It's been an eventful and memorable year for Art Brut with Eddie Argos famously fighting with Kele from Bloc Party, becoming bezzy mates with Liam Gallagher, getting engaged to one of the Chalets, losing and gaining a guitarist and to top it all becoming huge in Germany. Here the Argos tells us why he loves Jasper Future and why PlayLouder scribe Jeremy Allen is a villian.
Hello. What does Christmas mean to you and how will you be spending it?
"I've had to work for the last five years on Christmas Day so this will be my first one off in ages. I don't know what to do with myself, probably something booze related with some members of my family who don't like me coming to dinner as I regularly flit between meat-eater, vegetarian and vegan. I'm very indecisive."
Where, when and how did you find out Santa Claus doesn't really exist?
"My mum asked my uncle to dress up as Father Christmas when i was about five or six and tried to take a photo of him delivering presents with me and my brother in the background asleep, but he got very drunk and fell on us. I realised then but every year after my brother would dread Father Christmas coming as to him he was an angry drunk Scotsman with very colourful language who was likely to tread on him."
So, it's been an ugly, ugly year for many, but how has 2005 treated you?
"Okay thank you."
If there was one thing you could alter about this year what would it be?
"Nothing, it's dangerous to play around with the past."
Who was your hero/heroine?
"Jasper Future for leaving his job at the last minute and joining Art Brut for no money and consequently becoming homeless. I love you Jasper."
And who was an evil bastard villain?
"Jeremy bloody Allen for posting every bloody conversation I had with him on the internet as an interview. I should have a small fortune from PlayLouder in £20 news tip offs."
Say you went on Celebrity Weakest Link and won, which charity would you donate the booty to?
"Shelter."
If you could appear in any other television show which would it be?
"The mid nineties crime drama Due South, which is criminally underrated. I'm trying to find them all on DVD, or failing that my friend Keith TOTP has written a television series called 'Eddie Argos: Britpop Detective' - it even has a theme tune: 'he's Eddie Argos Britpop detective / Walks around solving crimes with his mind / He's Eddie Argos Britpop detective / A greater sleuth I dont think your find.' I've not read it yet but I presume I look into Britpop based crime trying to find out what happened to the third menswe@r album etc..."
What was your favourite album in 2005?
"'Check In' by The Chalets - amazing, proper pop music (that only I appear to think is reminiscent of The Yummy Fur), dance routines and amazing lyrics. All their art work is very stylish too. It makes Mikey from the block - our drummer - very jealous, and they have the best looking and most talented guitarist I've ever seen."
Who has been criminally underrated but may yet become a deity in the forthcoming year?
"Arctic Monkeys?"
Who rocked your world live?
"Robocop Kraus. I've now stolen all their tricks."
Who will be most sorely missed?
"The Others?"
We all know Michael Jackson is innocent, but is he really?
"Dont care - 'Off The Wall' is OFF THE HOOK!"
What can we expect to find you doing in 2006?
"TOP OF THE POPS MOTHERFUCKER!"
And more importantly who's going to win the World Cup in Germany?
"St Pauli."
Pete Doherty, songwriter for a generation or talentless crack monkey?
"Talentless Crackmonkey are a hardcore band from Los Angeles that I quite like. Pete Doherty is terrible."
What does Lemmy do at Christmas?
"Cry his speed ridden stupid head to sleep."
If money were no object, what would be the most outlandish present you'd buy yourself for Christmas?
"Girls Aloud."
Tell us one way in which we can all improve our lives and the lives of those around us?
"Take care."
Right, as it's Christmas, we've granted you one miracle. What do you want sorted?
"Peace on Earth and goodwill to all men."
