If asked to choose my favourite memory from the many wonderful adventures I had in the early days of Welsh Bands Weekly, I’d be hard pressed to find one that makes me smile more than the memory of meeting Howard Marks for the first time.
It’s May 1998 and I’m at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, watching Super Furry Animals. I’m 29 years old and have just been ID’d by a young pup of a barman, and am therefore feeling pretty damn pleased with myself. I make my way to the back of the venue and find myself standing beside an attractive, tanned older man who I don’t immediately recognise. He has eyes I could lose myself in, I think fleetingly; we smile and nod, and turn to watch the band.
As I watch the Furries – my favourite band in the whole world, as regular readers of WBW will no doubt recall – and become immersed in that blissful state of being that can only be reached by fully surrendering one’s self to whichever music it is that one loves best, I become aware of a familiar scent wafting past my nostrils.
Mmmm, I think, and as I always do, I look around to find its source.
The aforementioned attractive man catches my eye and grins widely. I grin back. He passes the dutchie – appropriately enough, I’m standing on his left hand side, biddly bong – and I take a deep toke. I pass it back and we grin again.
And the song the Furries are playing at that precise moment? Smokin’. I swear to God, you couldn’t make it up.
Although we’d never actually met until that point, Howard and I had already been acquainted for a year before that meeting. Through a series of faxes, notes and phone calls, in 1997 I’d managed to persuade Howard to be ‘cornered’ for Celebrity Corner, a short feature that made a few appearances in Welsh Bands Weekly before being shelved, and which was not to return until the unpublished Issue 9½.
It’s now nine years since I last saw Howard, in his dressing room at Dingwalls after one of his shows in December 1998. As I compose the email that will relay the questions for this interview, there’s a part of me that expects Howard to wonder who the fuck I am.
So I start the email: “Must be nearly nine years since I last saw you or spoke to you, so I’ll just start by saying ‘hello’ – hope you’re well and happy.”
To my relief, Howard’s reply is warm and familiar: “Is it really that long? I’m well and happy, as always. Hope you are. You sound it.”
Thinking back to those glorious days a decade ago, when nary a Furries gig would take place without that familiar whiff of Howard puffing naughties pervading the air, I can’t help but wonder if he’s still championing Welsh music with as much gusto as he was a decade ago. After all - as he wrote in his autobiography, Mr Nice - hearing Super Furry Animals on the radio during his final hours in prison was like a call to come home.
“Of course,” he tells me. “I still love the Super Furries (their new album is fantastic) and still occasionally hang out with them. I see the Stereophonics, too, and still love their stuff. Goldie Lookin’ Chain brought joy to my heart.”
Howard’s journey since hanging up his international man of mystery hat (you’ll recall that in his smuggling days he worked for MI6 and allegedly had connections with the IRA, the CIA and the Mafia) has been largely filled with prolific writing. In the years since we last saw each other he’s written columns for, among others, Loaded, The Observer, Time Out and The Times. What’s more, he’s published a further two books – 2001’s The Howard Marks Book of Dope Stories and 2006’s Señor Nice – notching up total sales well in excess of a million books.
It’s this latest book that Howard is currently promoting; it’s just been published in paperback and Howard is in the midst of touring it round Britain, just as he did with Mr Nice.
Señor Nice is a fantastically entertaining book, thoroughly addictive with an engaging narrative that draws you in to the point that you could swear blind that you’re not reading at all, but listening to Howard telling the stories. In the book he describes his quest to find out more about the impact throughout history of the Welsh on South America - including a search for a lost tribe of indigenous people that speak Welsh – and his mission to trace the footsteps of the infamous Welsh buccaneer Henry Morgan in Jamaica. But the adventure in Señor Nice that struck me as most amusing was the one borne out of Howard’s discovery that his great-great-grandfather was the half-brother of none other than Billy the Kid.
I ask Howard whether he had a bit of a giggle to himself on discovering that notoriety runs in the family.
“I love it,” he tells me, and I can imagine the grin he must have on his face as he types, “but it’s obviously no surprise to discover some criminal genes in my ancestry.”
With such a family history, I’m curious as to what extent all this knowledge, experience and genealogy affects Howard’s children. As the mother of an almost-18-year-old daughter, I understand only too well the responsibilities of trying to give kids honest, experience-based, non-sensationalist advice and guidance about all the things that could affect their lives, including of course the use of drugs. How did Howard approach this issue with his own children? Did they heed his advice?
“I try to be honest, non-judgemental, and non-persuasive,” he says. “They often heed my advice, for sure.”
Having Howard Marks as your father can’t be a bad thing at a time when – yet again – the Government and media are propagandising cannabis use, this time to scare us into believing that we’re 40% more likely to develop schizophrenia if we partake of the ‘erb. As any rational person will discern from reading this BBC News article from July 2007, scientific findings are typically presented in a sensationalist manner, with the revelation that this increased risk in fact applies only to those that are already predisposed to mental illness only appearing at the end of the article. The situation hasn’t been helped by The Independent making a complete u-turn on its support for legalisation, going so far as taking some of Howard’s comments in a recent Internet debate out of context, presumably in order to bolster its new drugs-are-baad-m’kayyy stance.
Call me paranoid, but bearing in mind the proximity of the Lancet article’s publication to Gordon Brown’s promotion, it seems like fantastic timing for the new Prime Minister, who has made his distaste for all things druggy very well known. Nanny state, anyone?
As a tireless campaigner for the legalisation of drug use – he applied for the Governmental role of Drugs Czar with a genuine belief that cracking down on illegal traffickers instead of targeting users would have a positive impact on the country’s drug problems – what does Howard think of all the scaremongering?
“I have three main thoughts on this,” he says. “The frequency of schizophrenia is pretty much the same as it always was, while the number of people smoking dope has skyrocketed. That shows there’s no correlation.
“When anyone gets schizophrenia,” he continues, “the brain self medicates itself by releasing a chemical (called something like anandanine, I think) to relieve the unpleasant effects. The molecular structure of this chemical is remarkably similar to that of THC. The likely explanation is that schizophrenics like to smoke dope to cope with their condition.
“I see no problem with the state of being stoned being somewhat similar to the state of being slightly mad,” he concludes. “Being off your head is like being off your head.”
Howard’s a pretty horizontal bloke, by my reckoning, and I always get the feeling that he just does what he wants. He fancies a spliff, he has one, more or less regardless of where he is (one suspects the more taboo the venue, the more tempting it must be to spark up a fat one). I can’t shake this mental image of Howard flicking V’s at authority as an extra in the walking-into-the-sunset scene that my mind has involuntarily lifted from the back page of a Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers comic.
Take, for instance, the fact that Howard smokes dope on stage during his shows. The man’s bloody irrepressible, but the more loveable for it. And with a tour about to start as the email goes off to Howard, I wonder what he thinks of it all. It must be fun, but tiring… what does he most like and dislike about going on tour?
“I most like visiting new places and dislike having to leave them so quickly,” he replies; considering his career as a travel writer - as well as the adventures he describes in his books - this answer doesn’t surprise me at all.
On stage Howard recounts his adventures during his transformation from wanted criminal to loveable rogue, in that mesmerising voice of his which, in the tradition of the most venerable bards, spins a damn good yarn. Does he ever sit and have a chuckle to himself about where all his adventures have led him? With all the things that he’s done, and all the things that have happened to him, his memories must be pretty cool. Which are his favourite and least favourite?
“My favourite memory is of getting acquitted at the Old Bailey of importing 15 tons of Colombian marijuana when I was obviously guilty,” he says. “My least favourite was hearing the news in prison of my 4 year old son breaking both his legs after jumping off a roof.”
Going back to the V-flicking, I’m curious about the fact that seeds are sold openly on Howard’s website. Surely that’s illegal? Or is there a loophole in the law which allows him to sell them?
“Possession of seeds is not illegal in the UK as they do not contain any THC,” he explains. “In some countries, e.g. the United States and Germany, seeds are illegal. Growing seeds is illegal in the UK.”
Of all the seeds on sale at his site, which are Howard’s favourite varieties?
Howard’s answer surprises me somewhat: “I can’t tell the difference between one strong weed and another.”
I recently saw a video clip of Howard examining hash plants in the Himalayas, and the loving (and experienced) manner in which he handled the plants was quite touching (down girl!). Is Howard a keen gardener in the ‘normal’ sense of the word, or are his green-fingered interests limited to the sort of plants we’re not allowed to grow in the UK?
“Fuck no!” – I fancy I can hear laughter down the broadband pipes – “I’ve never done any gardening in my life. I’m only interested in the final product.”
After so many years of smoking the final product, does it still have an effect on him? How much does Howard have to smoke before he gets nicely hammered?
“I still get stoned on the first joint of the morning,” he says, surprising me again, “and progressively more as the day goes by. But I am familiar with the state. I rarely dysfunction.”
It seems there’s a bit of a hash drought going on in some areas of the UK... even in London it’s been a bit thin on the ground, so you can imagine what a nightmare it is up here in North Wales. Has this drought affected Howard in any way? How gutted would he be if he couldn’t get hold of any?
“Luckily, I have enough connections never to suffer too much from droughts,” he says, “but I would be well gutted if I didn’t.”
With all this talk of what we want to legalise, I’m curious to know whether there’s anything that is currently legal which Howard would like to see criminalised.
“The American armed forces and their weaponry,” he replies, and I’m inclined to agree.
Howard has been described variously as “the narcotic Tommy Cooper,” “a folk legend” and “sounds like Richard Burton and acts like a Rolling Stone”. I agree that he’s all these things, but he’s also so much more. He’s warm, he’s articulate, funny and intelligent. He’s highly educated, yet I get the sense that the greater part of his knowledge comes from the sort of experiences that aren’t – or at least weren’t – part of the normal curriculum at Oxford.
“You are,” I finish my email, and I blush a deep scarlet as I type, “one of the most effortlessly charismatic and charming men I’ve ever met, and despite the fact that you’re a year older than my dad, I reckon you’re pretty damn sexy. Now you’re a single man and out on the road a lot, are you finding you get propositioned by all the pretty young things? Are you getting plenty of tottie?”
“Not any more, unfortunately,” Howard replies. “I’m now a year older than their granddads.”
And through the almost-visible web that connects us, I sense a mischievous twinkle in those heavenly eyes.
Catch Howard Marks on tour:
28 October 2007
ST IVES THEATRE
Lower Stennack, ST IVES - Cornwall, TR26 1QG
Ticket Cost: £15.00, Doors Open: 19:00
Box Office No: 01736 797007
Web Address: www.kidzrus.net
AN AUDIENCE WITH SENOR NICE
29 October 2007
MARINE THEATRE
Church Street, LYME REGIS - Dorset, DT7 3QA
Ticket Cost: £12.50, Doors Open: 19:00
Box Office No: 01297 442138
Web Address: www.marinetheatre.com/
Email Address: admin@marinetheatre.com
AN AUDIENCE WITH SENOR NICE
30 October 2007
THE LANDMARC
Exeter Road, BOURNEMOUTH, BH2 5AQ
Ticket Cost: £16.50, Doors Open: 19:00
Box Office No: 01202 589 868
Web Address: www.thelandmarc.com
Email Address: book@lthelandmarc.com
AN AUDIENCE WITH SENOR NICE
03 November 2007
THE SAVOY
Patricks Street, CORK
Ticket Cost: £27.50, Doors Open: 19:00
Box Office No: 353 81 871930
Web Address: www.savoycork.com
Email Address: enquiries@savoycork.com
AN AUDIENCE WITH MR NICE
04 November 2007
Roisin Dubh
Dominick St, GALWAY
Ticket Cost: £25.00, Doors Open: 19:00
Box Office No: 00353 91 586340
Web Address: www.roisindubh.net
Email Address: booking@roisindubh.net
An Audience with MR NICE
05 November 2007
University of Limerick
LIMERICK
Ticket Cost: £8.00, Doors Open: 19:00
Box Office No: 353 61 20 23
Web Address: www.uch.ie
Email Address: boxoffice@uch.ie
AN AUDIENCE WITH MR NICE
06 November 2007
The Laughter Lounge
Basement 4 - 8 Eden Quay, O'Connell Bridge, DUBLIN , DUBLIN 1
Ticket Cost: £25.00, Doors Open: 19:00
Box Office No: 81 871930
Web Address: www.laughterlounge.com
Email Address: boxoffice@laughterlounge.com
AN AUDIENCE WITH MR NICE
07 November 2007
The Laughter Lounge
Basement 4 - 8 Eden Quay, O'Connell Bridge, DUBLIN, DUBLIN 1
Ticket Cost: £25.00, Doors Open: 19:00
Box Office No: 01 - 878 3003
Web Address: www.laughterlounge.com
Email Address: boxoffice@laughterlounge.com
AN AUDIENCE WITH MR NICE
08 November 2007
SQUARE CHAPEL
10 Square Road, HALIFAX, HX1 1QG
Ticket Cost: £14.50, Doors Open: 19:00
Box Office No: 01422 349422
Web Address: www.squarechapel.co.uk
Email Address: info@squarechapel.co.uk
An Audience with SENOR NICE
09 November 2007
Theatr Ardudwy
HARLECH - Gwynedd, LL46 2PU
Ticket Cost: £10.00, Doors Open: 19:00
Box Office No: 01766 780667
Web Address: www.theatrardudwy.co.uk
An Audience with SENOR NICE
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