Rocks Off

SXSW Interview: Andrew Loog Oldham

Austin Convention Center, Saturday, March 20 "Andrew, Andrew, Andrew Loog Oldham." It was tough not to hum Mick Jagger's famously wicked poke at the Rolling Stones' former producer/manager. For a relationship that ended 37 years ago, Oldham still wears the breakup on his brittle leather sleeve, but only Keith Richards is more quotable than this author of Stoned and 2Stoned. Inquisitor Paul du Noyer, editor of Word, had to do very little research for this Q&A session given Oldham's crisp epithets. Du Noyer did some neat myth busting, however, getting his subject to admit, "I did not coin the phrase, 'Would you let your daughter marry a Rolling Stone?'" Oldham opened by graciously thanking SXSW, and apologized to Austin resident and Faces member Ian McLagan, because "we scratched each other's eyes out in print." Looking fit and sporting silver bracelets on each arm, Oldham talked with faint sentiment of being a part of "the original British pop industry, fashion" while working for Mary Quant. He demonstrated his Midas touch by advising bands, "Don't pick 10 doors to knock on, pick one and kick it in." Poker-faced, he likewise suggested, "Keep in touch with former drug dealers. It's good manners." Yet it was the Rolling Stones the audience wanted to hear about, and Oldham delivered with brutal affection. "The Rolling Stones were five ordinary guys until the five became one." "I didn't like Brian Jones. He was a moaner." "What makes Keith Keith? We all know the answer to that." "I billed them as 'England's Newest Hitmakers' – without a hit." The beauty of SXSW isn't found solely during incendiary musical moments, it also resides in unforgettable panel exchanges. From the audience came a question via Robyn Hitchcock, dressed in Easter egg colors: "Do all great bands hate each other?" The audience roared. The venerable Andrew Loog Oldham leaned back and gave a laconic nod. "I hope so."