Robert Forster – Interview
From the Archives - 2017 Robert Forster interview taking in: Grant & I, The Go-Betweens in Dublin, Cathal Coughlan & Microdisney and more.
Robert Forster - Songs to Play (LP, 2015 Tapete Records). Photograph by Paul McDermott
The last post was The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2 and Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis, here’s another Go-Betweens-related post.
“My name’s Robert Forster and I’m in Dublin on September 8th. I think it is. I know it is.”
Robert Forster
I interviewed Robert Forster on 8 September 2017 for my documentary Iron Fist in Velvet Glove - the story of Microdisney. Robert was on a book tour promoting his memoir Grant & I.
I had arranged to meet him to talk about Cathal Coughlan and Microdisney, and he was happy to oblige. In his book he described Cathal as, “one of London’s secret heroes”.
While I was waiting for Robert in the reception of his hotel a couple came out of the lift with their suitcases. I heard their Australian accents when they asked the receptionist to call a taxi. They then sat opposite me.
A few minutes later Robert appeared out of the lift, I stood up and he walked towards me and loudly said, “Paul, how are you?”
He couldn’t see the look on the Australian couple’s faces behind him as I greeted him, but they recognised Robert’s voice immediately, their jaws literally dropped to the floor. It was hilarious. They were the perfect age to know who the tall Australian man bounding across the lobby towards me was.
Before we left the hotel to go for lunch a press photographer wanted to get some shots of Robert for a feature in the Irish Independent’s Review section. When he was finished he asked if I wanted a photo with Robert. I’m not one for selfies and the like but sure how could I refuse? The photographs are taken at the exact same location. The lighting is obviously way better on the pro shot compared to my phone photos, but they’re lovely snaps to have.
Later in the evening Robert was interviewed by John Meagher for the Independent feature. I like that Meagher mentioned Robert contributing to my Microdisney documentary in his introductory paragraph and the equivalence he draws between both band’s lack of commercial success:
“On the day Review meets Robert Forster, he has just contributed to a new documentary honouring the great Cork band Microdisney. It’s apt, perhaps, that this rangy Australian - a founding member of the much-loved Go-Betweens - would have contributed to such an enterprise. After all, Microdisney never quite reached as many people as the exceptional talents of Cathal Coughlan and Sean O’Hagan deserved, and Forster’s own band also failed to worm their way into the hearts of as many music lovers as they should have.” Top tunes from a land down under (Irish Independent, 23 September 2017)
After this feature was published in the Independent lots of people contacted me to ask if I was the person making a Microdisney documentary - that was funny!
Robert Forster & Paul McDermott.
The photographer was trying to get us to stop laughing and I ended up with a gormless look on my face.
It’s because I thinking: “I’m VERY tall, which makes Robert VERY tall.”
I like that I’m was sporting a Triffids’ pin on my jacket.
Short extracts of this interview were used in my Microdisney documentary and the section of the interview about Grant & I was broadcast on my radio show, Songs to Learn and Sing. The full interview was never broadcast but can be heard below.
We chatted about how The Go-Betweens and Microdisney met while practising nextdoor to each other in Camden in the mid-80s and the tough economic realities for both bands in London. I love Robert imagining an Auntie Rosie and Uncle Seamus:
“It wasn’t as if Microdisney had moved up to Dublin, you know, you can go and see Auntie Rosie and she’s got a fridge full of food, you know Uncle Seamus will put you up for a couple of nights. Neither band had that in London, there was no fall back, and so you just had to get money for the next meal. You were in the game and there was a certain amount of great enjoyment and opportunity and both bands made really good music but it was very, very tough. Very tough.”
Robert Forster
Robert also recalled: Cathal’s lyrics and stage presence; The Go-Betweens and Microdisney as “album bands”; Microdisney supporting The Go-Betweens at the Town & Country Club in London; Rough Trade Records in the 80s; Microdisney’s preparation for working with Lenny Kaye; The Go-Betweens touring around Europe; Tim Hardin albums; the process of writing Grant & I; the burden of telling Grant’s story; The Pogues and the Irish presence in mid-80s Camden; The Go-Betweens first time in Dublin playing the Trinity Ball in 1986; Kriv Stenders’ documentary The Go-Betweens: Right Here; the books that inspired him while he wrote Grant & I; striking a balance between curating the history of The Go-Betweens and pursuing his solo work; not being swallowed up by the past; and more.
My Rock ‘n’ Roll Friend by Tracy Thorn (Canongate, 2021) and Grant & I: Inside and Outside the Go-Betweens by Robert Forster (Hamish Hamilton, 2016). Photograph by Paul McDermott.
Further reading…
“Martin Phillipps: An Appreciation” taking in: The Chills, ‘I Love My Leather Jacket’, ‘Heavenly Pop Hit’, music videos, American tourists, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Kelly’s of Portrush and Mount Errigal.
“A few words on The Go-Betweens, Leonard Cohen, U2 and Boston Celtics’ Reggie Lewis” taking in: Leeside Music on Cork’s MacCurtain Street, price stickers, The Go-Betweens’ boxsets, J-1 visas, ‘Streets of Your Town’, Grant McLennan and my greatest vinyl find.