´óÏó´«Ã½

Is pop music better or worse now than in the ‘80s?
Claire: Well, a good record is a good record, whatever era it comes from. I’ve always loved disposable pop music. The nature of pop is disposable. It’s not supposed to be around forever. The nostalgia fad for the ‘80s does baffle me but then again I’m hooked on it myself. I think music was far more tribal in the ‘80s, you had punks, new romantics, Goths, etc. That was interesting. You don’t get that now.

Pop Idol TV? Devil spawn or a genuine hotbed of creative talent?
Claire: I have mixed reactions to those Pop Idol and Popstars shows. I like to watch them but at the same time it is manufactured. All this synchronised dancing is a bit stage school for me. Who knows if any of them will have long careers. I do think that record companies should invest more in the long term future of British bands. I do think something will give quite soon with this glut of boy and girl bands. It can’t be sustained forever. Something will come along as a reaction to it.

Regrets? Have you had a few?
Claire: I don’t have any. I wouldn’t be the person I am now if I hadn’t gone through those experiences. I didn’t do it to be famous or rich. We just wanted to make music. We didn’t bother much about contracts or money and consequently we lost a lot of money too. Younger artists now tend to walk around with a pocket calculator and that’s good in a way. You have to try and hang on to your money. We were just living our fantasy and not really thinking about a career.

What did you spend your first ever royalty cheque on?
Claire: Well, I only got my first royalty cheque last year! There’s been an ongoing legal battle that has lasted years which meant I didn’t get paid for ages. But even at the height of our success we were all on a wage. I was earning £45 a week back in 1982! The most I ever earned from Epic Records was £75 in one week. It was frustrating I guess but then you don’t miss what you don’t know.

Siouxsie Sioux and Steve Severin from the Banshees took you under their wing and helped you get a deal. Do you still keep in touch?
Ìý Claire: Not really although I bump into Siouxsie from time to time. I’m still incredibly in awe of her when I see her. I never really know what to say to her. She was brilliant. She had such style and presence. She made such a great pop star.