#original Codtent

[tiesandtea]

From School Bus To Tour Bus

Smash Hits, 31 July – 13 August 1996. Photo originally posted by @fuckyeahneilcodling-blog​ (x).

Ever imagined what it would be like to just leave school and become an international pop star? To travel the world in five-star style and score hit after hit with one of the most celebrated band of the 90s? Well, that's what happened to Suede's Richard Oakes and Neil Codling. One day, they were students; the next, top international celebs...

What would you be doing now if you weren't in Suede? Richard: I dread to think. Neil: I've got a degree to fall back on. I wouldn't advise people to leave in the middle of their exams. Richard: I would advise it, obviously. 

Top Coakes banter. Also their only joint magazine interview to date as far as I know, aside from the one that was filmed for Disc 2 of Mike Christie’s documentary. Full interview under the cut. Transcript source.

It happened like this. In 1993, Brett, Bernard, Mat and Simon shot to fame as a four-piece. Then they lost guitarist Bernard Butler (who would go on to have hits with singer David McAlmont) in an acrimonious split in 1994, having finished their second album. The three remaining members advertised in newspapers for a new guitarist and plucked unknown 17 year-old Richard Oakes straight out of school as a replacement. Then, at the end of 1995, they added keyboardist/ singer Neil Codling (21, and also a student) to the line-up.

Here, Richard and Neil explain their incredible rise to fame...

How did you both end up in Suede? Richard: I auditioned after seeing an ad in the paper and joined just after Bernard left. We were days away from a UK tour, and within 30 seconds of me joining, it was in the newspapers. Neil: I signed up last November. Basically, I knew them through Simon, who's my cousin. They wanted a keyboard player who could sing.

What were you doing before that? Richard: I was in the middle of my A-Levels and dropped out. Neil: You rock'n'roll rebel! Erm, I was leaving university and about to make tea for a television company that makes documentaries about Tutankhamen and African squirrels... that kind of nonsense.

How did your parents and friends react? Richard: Great, it was such a golden opportunity. I'd have been stupid to turn it down and they knew that. Neil: My parents still don't know. They think I'm playing piano in a bar on a ferry that goes backwards to Oostende!

Is being a group what you've always wanted? Richard: Yeah. All any of us ever wanted was to have a career in music. Neil: I quite fancied being a government-sponsored layabout!

How hard has it been adjusting to the life of a pop star? Richard: It took a while to take used to things like interviews. Neil: Yeah, this is my first ever interview - I'm sweating!

Were you Suede fans when you joined? Richard: They weren't my favourites, but I really liked them. I saw them live in 1993 - it was my first ever gig. A year later, I was in the group. Weird! Neil: I change like the wind - I like different things each week.

What would you be doing now if you weren't in Suede? Richard: I dread to think. Neil: I've got a degree to fall back on. I wouldn't advise people to leave in the middle of their exams. Richard: I would advise it, obviously.

Have you got used to being stars yet? Richard: No, it's very new. Neil: I've only done three gigs - the first was a fan club gig in front of 800 people, the last one was 40.000!

Have you been able to write songs for the band? Richard: Well, the writing's shared on the new album. Neil: It's good - we're all in this album, hammer and tongs. I play the hammer and Richard plays the tongs!

How's the cash as band juniors? Neil: It's OK. You get to come back from abroad with loads of foreign change in your pocket. Richard: My wallet was stolen last week. Neil: You left it on the tour bus! Richard: No, it was stolen. It wasn't my fault. There were at least a couple of five peseta pieces in there.

Is there anything about being in a band that you don't like? Neil: Of course there is, but you put up with them because they get you the important bits, like being admired by thousand of screaming girls! Richard: The things that annoy you are things you can't complain about, like getting up early.

Do you like being recognised? Richard: Yeah, in London people tend to stare and wonder 'Is that him?' Whereas Neil can't go on the tube anymore, people just bite bits out of him. It really annoys me when people complain me about that, though. Neil: Unless it's like a stalker with a machete.

What's been your strangest experience? Richard: I woke up and found a dead rat in my bed one morning. Neil: That was awful! Richard: Yeah, and I didn't even know its name. I said, 'Go home, I don't love you!' A one-night stand with a dirty rat...

[tiesandtea]

60 Suede asks

inspired by a great Manics ask meme by @lipsticktraces! (x)

what do Suede mean to you? how have they impacted you?

favourite song (+ why)?

favourite album (+ why)?

do you have a favourite band member? if so, who is it?

favourite album artwork?

favourite music video?

favourite song from each album?

favourite b-side?

favourite Neil b-side?

any thoughts on former band members you would like to share publically?

do you have a favourite “era” of Suede? which one (+ why)?

Dog Man Star or Coming Up?

your thoughts on ANM?

your thoughts on post-reunion Suede?

what are your hopes and wishes for the next album?

are you planning to see Suede on the Coming Up tour next year? if so, where?

have you listened to Brett’s solo work? your thoughts?

have you listened to Bernard’s post-Suede & solo work?

have you listened to Artmagic?

have you read Brett’s books? your thoughts?

have you read The Ruins? your thoughts?

do you have favourite Suede lyrics?

do you have a favourite quote by a Suede member or a quote that is somehow connected to Suede?

favourite Brett look?

least favourite Brett look?

do you have a favourite pic of the band? please post!

favourite pic/look of Richard?

favourite pic/look of Neil?

favourite pic/look of Mat?

favourite pic/look of Simon?

what was the first Suede song you remember hearing?

how long have you been a fan? how did you get into them?

what was the first Suede album you heard?

have you gotten anyone else into Suede?

have you made any friends through Suede?

have you ever been to a Suede gig? if so, how many times / where? which of them was your fave?

your dream Suede gig location / venue?

a Suede song you wish to hear live?

do you prefer listening to records or live performances?

do you have a favourite live performance video?

do you like Suede acoustic performances?

________ is overrated

________ is underrated

Elephant Man is ________

give us an unpopular opinion on something

favourite song Suede have covered?

a song you would like Suede to cover?

have you ever done art, written poetry, DIY-d clothes etc. inspired by Suede?

have you ever read a certain book / watched a movie / listened to an artist because of Suede?

have Suede ever influenced your fashion choices?

what Suede song would you do on karaoke?

what Suede song would you play to someone who has never heard (of) them before?

do you own any Suede merch? if so, what is it?

if you ran the Suede Shop, what merch would you add?

have they helped you get into other music? if so, what/who?

any other artists you listen to besides Suede?

is there an artist you would like to see supporting Suede?

can you spell out your name / username using Suede songs?

any interaction(s) with the band? whether it be at a concert, on social media, etc.?

a free ask - send your own question!

[tiesandtea]

Tinderbox 2016

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Suede - Sabotage (BBC 6 Music Live at Maida Vale, 11 Feb 2013)

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NME July 27, 1996

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Suede - It Starts And Ends With You (2013)

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happy Neil day! 💖

(x,x,x,x,x,x,x,x,x)

[tiesandtea]

many happy returns & lots of years of pouting on stage

(photos by Steph Hill - x, x)

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Neil Codling performing with Penguin Cafe at the Haldern Pop Festival, Germany, on August 11, 2017.

Photo by Thomas von der Heiden/WDR (full gallery).

Video recording of the concert available on the WDR website.

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2013 // 2018

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Tinderbox 2016

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Suede: Live Session for Absolute Radio

[tiesandtea]

Codfashion faves

Since there are (or used to be) detailed posts about Bernard’s and Richard’s outfits - and sure tons of posts and articles dedicated to Brett’s fashion -, I decided to put together some of my fave Neil outfits. Not ranked (and not serious at all).

leather jacket & t-shirt & skinny jeans

do i have to say more - that’s The Outfit, isn’t it? 😍😍

iconic! add docs & that gorgeous hair, instant Codfever. (x)

swoopy bangs and CONVERSE! ‘a cute schoolboy’ vibes. (summer festival season 2014)

extra point if you spot him in a tee that’s not black/dark grey.

(sorry for the crappiest screencap in the history of screencaps)

extra extra point for no leather jacket at all 😍😍

(x)

(this is from the acoustic gig in Kingston’s church in September 2018 but i can’t remember the exact source of this lovely pic, sorry. might be from IO)

i feel strongly about this point so i’m supporting it with the two hottest Neil pics i can think of. also totally pulling off both short & long hair!

Soft Codtent

the Night Thoughts bts vids, what A Look 😍😍. the denim jacket looks so snuggly, and blue goes wonderfully with his eyes.

(hello Mat! sorry i’m not gonna write about you now. you’re a very dapper man as well.)

always relatable. we all need more Sweater Neil content, just sayin’. (x) (x)

i almost forgot about the Legendary model shot (which also contains a sweater). shame on me, really:

(x)

(x)

god i wish i was this pretty. this coat also looks all kinds of snuggly and awesome. is it the coat from this quote? (x)

what are shirt buttons, lol

That Black Shirt. You all know which shirt i mean.

(x)

No further comment needed. Ever. Or maybe just this one:

Adding one more shirt bc it was a gift from a Suede fan and deserves all the appreciation:

also look at that shiny, swanky earring! i guess he stopped wearing those when he went more low-key during the Head Music era. (x)

when in doubt, add a jacket

So Many Jackets! and i LOVE THEM ALL

an all-time fave & a classic:

(x) (x)

and its new spiritual successor: the light grey jacket that was featured heavily in the TBH promo.

i actually didn’t like it when i first saw a pic? wow imagine being SO wrong. (x)

(and hello Richard you beautiful man, i love your shirt so much 😍)

(x)

this jacket has been around since 2013 at least and has just made a re-appearance on the Absolute Radio acoustic session <33. those dapper sleeves!

WAISTCOAT

early Penguin Cafe fashion was more eccentric and boy, do i love Neil in this waistcoat! he looks like a prince. (x)

hipster Jesus

ripping off my own post but you know i’m all about this look. Cod bless you all.

suited up

i will never not love the combination of long hair and a suit.

this image is all kinds of amazing, and it also happens to feature my fave suit on Neil ever. love the preppy vibe. (x)

Introducing the Neil

is it a girl? is it a boy? (x) (x)

i will never imagine Dorian Gray in any other way.

bonus point goes to @giant-gloria for pointing out the stylish belt!

turtlenecks (x)

he wears them a LOT and always looks very stylish. also 1) another lovely grey jacket and 2) this hairstyle? i know it didn’t last long but it looked SO GOOD. so many Coming Up vibes (Brett’s as well)

scarves (x)

actually, i don’t recall seeing a recent pic of Neil wearing a scarf? that’s a shame! on the other hand, i’m a massive fan of that amazing scarf Richard wears in the latest Artmagic promo pics. looks very pretty and snuggly.

pink converse

black leather and PINK CONVERSE. i love this boy so much. he has even worn them on stage!

honorable mention:

look at lil’ Neil being already more fashionable than i’ll ever be.

closing this unnecessarily long (and unnecessary in general) post with the best accessory ever that is... a koala. 

(not that cowboy hat, obviously.) (x)

[tiesandtea]

Tinderbox 2016

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mood.