Some weeks ago I wrote in a Suede Facebook group called "The Insatiable Ones" that it would be nice to resurrect the Suedewalks.
What are the Suedewalks? Suedewalks are tour around London organized by David Barnett, ex-member of the Suede crew and writer of their official Biography. Well, guess what, Mr. Barnett answered to my request and organized a new Suedewalk! The last one was a couple of years ago.
This year's Suede walk focused on the Suede/Dog Man Star era.
So, a group of more or less 10 fans met at the Boogaloo pub in Highgate. There, we went for a beer and David started to tell some secret things about the band. It was awesome. I read his book some weeks agof or the third time and listening to him speaking was almost reading the book for us. Incredible. The owner of the Boogaloo was also very nice and offered us some Corona beers for the trip.
The first stop was Brett's old house (pictured). There, he wrote the lyrics for Suede's most acclaimed album, Dog Man Star. The house was number 16, Brett's lucky number, because, as Barnett's said, he is very superstitious.
Next we went to the park where Brett used to do volunteer work and where he got inspiration for the lyrics of Sleeping Pills. We also visited the Highgate cemetery where Brett and Bernard Butler gave their last TV interview together and then we passed through several places where Suede played specially on their first years. We passed through the Forum where the band gave their fantastic 1997 B-Sides gig and the mythical White Horse where the band gave their first ever concert in 1990 (pictured).
After that, we ended up drinking a beer in a pub in Kentish Town and having a good conversation and a good laugh.
David signed my Love & Poison book and we took a picture together. And I also brought home a copy of the fanclub Sessions CD provided by him!
Fantastic Saturday and fantastic walk, I can only say thank you very very much.
Suedewalks are not dead!
