German Rolling Stones Magazine 2013-05-23: Hugh Laurie Interview [English Translation]
Hey guys, so MsHousefan discovered there's a Hugh Laurie article/interview in this week's German Rolling Stone Magazine, she was sweet enough to scan it for us. Here is the english translation for all non-German fans xo
Thrilled to bits [This was a House related pun which can’t be properly translated lol]
How do you go on once you’ve been “Dr. House” and the best paid tv show actor worldwide? Not at all at to begin with. Hugh Laurie can’t decide which new role to take on - so he’s playing what he loves most: Blues on a piano.
Rum contains alcohol, much of it. Hugh Laurie is actually smart enough to know that - he’s studied in Cambridge. However, he is pouring a little too much of it for himself and his band that spring night. When he has to hit the stage he is still rather nervous and half of the songs on his set list he’s not yet played in front of an audience. The man who’s become world-famous as Dr. House presents his second album “Didn’t It Rain” in Long Beach on the cruiser “Queen Mary” that has been transformed into a hotel. That the concert is taking place right here is a little homage to the Blues pioneer Professor Longhair, who recorded a live record on the ship in 1975 at a party of Paul McCartney. The ex-Beatle wasn’t around this time but therefore Laurie’s producer Joe Henry invited his friend Van Dyke Parks. The legendary song writer claps almost as enthusiastic as Laurie’s wife Jo Green.
The 53-year old benefits from the support. Before the gig he announced in his typically self-deprecating way: “I guess the evening will be a combination of everything: exciting, inspiring, impressive, frightening or a complete catastrophe depending on how the different ingredients will react together at this - at least for me - holy place. To be honest, I’m scared shitless.” Hence the rum - “not the best idea I’ve ever had”, he confesses the next day but he appears to be back to old forces. Though he is not expecting any bigger endeavor; he is only giving a handful of interviews although the demand is massive. His musical debut “Let Them Talk” was a surprisingly huge success two years ago - especially compared to his own expectations: “Foremost my goal was to assure no one will lose their job because of me. Therefore I’m rather pleased that it did so well.” He sold more than one million records which is sensational for a blues album - especially when it’s sung by a white Brit. The success can’t be solely explained with his popularity as an actor. Ask Johnny Depp, Kevin Costner or Russell Crowe for that matter! Even the most die-hard House fans must have recognized that Laurie is serious about this. He surely isn’t the world’s best singer but he loves that music and you can feel it. And he’s found an empathetic producer in Joe Henry who was able to implement that enthusiasm with his professional musicians. For Henry, Laurie’s excitement was the main reason to hit the studio with him: “I was impressed with his knowledge and his passion for the blues and I had a feeling that I could contribute something useful. That, for me, is the most important thing. You can always get hands on money and time somehow.” On top of that the two of them got along right away - which is another important factor for Henry. He is quite successful in what he is doing - his clients are Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt and Billy Bragg. He got tired of working with people he doesn’t like: “When I know someone doesn’t have a big heart beforehand already, I prefer to drop it right away. Life is too short. I want to be surrounded by creative and open-minded people.”
The songs for the second record have been picked together by Henry and Laurie. From a list of more than 100 songs they finally decided on 13 songs containing traditionals like “Careless Love” via W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues” to Dr. John’s “Wild Honey”; “Vicksburg Blues” gets featured by Taj Mahal. Of all things, the most well known songs “Unchain My Heart” and “Stagger Lee” are only available on the deluxe edition of “Didn’t It Rain”. It hasn’t been a deliberate decision against the mass-compatible, Henry assures. “A record isn’t just a wild mixture of songs that got thrown together. It works like a movie as an overall concept - if need be at the cost of good songs. It must not be too long! That is a disastrous habit of the CD era.”
The slight latin touch of some songs got added by Laurie who got inspired by his tour through Argentina, the bars in Buenos Aires have impressed him sustainably. Back home he dug out Louis Armstrong’s version of the tango “El Choclo”, “Kiss Of Fire”, and hired the Guatemalan singer Gaby Moreno to join him. “The album was meant to become a bit more romantic. So many Blues songs were originally sang by women - Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and so on. I see the Blues as the music of a mother anyway, who sings her baby a lullaby to calm it.” He briefly rubs across his stubble and adds: “I didn’t want to only always have six guys playing their instruments.”
If it only were just that few! Eleven musicians met during the recordings in the Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles, the trombone player Elizabeth Lea had to sidestep into the hall sometimes. In between a camera team was bugging to shoot for commercial purposes. However Laurie was enjoying the stressful recording - his Blues adventure still appears to him like a successful shop theft: “Since I’ve started with it - getting to know the band, recording an album, going on tour - I’m waiting for someone to scream ‘Stop that man’. But no one made a plea so far or set the dogs on me so I carry on.”
Other than that he is not particularly busy right now - Laurie is allowing himself the luxury of hesitation. In May 2012 the last episode of “House MD” aired in the USA. For eight years Laurie played the ill-tempered diagnostician who, in the end, faked his own death to bunk with his terminally ill best friend - a scene that even pleased the notoriously critical Laurie: “I’m never completely satisfied with anything but the end was really good. He was melancholic but with a certain odd romanticism: two men, who break into their final adventure.” The farewell to role of his life wasn’t easy and he can easily tell where all his former colleagues are about right now - New York, Chicago and Vancouver - because he is still in touch with all of them. However the newly won freedom has advantages too: “I’m glad I don’t have to struggle with the American accent any longer. And I’m even happier that I don’t have to get up at 5 am everyday anymore! Musicians go to bed at 5 am, seems a lot healthier to me.”
After the final cut of “House” he moved back to England immediately. What normal human being lives in LA when there’s no job to keep you there? After having spent 10 minutes back in London he felt like he had never left it - and recognized that in the meantime he could probably live anywhere where there’s work to do and internet access which helps him to communicate with his three kids. Other actors would hurry into a new role to not fall into oblivion. But Laurie is hesitating: “I do read a lot of scripts but I’m not really ready yet. It seems like a relationship to me. If one ends you don’t jump right into the next. It seems like you wouldn’t pay enough respect to the past.”
Financially he is set for life. With a salary of more than $400.000 per episode he used to be the best paid TV show actor worldwide until Charlie Sheen cut ahead. He’s come a long way for a British nerd who once got popular as a comedian in “Blackadder” or as twin pack with Stephen Fry. There have been many rumors about a reunion of the two - and in fact they are currently working on a joint project: They are the voice overs for the comic film “The Canterville Ghost” which is based on Oscar Wilde’s satire. Approached about his best friend Laurie smiles uncommonly relaxed: “We always talk about what we will do next in the upcoming future. I’ve met him yesterday. And the day before to be exact, so I do see him rather often.” The intimate friendship of the two of them even survived Fry’s recently trustful question if Laurie’s highly admired Professor Longhair was a comic character.
Most likely it is quite difficult for Laurie to decide what to do next because he has too many talents. Soon he is supposed to play a villain next to George Clooney in the sci-fi drama “Tomorrowland”. He could also write a second book. The first - an agent antic called “The Gun Seller” - was a bestseller. Cinema, another TV show, directing, literature and of course the Blues - “I’m lucky enough to have many options. Sometimes I think: Why didn’t I work harder for music when I was younger! But who knows if I would have been able to play with these fantastic musicians today? Maybe I had to be an actor first for that kind of privileges. “ He shrugs. Should have, could have, would have - in times past these thoughts have driven him into depression. Today he is only averagely depressed: “I’m always regretting anything, constantly, every decision, every non-decision. I guess that’s normal. To console myself I tend to say: You can’t change what you’ve done but you can be smarter in the future. Not that this would work! So I don’t really try to plan anything ahead. In the morning I want to know what I’ll have to do ‘til lunch hour and that’s it. Otherwise I’ll get nervous. I find people with 5 or 10 year-plans rather suspect.”
At least one thing is set: 7th June Laurie will play at the Berlin Admiralspalast. After that he will tour through Great Britain, further European shows are yet to come, “if they want to see me.” If, in case, maybe - he also got used to that. “The feeling to have a safe job is not something you know as an actor. Of course you can tell yourself that you will continue to find something once you’ve reached a certain level. But I sometimes feel like a Roulette player. You bet money and win. You bet all your money again and double it with a bit of luck. And again. Every time you win you could say: it runs. But already with the next spin of the plate you could lose everything. The higher the stake the higher the loss. I haven’t been hit by that yet but look at some other careers: one mistake and everything breaks down."
How do you live with that discrepancy: on the one hand you don’t have any existential problems anymore on the other hand you are always scared to be unable to continue your success? Laurie frowns but has to smile in the end. “It does have advantages to get older and wiser! You realize everyone has their moment. Yesterday I was the favorite Brit, today it’s Damian Lewis. Everything comes and goes and there is nothing you can do about it. As soon as you can accept that, you feel a lot better.”
At the moment only one thing counts for him, the fact that no one thinks music is just a pastime to him until the next role offer: “It isn’t just a hobby to me - and if need be I’ll carry on for another ten years to make people believe it.” No threat, a promise.
Thrilled to bits [This was a House related pun which can’t be properly translated lol]
How do you go on once you’ve been “Dr. House” and the best paid tv show actor worldwide? Not at all at to begin with. Hugh Laurie can’t decide which new role to take on - so he’s playing what he loves most: Blues on a piano.
Rum contains alcohol, much of it. Hugh Laurie is actually smart enough to know that - he’s studied in Cambridge. However, he is pouring a little too much of it for himself and his band that spring night. When he has to hit the stage he is still rather nervous and half of the songs on his set list he’s not yet played in front of an audience. The man who’s become world-famous as Dr. House presents his second album “Didn’t It Rain” in Long Beach on the cruiser “Queen Mary” that has been transformed into a hotel. That the concert is taking place right here is a little homage to the Blues pioneer Professor Longhair, who recorded a live record on the ship in 1975 at a party of Paul McCartney. The ex-Beatle wasn’t around this time but therefore Laurie’s producer Joe Henry invited his friend Van Dyke Parks. The legendary song writer claps almost as enthusiastic as Laurie’s wife Jo Green.
The 53-year old benefits from the support. Before the gig he announced in his typically self-deprecating way: “I guess the evening will be a combination of everything: exciting, inspiring, impressive, frightening or a complete catastrophe depending on how the different ingredients will react together at this - at least for me - holy place. To be honest, I’m scared shitless.” Hence the rum - “not the best idea I’ve ever had”, he confesses the next day but he appears to be back to old forces. Though he is not expecting any bigger endeavor; he is only giving a handful of interviews although the demand is massive. His musical debut “Let Them Talk” was a surprisingly huge success two years ago - especially compared to his own expectations: “Foremost my goal was to assure no one will lose their job because of me. Therefore I’m rather pleased that it did so well.” He sold more than one million records which is sensational for a blues album - especially when it’s sung by a white Brit. The success can’t be solely explained with his popularity as an actor. Ask Johnny Depp, Kevin Costner or Russell Crowe for that matter! Even the most die-hard House fans must have recognized that Laurie is serious about this. He surely isn’t the world’s best singer but he loves that music and you can feel it. And he’s found an empathetic producer in Joe Henry who was able to implement that enthusiasm with his professional musicians. For Henry, Laurie’s excitement was the main reason to hit the studio with him: “I was impressed with his knowledge and his passion for the blues and I had a feeling that I could contribute something useful. That, for me, is the most important thing. You can always get hands on money and time somehow.” On top of that the two of them got along right away - which is another important factor for Henry. He is quite successful in what he is doing - his clients are Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt and Billy Bragg. He got tired of working with people he doesn’t like: “When I know someone doesn’t have a big heart beforehand already, I prefer to drop it right away. Life is too short. I want to be surrounded by creative and open-minded people.”
The songs for the second record have been picked together by Henry and Laurie. From a list of more than 100 songs they finally decided on 13 songs containing traditionals like “Careless Love” via W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues” to Dr. John’s “Wild Honey”; “Vicksburg Blues” gets featured by Taj Mahal. Of all things, the most well known songs “Unchain My Heart” and “Stagger Lee” are only available on the deluxe edition of “Didn’t It Rain”. It hasn’t been a deliberate decision against the mass-compatible, Henry assures. “A record isn’t just a wild mixture of songs that got thrown together. It works like a movie as an overall concept - if need be at the cost of good songs. It must not be too long! That is a disastrous habit of the CD era.”
The slight latin touch of some songs got added by Laurie who got inspired by his tour through Argentina, the bars in Buenos Aires have impressed him sustainably. Back home he dug out Louis Armstrong’s version of the tango “El Choclo”, “Kiss Of Fire”, and hired the Guatemalan singer Gaby Moreno to join him. “The album was meant to become a bit more romantic. So many Blues songs were originally sang by women - Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and so on. I see the Blues as the music of a mother anyway, who sings her baby a lullaby to calm it.” He briefly rubs across his stubble and adds: “I didn’t want to only always have six guys playing their instruments.”
If it only were just that few! Eleven musicians met during the recordings in the Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles, the trombone player Elizabeth Lea had to sidestep into the hall sometimes. In between a camera team was bugging to shoot for commercial purposes. However Laurie was enjoying the stressful recording - his Blues adventure still appears to him like a successful shop theft: “Since I’ve started with it - getting to know the band, recording an album, going on tour - I’m waiting for someone to scream ‘Stop that man’. But no one made a plea so far or set the dogs on me so I carry on.”
Other than that he is not particularly busy right now - Laurie is allowing himself the luxury of hesitation. In May 2012 the last episode of “House MD” aired in the USA. For eight years Laurie played the ill-tempered diagnostician who, in the end, faked his own death to bunk with his terminally ill best friend - a scene that even pleased the notoriously critical Laurie: “I’m never completely satisfied with anything but the end was really good. He was melancholic but with a certain odd romanticism: two men, who break into their final adventure.” The farewell to role of his life wasn’t easy and he can easily tell where all his former colleagues are about right now - New York, Chicago and Vancouver - because he is still in touch with all of them. However the newly won freedom has advantages too: “I’m glad I don’t have to struggle with the American accent any longer. And I’m even happier that I don’t have to get up at 5 am everyday anymore! Musicians go to bed at 5 am, seems a lot healthier to me.”
After the final cut of “House” he moved back to England immediately. What normal human being lives in LA when there’s no job to keep you there? After having spent 10 minutes back in London he felt like he had never left it - and recognized that in the meantime he could probably live anywhere where there’s work to do and internet access which helps him to communicate with his three kids. Other actors would hurry into a new role to not fall into oblivion. But Laurie is hesitating: “I do read a lot of scripts but I’m not really ready yet. It seems like a relationship to me. If one ends you don’t jump right into the next. It seems like you wouldn’t pay enough respect to the past.”
Financially he is set for life. With a salary of more than $400.000 per episode he used to be the best paid TV show actor worldwide until Charlie Sheen cut ahead. He’s come a long way for a British nerd who once got popular as a comedian in “Blackadder” or as twin pack with Stephen Fry. There have been many rumors about a reunion of the two - and in fact they are currently working on a joint project: They are the voice overs for the comic film “The Canterville Ghost” which is based on Oscar Wilde’s satire. Approached about his best friend Laurie smiles uncommonly relaxed: “We always talk about what we will do next in the upcoming future. I’ve met him yesterday. And the day before to be exact, so I do see him rather often.” The intimate friendship of the two of them even survived Fry’s recently trustful question if Laurie’s highly admired Professor Longhair was a comic character.
Most likely it is quite difficult for Laurie to decide what to do next because he has too many talents. Soon he is supposed to play a villain next to George Clooney in the sci-fi drama “Tomorrowland”. He could also write a second book. The first - an agent antic called “The Gun Seller” - was a bestseller. Cinema, another TV show, directing, literature and of course the Blues - “I’m lucky enough to have many options. Sometimes I think: Why didn’t I work harder for music when I was younger! But who knows if I would have been able to play with these fantastic musicians today? Maybe I had to be an actor first for that kind of privileges. “ He shrugs. Should have, could have, would have - in times past these thoughts have driven him into depression. Today he is only averagely depressed: “I’m always regretting anything, constantly, every decision, every non-decision. I guess that’s normal. To console myself I tend to say: You can’t change what you’ve done but you can be smarter in the future. Not that this would work! So I don’t really try to plan anything ahead. In the morning I want to know what I’ll have to do ‘til lunch hour and that’s it. Otherwise I’ll get nervous. I find people with 5 or 10 year-plans rather suspect.”
At least one thing is set: 7th June Laurie will play at the Berlin Admiralspalast. After that he will tour through Great Britain, further European shows are yet to come, “if they want to see me.” If, in case, maybe - he also got used to that. “The feeling to have a safe job is not something you know as an actor. Of course you can tell yourself that you will continue to find something once you’ve reached a certain level. But I sometimes feel like a Roulette player. You bet money and win. You bet all your money again and double it with a bit of luck. And again. Every time you win you could say: it runs. But already with the next spin of the plate you could lose everything. The higher the stake the higher the loss. I haven’t been hit by that yet but look at some other careers: one mistake and everything breaks down."
How do you live with that discrepancy: on the one hand you don’t have any existential problems anymore on the other hand you are always scared to be unable to continue your success? Laurie frowns but has to smile in the end. “It does have advantages to get older and wiser! You realize everyone has their moment. Yesterday I was the favorite Brit, today it’s Damian Lewis. Everything comes and goes and there is nothing you can do about it. As soon as you can accept that, you feel a lot better.”
At the moment only one thing counts for him, the fact that no one thinks music is just a pastime to him until the next role offer: “It isn’t just a hobby to me - and if need be I’ll carry on for another ten years to make people believe it.” No threat, a promise.