SO! Its been a crazy week. But I’m finally getting round to answering some questions! We received thousands of questions so its taken a while to sort them all out.  We’ve decided to split them up into different categories and the first set that I’ve been sent are questions about travel. In the future we will try and put people’s names next to each question but for these it wasn’t done in time.  Apologies! 

ok here we go!

If you could choose one country from all the world to live in.. which one would you choose…?

I guess I would always have to live in Europe.  What I love about it is the immense diversity of countries that are so near by.  When I’m in some parts of the USA (like LA)  I feel very far away.  But you never know.  I think I was born with itchy feet, which is a bit of a blessing considering what I do with my life. 

Why do you hate flying so much? Have you had a particularly bad experience on a plane? After all the traveling you did in 2007, has it gotten any easier? Did getting stuck on the tarmac in Miami in June 2007 particularly stress you out?

When I get off a long flight I feel like it’s the day after a long night out.  I hate the smell, the closed off space, and I’m often irritated by the amount of control that you go through from when you enter the airport to leaving baggage claim.  You are interrogated, directed and redirected countless times.  We all just have to give in.  I have only had a few bad experiences flying, including having to take off  again half way through landing as we had run out of runway cuz the weather was so bad.  Its not a fear of flying more than a total dislike of it.

Why have you said that you often cry in planes? Is it because you are afraid? Because you always see sad movies in planes or some other reason ?

HA! I’ve actually looked into this a bit.  Apparently high altitudes have strange effects on people.  It can lead to  a heightening of emotion and a dulling down of other things, like your taste-buds for instance.  Its mainly because I often watch dark or sad movies on flights.  The same actually happens with alcohol! At high altitude the effect of alcohol is exaggerated.  That’s one thing that’s hard to resist when flying, cuz there’s bugger all else to do! Its a bad habit.

Have you ever been to Disney World, or Disneyland, or Disneyland Paris? If yes, what did you think of the place?

Just this morning I was talking with the people I’m working with about how I want to go down to Disney World for a couple days in a big group of friends.  I’m fascinated by it.  I think I may well hate it but its worth a try.  

For a while I became obsessed by this utopic city that the Disney company built in Florida.  It’s a real life town called Celebration.  It IS the Truman show.  Amazing to study but a horrifying reality.  I read books and studies on it! Turns out Walt Disney actually wanted to build Epcot as a real city.  The kind of perfect, high tech big brother town we are all afraid of.  Celebration Florida is what finally came out of that.  

The one thing that I really want to go to Disney for is all the Live Annimatics stuff, (the moving dolls and robotic life size puppets).  I’ve always been interested in those things.  I found out today about Banksy’s new instillation in New York.  It’s a fake pet shop made up of amazing alternative creatures… check it out.  This reminds me so much of my childhood brain!

Have you ever taken a holiday in Scotland and seen our beautiful scenery?

Yes, once for a one month road trip with my family when I was a child.  We took a road trip and the only music we had with us was a tape of  Elvis hits bought from a petrol station on the M4. Its was beautiful, Scotland that is…  Ever since then I’ve had a pipe dream of having a small house in a remote part of the highlands.  I would love it so much, obviously difficult to take care of but if the house was small and simple enough it could be possible.  You never know!

Have you ever been to Hungary?

No never, I have wanted to for a long time, ever since I worked with a Hungarian conductor when I was a boy.  He told me that Hungarian was known as one of the most difficult languages to learn in the world.  I wonder if that’s true…

What’s your favourite city?

London I must say, to live in that is.  For visiting, either Paris or Hong Kong.  

What are your favourite islands?

My favourite Islands?? You know what, there is this brilliant little place I often go to with my god-daughter, its called Mersea Island.  We go there to fish for small crabs and get seafood. 

I was wondering where you could live if you could live anywhere in the world because i know that you have been many places and you have lived many places so you have a pretty good grasp on where the best locations are to live…but the only rule i give is that if you choose London then also choose a second place because you already live in london so what fun is that for a choice??

LOL, I think my second place would have to be somewhere in the mountains.  I don’t like being too close to the ocean, it scares me and its quite flat… there’s something about living in the mountains where you feel small, the earth shoves it in your face at every turn that you are one of the smallest things on it. Its very calming.  So somewhere near the mountains, as long as there is good food and its not too cold all year round, then I’m good.

Where is your favourite place or spot in the world you would withdraw to in order to relax totally?

I am dying to go to the Himalayas.  I think that would be the ideal!  There is is this old grand hotel 8 hours outside of Delhi in the foothills of the Himalayas, called Wildflower Hall. During the winter, they turn the tennis court into an ice rink which can be hired out privately! Insane!

What did you think of Jordan?

I was very surprised by Jordan.  I thought the area around the dead sea was extremely beautiful.  Rugged and impressive. Really liked it.

What’s you’re favorite holiday country? 

I love going to France because its what I know and grew up with, yet the weather is considerably better than England’s…

What do you know about Argentina?

I know that that is where Valentin was filmed and that the food is good!  I can’t wait to go, it’s definitely at the top of my list.

Where and when can I see you in LA

Sooner than you think.  I may try out a couple songs acoustically at a secret show, I’ll keep you posted…

When you visit the states is there a certain food you love that you only get here? or a certain place you love to go?

Cheesecake and half and half, thank fuck for coffee with HALF & HALF!!

What’s your favourite place in London (and why)?

Richmond park or the side streets of Soho around 10 in the morning.

Is there a culture of one country or some countries who interests you?

China. Its history and culturally intimidate and fascinate me.  That’s prob why I’ve  been there six times on holliday.

We all know that during your performances with Royal Opera House 10 years ago you had an opportunity to record for Polish Radio. We are very curious what were your impressions from staying in Warsaw? We can assure that it has changed a lot since then. People are very enthusiastic about artists such as you and your gig would be really great event and above all these  things, a huge joy for us!

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? Lol. I really liked Warsaw, we were very broke at the time so didn’t have much money to do to much stuff but it was great.  It was the first time that I had ever visited a country that used to be communist apart from china, and that part of its history fascinated me.  I wouldn’t mind going back.  I’m sure its changed a lot.

If you’re really “happiest when driving in a car…for hours”….Where are you driving? Are you being driven or driving yourself?

Lol let’s get one thing cleared up! I can’t drive, however you are right I really am extremely happy when I’m driving around in a car, but really its when I’m being driven in a car, but I always like to sit in the front seat!  When I was at college and trying to get a recording contract, I was often going through some pretty hard times, my friends used to come pick me up and we would drive around London in the early hours of the morning.  Then they would drop me home and I would keep on working.  Now I have a great little car, a fiat that actually talks to me, Ha! And I’m getting a second one hopefully, a really nice antique car.  Thing is I don’t know when I’ll be getting my driver’s license, but all my friends and people I work with drive around with me all they time, and when it’s a nice car, no one seems to mind! lol

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? 

South America or New Zealand, preferably both!

You get to travel to so many places with your touring.  Do you like all the traveling or would you rather be doing something where you didn’t have to travel as much?

I love going to all these places.  I have to admit the actual back to back journeys are really difficult some times.  But being able to go out of my hotel and check out wherever I am, even if its just for a short time, is such a great feeling.  Especially when I get to see the countryside in a new place.  I’m often asked if there is another job I would like to do If I wasn’t doing this.  I have a make believe idea that the ultimate job would be a location finder.  Someone who travels around the world finding places to film.  But I think I’m only saying that cuz I’ve just seen the new Bond Trailer. lol

CLICK ON THE IMAGES FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW

Mxx

Hey guys, I write from a studio in a nondescript concrete building in
Los Angeles. The recording is just over three weeks in and it feels great to be
out of demo phase. As many of you know we’ve been working on the DVD
for the Paris show and its now finished. I thought I would share the
new trailer with you guys. I’ve had a blast making this and hope you like it too.

Mxx

PRE-ORDER THE DVD HERE! 

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ETA: FOR US-BASED FANS, the Amazon link to the NTSC version of the DVD: click here - This comes out the day after the UK version.