Alex James

Slow Life | 18 October 2008

Conquering hero

issue 18 October 2008

I was in a meeting a year or so ago about a charity record for Darfur. Mick was on board. Bono was confirmed. It was all looking good — good for Darfur, as the benevolent gods of rock assembled to come to the rescue.

Amy Winehouse’s name was mentioned. ‘Isn’t she a bit tricky?’ said someone. Then an executive I’d only ever met after midnight, someone I’d always privately believed to be a simpleton, said something I’ll always remember. ‘People say she’s difficult. That means she is brilliant. It always does. You can’t be difficult and not be brilliant in this business. No one will tolerate it.’

I recalled those unexpected words of wisdom, sadly perhaps the best thing to come out of that meeting, as I travelled to Laverstoke Park on Tuesday. It was Charles Campion who suggested I went down there.

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