Paul Simon, Newsweek & Me
How I followed in the footsteps of the legendary Paul Simon with my first interview in Newsweek.
One of my late father's favourite artists was Paul Simon, whom he met several times while crashing around the world covering prize fights. In 1972, when I was still at school, Dad had gone to look for America and returned with Paul's second, eponymous solo album.
It had been two years since Paul had split from Art Garfunkel. My favourite track on the album was, is, 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard'. It's that jumpy, folky number about who knows what, quivering with unawareness and blunt courage. I played it over and over, and then again. Dad fretted that I'd wear out the grooves.
Paul grew up in Queens, a New York borough my father visited often, but which was as alien to this Welsh-rooted suburban-Londoner's childish self as the Himalayas or BogotĂ .
It has oft been speculated that the obscure references in the song were inspired by scenes from the Queens of Simon's childhood, although he was as yet too innocent to sense what was going on. A favourite lyric line still haunts me: “And when the radical priest come to get me released, we was all on the cover of Newsweek.” That, and David Spinozza's acoustic guitar. His musical flair benefitted Macca, Lennon, Ringo and James Taylor throughout the seventies. But I digress.
I was reminded of that great song earlier this evening, when I gave my first-ever interview to the venerated magazine. America is apparently fizzing with the Freddie Mercury story. What's Mary Austin on about? Who was Anita Dobson to deny his daughter's existence? (She didn't!)
I responded to their effervescence, bemused. I grinned inwardly at what Dad might have made of it.
The cover of Newsweek, huh.
Well, I'm on my way.. I don't know where I'm going.
Does anyone?