be on the wrong end of the see-saw.
“It is an artist’s duty to be on the wrong end of the see-saw.” Billy Childish
Before 1999, Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas offered to get me exhibitions, but joining the Stuckists put a kaibosh on all that – because I wasn’t prepared to be controlled. I agreed to co-found the Stuckists to be allowed to say what I wanted, and I left the Stuckists because I didn’t really want to be in them in the first place.
“Before 1999, Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas offered to get me exhibitions, but joining the Stuckists put a kaibosh on all that – because I … Read More
I like being on the margins. You work better there.
“I like being on the margins. You work better there.” Billy Childish
People could live very happily without the Turner Prize, but they could not live without real communication and emotion.
“People could live very happily without the Turner Prize, but they could not live without real communication and emotion.” Billy Childish
I’ve dubbed myself as an amateur, not because I work in different field, but because I do what I do for love.
“I’ve dubbed myself as an amateur, not because I work in different field, but because I do what I do for love.” Billy Childish