Shirley Lee

When did you join Spearmint & how?
I formed Spearmint in 1995 with Simon & Ronan after the previous band Laverne & Shirley split up.

What do you do in Spearmint?
I sing & play guitar.

What is your favourite word?
At the moment it appears to be "cogniscent", as I keep trying to crowbar it into conversation..... I am not proud of this...

Tell us some of your favourite places?
Home, Fife, San Francisco, Barcelona, Berlin, Rome, Edinburgh, London, Yorkshire

How do you go about writing songs?
I don't really know to be honest and I don't think it's good to analyse it. I think I'm on the look-out for bits of life that are "worth bottling". The lyrics are the most important thing to me - if I'm not proud of them then it's a waste of time. I don't care where the music comes from as long as it supports the lyrics, is addictive, and has staying power. The overall effect must be uplifting - not necessarily happy - lots of sad songs can be uplifting...

Do you collect anything?
Only albums that I love. I used to collect lots of things when I was young, but see "Giving It Away"...

How do you indulge yourself?
Watching movies. Clothes shopping. Sex & The City, MASH & Seinfeld - I don't seem to tire of these - I don't think I'd leave the house if I lived in America.

Tell us some of your favourite films?
Dekalog, Faithless, The Idiots, Everyone Says I Love You, La Dolce Vita, Top Hat, The Silence, Battle Royale, The Umrellas Of Cherbourg, Roman Holiday, 28 Days Later, Irreversible, La Belle Et La Bete, Festen, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Fire Walk With Me

Who would play you in the movie of your life?
Nicholas Lyndhurst.

What annoys you?
People not aware of the space around them (especially at gigs - that's why pogoing was invented you fuckers!).

Which are your favourite Spearmint gigs?
Water Rats London 3 Dec 97
Cybar Brighton 26 Apr 98
Paradiso Amsterdam 3 Oct 98
Bayside Jenny Osaka 14 May 99
Scala London16 Oct 99
Linkoping 10 Feb 00
Emmaboda 11 Aug 00
Garage London 6 Sept 01
Erika Leipzig 25 Jan 02
Atomic Cafe Munich 1 Feb 02
Lokal Bar Vaxjo 16 Mar 02
Borderline London 15 Apr 02
Platha Mayor Mallorca 17 Jan 03

What would you like to happen over the next year?
A major news story that is "good news for all", play lots of gigs...

What is your ritual before going onstage?
I need a bit of time alone. Then I need to get everyone together. We have a group-hug just before we go on.

Which are your favourite Spearmint songs?
This Is Green This Is Grey, The Beautiful Things, I Didn't Buy You Flowers, My Missing Days, Go, A Happy Ending, The Last Bus Home

Tell me a secret about another band member
The pigeon is Jim.

What did you want to be when you were young?
Spaceman.

Which songs would you like to play more live?
The new ones.

What is your favourite smell?
Ginger, garlic, basil (actually, any food that is cooking)

Tell us some of your favourite books?
The Secret History, American Psycho, Winters Tale, Lucky Jim, Rebecca, The Informers, Possession, London Fields, The Unbeliever, The Name Of The Rose, Travels With My Aunt, Birthday Letters, Remains Of The Day, Lolita, A Suitable Boy, Hotel World, The Lord Of The Rings, The End Of The Affair, The Leopard, The Trial, Atonement, Trainspotting

What is your least favourite thing about being in a band?
Delays. People being late.

Which songs make you cry?
"Someday We'll Be Together" by the Supremes

What is your favourite city?
London.

Tell us some of your favourite records?
Grand Prix, Boxing Hefner, The Unutterable, Realistes, Boat To Bolivia, Sunburst Finish, Is This It, Two Sevens Clash, Last Splash, Trafalgar, United, Heartbreaker, What's Going On, Metal Box, If You're Feeling Sinister, Come From The Shadows, De Stijl, Born A Woman, Tribute To The Martyrs, It's Torture, Cut, Blue, Kind Of Blue, Secondhand Daylight, Your Man, Sound On Sound, Our Favourite Shop, Sandinista, More Specials, Come On Feel The Lemonheads, Bookends, Bright Yellow Bright Orange, Keynsham, Fever To Tell, Sir Henry At Rawlinson End...

What is your favourite song on the new album and why?
"I Didn't Buy You Flowers". I'm just a sucker for the sentiment...

What is your favourite Spearmint catch-phrase?
"What happens if I touch this?" has lasted for years because it's only used occasionally, whereas "That's nice!" and "Unleash the parrot!" kind of lost their magic through over-use... Anything to do with Charlie Bigteeth cracks me up, but in terms of sheer frequenxy of use by 4 of the band-members, it's got to be "Where's Ronan?"

Have you any hobbies?
Watching movies. That's when I actually relax. I need help though - I can't get what I want from the local rental store & it drives me nuts!

What are the best things in life?
Odd moments of complete satisfaction. Lying in bed with a loved one. The intro to "Another Girl Another Planet".

What is your favourite item of clothing?
That pair of Beauty Beast trainers that I've worn to death now. Having a bit of a clothes crisis at the moment and despairing what is on offer for blokes...

Tell me about a low-point you have had during the band's career
Nothing compares to Sheffield Leadmill 21 October 2000. I cried on Jim on the way home...

What is your favourite thing about being in a band?
Those odd moments when it all comes together - you wouldn't believe how fantastic that is...

Where are you from originally?
Yorkshire - just outside Leeds.

What do you like about living in London?
I like the anonimity of it. The fact that most people aren't from here. The mix of cultures, access to pretty much everything. I've been to a lot of amazing places, but London has the most dazzling array of culture & history - people here are very casual about it. The amount of time spent travelling is bad though...

3 words to describe yourself
Inflexible. Anal. Selfish.

Recommend some great bands to us
HOST, The Free French, Hidden Cameras, KaitO, Comet Gain, Futureheads, Klang, Radio Department, Rogers Sisters, The Kills, Joy Zipper, Von Bondies, Nina Nastasia, Ballboy, Susumu Yokota, Laura Cantrell, Mum, Herman Dune, Erase Erata, Loudon Wainwright III for fuck's sake!

Choose 3 slow songs to smooch to
"Don't Give Up On Us" by David Soul, "Faded Glamour" by Animals That Swim, "The Next Time" by Cliff Richard

What is your favourite Spearmint lyric and why?
Right now it's "a boss who's a bastard with a heart of gold" from a song we're working on at the moment...

What is your favourite Spearmint album and why?
"My Missing Days" - it just feels like Spearmint.

Anything else to declare?
Yes - Jim's pony tail was a mistake.