Lashings of manly love in a Humvee – review of ‘One Bullet Away’

‘One Bullet Away: the making of a Marine Officer’, Nathaniel Fick (Orion) Reviewed by Mark Simpson Why do we blokes – and it is almost always blokes – read war books, catch war movies and play twitchy first-person Second World War shooter games like Call of Duty? Why do we crave “war porn”? Because we still believe, deep down, in this post-masculine era of digitised, virtual life and professional/quasi-mercenary armies that “take care of business” for the rest of us, that one day we will be… Read More »Lashings of manly love in a Humvee – review of ‘One Bullet Away’

The North Rises Again: Interview With Mark E Smith

The Fall’s legendary front-man has some deep-fried career advice for the Arctic Monkeys and the Kaiser Chiefs (Arena Hommes Plus, Summer 2006) “’Avin’ been around the world I reckon we’re very lucky,” says Mark E Smith, pop genius and (usually) lovable curmudgeon in a moment of uncharacteristic optimism. “They don’t realise what they’ve got, English people.” And what have we got? “Well,” he stalls, eyeing me and sensing a trap, “you don’t know until it’s gone do you, Mark!” Mark E Smith, is 49 years… Read More »The North Rises Again: Interview With Mark E Smith

Promiscuity into Bureaucracy: Gaydar and Online ‘Dating’

The MP Chris Bryant has faced calls for his resignation for appearing in his pants in messages sent via a gay website – but others see Gaydar as the future of dating. So what is it really like? Mark Simpson speaks with the (exhausted) voice of experience (Independent on Sunday, 7 December 2003) Gay men are having sex! Lots of it! Every night! With a different man! And they don’t even have to leave the house! There was more than a hint of sexual jealousy… Read More »Promiscuity into Bureaucracy: Gaydar and Online ‘Dating’

I (Still) Want Your Sex: The Sun & George Michael’s Privates

In case you thought I was joking when I wrote about the gentlemen of the British press being unable to leave George Michael’s penis alone, today’s Sun newspaper, twisted sister tabloid to the News of the World scandal sheet that ran the original front page Hampstead Heath expose, provides further, lurid proof of the seriousness of their passionate fascination. In a torrid piece snappily titled ‘Are there no depths George won’t plumb in pursuit of lust?’ by Kelvin MacKenzie, a former editor of the best-selling paper, and… Read More »I (Still) Want Your Sex: The Sun & George Michael’s Privates

I Want Your Sex: Why the Press Can’t Leave George Michael’s Manhood Alone

  Why are the gentlemen of the popular press so interested in George Michael’s manhood? Why won’t they leave it alone? In 1998, after stalking him for years, in a painful pincer movement with Beverly Hills Police Department’s finest, they finally succeeded in catching him short in a men’s toilet. Now they despatch a flash photographer to follow him up to Hampstead Heath’s cruising area at 2am and then plaster the results all over the front page. No wonder Michael angrily turned to the snapper… Read More »I Want Your Sex: Why the Press Can’t Leave George Michael’s Manhood Alone