The question
Excluding property, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought?Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
The Guardian's weekly The Q&A repeatedly uses this standing prompt, with minor contractions and word-order variation.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
The most extravagant thing was a bottle of 1904 armagnac for $1,000. I spent $10,000 on a Martin guitar in the 90s. I also spent $100,000 on a Fairlight keyboard and I ended up giving it away. Oh well.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 September 2017 source ↗
Fireworks. I was given a pyrotechnics course by my son for my 40th birthday, so I do displays. I can average five to 10 grand on one display.
A pair of Balenciaga boots. They were extortionate, but that has to be at least 10 years ago and I still wear them.
My wedding. It was at Skibo Castle long before Madonna or any of those people went there.
A Christian Dior coat.
Ten more closets: I am a hoarder.
There are a few. As far as getting started, lots of people who really want to make a song have figured that out already. I very rarely get asked for advice from people who have never written a song and want to know how to get started. It’s usually about getting stuck or feeling like they’ve painted themselves into a corner. I remember getting asked a question from this one kid who was probably 13 years old. He wanted to know if it was okay to always write in A minor. He liked writing classical piano pieces and his favorite key was A minor. My favorite key is also A minor, so he wanted to know if that was okay.
It feels like a yearning but also a kind of overwhelming glowing out.
Hormones – other than that, I sleep like a rock.
How little money really changes things. It buys doctors but not health, clothes but not taste, makeup but not beauty. When I was young and didn’t have anything, I imagined money had more power.
I would have tried to meet Lou Reed backstage. I went to see him for years, and never tried to meet him. Eventually we met at award shows and did become friends.
Paul Heaton, Kim Gordon, Billy Porter, Gavin Rossdale, Bruce Dickinson, Andi Oliver
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