Pat Geary speaks to Pete Burns on September 17th, 2000. Recorded in the UK. A RIGHT STUFF exclusive!!

Pat: I've just read that Robbie Williams when he did his poster, there's a poster in the record store windows here where he's dropping his trousers, they had to airbrush his ass because of all the pimples on it..

Pete: Well, he's only human, for God's sake...

Pat: (laughs) Yeah, I felt kinda bad for him that that got out. I'm sure he would have looked fine anyway.

Pete: Well, you know, people should realise that when you see a girl or a man that you really admire like Brad Pitt or Cindy Crawford, it takes a hairdresser three hours, a makeup artist four hours, a photographer twelve hours, then an airbrusher weeks on end, to do it. People just don't look like that in 3D. People are human, and everybody gets pimples and boils and bald patches and shaving rashes and bloodshot eyes...and these are removed for public consumption.

Now I'm not saying that it's wrong to remove them, but it's a little sad that people think that's what they should achieve, because you're never going to achieve complete perfection. Magazines are constantly purveying this.

In a way I think it's occupational therapy that people focus on the detail: "Oh my god, I've got to lose three pounds in a week". It keeps them from going out and... (pauses) mugging somebody. But they've got to realise you can't achieve the impossible.

Pat: Well, it keeps them constantly frustrated. I also think you can't truly love something when it's an illusion like that. It's too perfect. If you do love somebody, then their imperfections are sometimes the most lovable parts of them, because that's what endears them to you, that they do have flaws.

Pete: Oh, everybody does have flaws You know I've just been reading a really interesting book which says don't try and capitalise on your flaws, try to concentrate on your good points. And I'm not saying this to make you say, you know, "oh, I'm so sorry", but I couldn't think of any good points to list.

Because I'm actually quite difficult as a human being. If I decide to go for a walk at 8 in the morning, and no one else wants to come with me, I'll go for that fucking walk at 8 in the morning. Do you know what I mean?

Pat: I absolutely know what you mean.

Pete: It's difficult for some people, because they think..."well why can't you just come over to this restuarant?" Because I don't LIKE the restaurant! Or I don't want to go there. I'm just going MY way. I'd love you to come if you want to, but I'm walking , I'm not taking a cab.

Pat: They think you're being contrary. That's what they think...

Pete: Well yeah, I'm often told I'm contrary. I used to think I was being contrary, but I'm not being contrary at all.

I'm following the flow now. I'm not a hippie by any means, but I'm going with the flow, because otherwise it results in great unhappiness and inner conflict.

It's like, Steve says to me, "Why are you going to bed at 11:00 at night?" Because I used to go to bed at 3 in the morning.

I said, "Because I can get up at 8 in the morning, knowing I've had a healthy amount of sleep, and I can get so much accomplished in that time. Or sit on my ass until everyone else is awake, by which time I'm ready for anything."**

**At this point our tape ran out, and we wrapped up the conversation.

Pete has agreed to hold another free-wheeling conversation with Pat for recording and subsequent publication on the Right Stuff. Stand by for the word from Planet Burns, as of August 2001!

Copyright (c) 2001 by Pat Geary. Not to be reprinted or reproduced in whole or in part without written permission.