North London Food & Culture

Ich Bin Kentishtowner: Luke Haines, musician

'My most unappealing habit? Reading the Daily Mail in a high voice to rabbits on the Heath.'

"Describe myself as an animal? I'm a rock 'n' roll animal." Luke Haines Pic: PR
“Describe myself as an animal? I’m a rock ‘n’ roll animal.” Luke Haines Pic: PR

Luke Haines was the front man in 90s band The Auteurs, one third of chart hit-makers Black Box Recorder and currently has a brand new album out, New York in the Seventies, under his own name. He’s lived in NW5 for 12 years and is married to Sian Pattenden, the artist behind our cultural maps. More info: lukehaines.co.uk

When were you happiest?
I’m in a constant state of happiness – because I’m very ignorant.

Where would you like to live?
I don’t wanna move – you can’t make me. I’m K-Town till I die. *Air Punch*

What is your favourite sound or smell?
I like the sound of the tiny bubbles in Cider Bus escaping from the pint glass.


LOCAL ADVERTISING


Sian and Luke, by Sian. Look out for her interview next week
Sian and Luke, by Sian. Look out for her interview next week

What is your earliest K-Town memory?
Seeing Nico and John Cale playing at the old Town and Country club in 1985, the year I moved to London.

What makes you unhappy?
The stuff that happens without my permission.

What is your most unappealing habit?
Reading the Daily Mail to rabbits hiding in hedges on Hampstead heath in a high voice. Some people find this quite annoying.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Guilt is a useless emotion. But I do enjoy a takeaway curry from Monsoon which advertises itself as Ed Milliband’s fave curry house. There’s another local curry house which has a photo of the bloke out of The Darkness posing with the chief. These are hearty commendations.

Where do you hang out?
I like the Southampton Arms for its psychedelic ciders and refusal to become another Gastro pub. I also like O’Reilly’s on Kentish Town road, a proper boozer with Black Night blaring out on the Jukebox and a barman in a Lonsdale shirt who knows everyone.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Oh I don’t mind my appearance too much. Once you get into your 40s there’s little point in being too hung up on these things, people tend not to expect too much of you.

What’s the worst thing anyone’s said to you?
In a pub in Archway the writer Gordon Burn told me that I looked like a cross between Van Morrison and Arthur Scargill. That was a devil-and-the -deep-blue-sea moment.

Tell us a secret.
I am the inventor of a hugely successful board-game.

What has your career taught you?
Not to have a career.

What is your favourite dish and why?
I like all food and I will pretty much look upon all animals (apart from cats) as ‘dinner.’

What did you do today?
I spent the morning and afternoon checking through two CDs-worth of my old band (The Auteurs) material which is about to be re-released. It’s been a slightly self-possessed day.

Describe yourself as an animal.
I’m a rock n roll animal.

Email any suggestions for this column to info@kentishtowner.co.uk. If you’re a fan, why not sport some of our Ich Bin clothing range? There aren’t many left, so hurry over to our shop and order one today.


Leave a Comment

Leave a Comment

About Kentishtowner

The award-winning print and online title Kentishtowner was founded in 2010 and is part of London Belongs To Me, a citywide network of travel guides for locals. For more info on what we write about and why, see our About section.