Profile
Praise Singers:
‘One of London’s favourite characters’ – Le Cool London magazine.
“If you haven’t come across Dickon Edwards, I suggest you do so immediately; think Andy Warhol meets Oscar Wilde meets Quentin Crisp. One of those genuinely extraordinary individuals, far too civilised and cultured for this trashy century’- Emily Dean, Boyz Magazine
‘I showed your diary to a librarian colleague. She affected the look of someone who can’t quite believe that something exists, but is impressed that it does.’ – Neil Scott, a designer and magazine editor.
‘In no particular order, 1) Dickon is an entirely self-created entity, 2) Dickon knows about suits, 3) Dickon can write songs which make me cry. These are three traits I admire very highly indeed.’ – Simon Price, a trendy journalist.
‘Dickon’s tenseness somehow makes him a calming presence, like how the back of a fridge gets hot. Literate and singular.’ – Taylor Parkes, another trendy journalist.
‘Stylish, funny, tongue in chic (sic) and ever so slightly deranged. A true one-off and a lovely man.’ – Jody Thompson, yet another trendy journalist.
‘Dickon my dear, you bring wit, erudition and a smile to my life. Someone should pay you trillions for simply being DE. A national treasure trove, you should be listed both on the Stock Exchange and by English Heritage, you should be listened to by millions, my listful friend in a listless world. Lippy in lippy, blonder than blondie. You are a delight.’ – John Howard, a legendary cult recording artist.
‘Exquisite person. One feels like saying ‘we need more like him’, but perhaps it would become a bit – uh! – common if more people were like him…’ – Paola, Milan, Italy; a reader.
‘Dickon Edwards is a truly gossamer being, he has made music that has truly changed my life. His writing is both unique and beautiful, which just happen to be the two most suitable words to describe him. ‘ – Sean Graham Sebastian-Howell, Maryland, USA; a reader.
More comments from readers here.
Biography
Mr Edwards is a London-based writer, flâneur, musician, dysfunctional dandy, and occasional DJ. Since 1997 he’s kept a sporadic and slightly celebrated Internet Diary.
Mr Edwards spends his days in cheap cafes where the seats are bolted down. He enjoys drinking sake, reading Saki and being sarky. He is a dandy gadfly that gads about London, stinging strangers into reaction. One side-effect is fronting the exotic and disdainful band Fosca, who have released two albums and four singles, and performed concerts across Europe. He has also contributed to Scarlet’s Well, the exotic musical incarnation of Bid, erstwhile frontman of The Monochrome Set.
He’s written the Afterword for a new edition of Jerome K Jerome‘s 1886 work, The Idle Thoughts Of An Idle Fellow (Snowbooks, Autumn 2004), and has also graced the cover of The Decadent Handbook, a new anthology edited by Rowan Pelling (Dedalus Books). He is in the book three times: as a writer covering his time in Tangier with Shane MacGowan, as a DJ with his Beautiful & Damned set included in the book, and as a model. The photo in question features DE alongside Ms Anne Pigalle, walking a plastic lobster on a length of pale blue ribbon.
He’s currently taken to telling stories, and is working on a series of linked novels featuring his own tragicomic brand of English Nu-Magical Realism.
In May 2006, he stood as a Green Party candidate in his local council elections (London: Haringey Council: Highgate Ward). Though he didn’t become a councillor, 424 Highgate people voted for him, and he defeated all three Labour candidates.
Sometimes described (at best) as a harmless character and idiot savant, he remains happy to slide down what Tom Lehrer calls “the razorblade of life”. Having failed at all the things most other people seem to accomplish with relative ease (love, sex, a permanent income), he has accepted his station in life as a sad clown. He maintains his appearance so his friends can spot him in a crowd and his enemies can see him coming. Mr Edwards lives in one room in Dalston, London, UK.
Past Side-Effects
Prior to Fosca, Mr Edwards was the lyricist and co-tunesmith in the cult “romo soul” group Orlando, who released several singles, including one under the name Shelley (Sarah, 1995), two subsequent Melody Maker Singles of The Week (1996), and an album, “Passive Soul” (WEA/Blanco Y Negro, 1997), which achieved 8/10 in NME and made it into Melody Maker Critics’ Top 20 Albums of 1997.
He once wrote an article in Melody Maker on the Manic Street Preachers, subsequently quoted in various biographies of the band, including, deliciously, “The Manic Street Preachers – In Their Own Words.” He has also been officially wished dead by Melody Maker magazine.
In 1999 and 2000, Mr Edwards played guitar for the band Spearmint, whose tours enabled him to indulge his Rock God fantasies in many exotic locations he’d previously not visited: Tokyo, Oslo, Paris, Middlesbrough.
Articles by DE for others
Article on letter writing for the Sunday Express
Letter from Hysterica, Plan B.
Hidden Cameras, Drownedinsound.
Alibi, a poem, The Mind’s Construction Quarterly.
McCarthy, Tangents.
Of Cerberus and Saint Mugging Squirrels, Tangents.
Pig Farmer’s Alibi, Tangents.
Trash, Cash, and an Indie Chart Rash, Tangents.
Album Review: Too Good To Be True – The Very Best Of El Records, Plan B magazine.
Interviews with DE
Stage Managed, The Mind’s Construction Quarterly.
How to be a God, Sleazenation.
