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Get previous Second Serve issues [here]
The Popbitch Popquiz archive is [here]
The Daily Audio Quiz archive is [here] |
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“Someone told me recently that Coca-Cola and milk is a really good hangover cure” – Alex James |
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A second serving of scandal and slander Subscribe
Email stories to us club@popbitch.com
* Draining Liam’s minibar
* Sadie’s sassy party talk
* PLUS: Dirty drinking games |
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>> Britpopbitch << |
The spirit of 95 |
With Liam Gallagher announcing an anniversary tour of Definitely Maybe this morning and this being Issue 95 of the Second Serve – we’ve found ourselves in a bit of a Britpop mood this afternoon.
So here’s a few tales from that time. Some we’ve never published before, a couple of classics, and a few extra details you’ll probably wish we’d kept to ourselves… |
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Alex James once snapped his banjo string while interacting with himself too enthusiastically as he watched the Wimbledon ladies’ final. He had to get it fixed in A&E. |
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>> Party pooper << |
Bob v the Britpoppers |
Noel Gallagher and wife Meg Mathews’ Supernova Heights house was the centre of the Britpop Primrose Hill party scene, but they weren’t always popular with the neighbours. The police and Camden Council received frequent complaints about the noise from there.
Almost all of which came from one neighbour who lived just over the road… Bob Hoskins. |
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The Supernova Heights stuff all got a bit much for Noel in the end too. He came down one morning to find the house trashed after one of Meg’s parties, with Meg having fallen asleep in the fireplace. They separated not long after. |
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>> Big Answers << |
Who wants to know? |
In Popbitch #139, we asked: “Which popstar is currently wearing a diamond ring given to her by her Britpop boyfriend… sadly oblivious to the fact that, before he gave it to her, he inserted it into the snatch of his other girlfriend?”
The Britpop boyfriend in question was Liam Gallagher, who inserted said jewellery into his mistress with the charming phrase “Every time you see this ring, you’ll know where its been…” |
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Remember Berri – who sang Sunshine After The Rain? She once shagged Liam Gallagher in the bogs at an industry do. When she told her management about it, they insisted she sell the story to the tabloids or they’d drop her. So she sold it. Then they dropped her anyway. |
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>> Identity theft << |
An outstanding bill(y) |
There was a brief spell in 1995 where Robbie Williams was palling about with the Gallagher brothers. It all ended rather acrimoniously – could this have been why?
During that time, Robbie learned that Liam checked in to hotels under the pseudonym “Billy Shears”. He got to make good use of that knowledge one afternoon after pulling a journalist on a train from Manchester to London.
Once the two of them arrived at Euston, Robbie took her to the hotel that Liam was supposed to be staying at and checked in as Billy Shears. Then shagged her on Liam’s bed, drained his minibar and left Liam to pick up the tab. |
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Robbie Williams’ own preferred check-in names were Mr Kenu Feelit and Mr Phil S Stein. |
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>> Art and craft << |
Jarvis needs silence |
NB writes:
“Before Pulp made it, they were known in Sheffield as the best local band that hadn’t broken the charts. Everybody else was getting signed and Sheffield was roaring. As the singer of another band that hadn’t been signed, I answered an ad to share their practice room.
“We headed to this building in the city centre. I drew the short straw to knock on the door and discuss the room share, while my bandmate hid around the corner. I could hear someone playing piano upstairs but knocked a few times. Then I waited until there was a break in playing before knocking again, loudly enough for him to hear.
“Cue a cartoon-like piano slam, followed by loud stomping down the wooden stairs to the front door. It flew open and there was Cocker. I opened my mouth to introduce myself and to say I was there about sharing the room… but before I could say a single word he boomed, ‘Fuck off, I’m practising my art!’ slammed the door and stomped back up the wooden stairs like a big kid.” |
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MT writes: “Emmy-Kate Montrose from Kenickie (a.k.a. Emma Jackson) is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Goldsmiths. She’s immensely well-liked in the field, and if you’re both at the same conference she’ll happily get pissed with you.” |
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>> Sham/poo << |
A dirty drinking game |
A visitor to Shampoo’s house in Shepherd’s Bush recalls a drinking game they’d play involving their pet hamster.
They would place their hamster on the head of everyone in the room, in turn, until it shat. The recipient would then have to down vodka. |
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RD writes: “I once snuck backstage at an indie club where Menswear convinced me that snorting vodka was a fun thing to do. It was a deeply unpleasant experience so, in revenge, I stole all their Bel Paese cheese.” |
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>> Blurred lines << |
Dabbling for the 100th time |
Whenever he’s mingling with strangers who look like they might be able to lay on a few lines, Alex James likes to pretend that he’s never done cocaine before. He’ll give a whole spiel about how he finds it all very intriguing and would be quite interested to try a bit if they’re offering.
Anyone gullible enough to fall for it will then be stuck with him all night as he miraculously “develops” a ravenous taste for the stuff. |
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Alex James’s wedding was a new-age affair with maypole dancing, a burning wicker man and the happy couple drinking a cocktail made of their own urine. |
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>> Frosty manner << |
Sadie’s sassy party-talk |
Hammo writes:
“I was once at a Supergrass aftershow party in a small basement club in Soho. There was only one cubicle and so, for obvious reasons, the queue was always long. In front of me was Sadie Frost. As she went into the cubicle, she turned round to me and said, ‘I hope you piss your pants’.” |
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Justine Frischmann from Elastica had an art-school fling with Guy Ritchie. |
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>> Group chat << |
A final few memories |
pilchardboy writes:
“Richard James from Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci once turned up to our house party in Cardiff and tried to snog my other half. When she rebuffed him, he looked shocked and said ‘You do know I’m in Gorky’s right? I could get you on the next album on backing vocals.’ She laughed for so long he left.”
slackhack writes:
“Someone I know shagged James Dean Bradfield, and her flat was less than spotless. When she woke up, he’d been to the shop, bought croissants and orange juice, and had done the washing up.”
rick_gassko writes:
“Just after he got booted out of the Stereophonics, Stuart Cable and I got twatted in a room in the K-West hotel in London. We sat up all night doing lines together and then I had to sit there twitching while he drilled two groupies senseless. His rhythm wasn’t up to much but, to his credit, he did keep grinning and making high-five motions at me throughout.” |
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Danny McNamara of Embrace earned the nickname “The Camel” among the Britpop groupie contingent. Why? “Two humps and he’s done…” |
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>> Popbits << |
This week’s audio quizzes |
Last week saw quizzes on Bossa Nova covers, Celebrity Big Brother, Drag Race Lip Syncs and more. This week, we’ve got another five lined up for you.
Each is made up of ten songs. All you need to do is identify the songs’ titles (one point each) and the bands/artists (a second point each).
Monday’s Theme: B-List Britpop
[Play it here] |
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This Friday will see us offer up our 500th audio round. If you want to get up to speed on them all before then – you can. They’re all available to play [here] |
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Thanks to: slackhack, EIB, RJ, pilchardboy, rick_gassko, RB, MT, NT, hammo |
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Old Jokes Home
Q/ Why couldn’t the Red Hot Chili Peppers get their DVD player to work?
A/ Scart issue |
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