Thursday
Jan262012
TAKE A LOOK AT ME NOW…
TAKE A LOOK AT ME NOW… BACK
Against All Odds in 2007 I was asked alongside twenty or so of these lesser-known household names to take a copy of Phil Collins’ classic album No Jacket Required and deface it, turning it into a self-portrait to be auctioned for the charity Children in Hunger (of which Mr Collins is chief patron).
Art Vinyl were behind the great idea called De-Face Value, and the other not-quite-up-to-my-level-of-celebrity names showing a Groovy Kinda Love included designer Paul Smith, Hot Chip, comedian Phil Jupitus, Joanna Lumley, Billy Childish, DJ Shadow, Zigue Zigue Sputnik, Badly Drawn Boy and Gordon f**king Ramsey. The only thing In The Air that night was the smell of mischief. Just Take a Look at Me Now, Phil! Ha ha
To my delight not only was the entire collection auctioned off for over £3,000 (which went towards helping combat child poverty in Brazil) but also I was sent a personal thank you letter from Phil Collins, who, I’m sure knowing exactly who I was and that Jem isn’t a girl’s name, signed it with a kiss. Easy Lover indeed.