My Ego and Tricky

Having just learnt that Tricky is due to have his autobiography, Hell Is Round The Corner, published, I have to retell my Tricky story, don't I? Sorry if you've heard it before but...

It was 1995 and I ran a zine called Ego. Tricky's debut album was, as you may recall, generally regarded as a brilliant piece of work by anyone who heard it and I was no different. Ego didn't generally feature well-known artists on the cover (or inside, much) but such was the overwhelming impact of  Maxinquaye (released in Feb of that year) that I couldn't resist making him the only 'cover star' ever and adding my tuppence worth in a feature. 

One Saturday afternoon the phone rings. I pick it up. A man informs me he's Tricky in a very convincing West Country accent. My first thought is 'Yeah, right' whilst wondering who the prankster was. But he goes on to say how he was rifling through his draws and came across a copy of Ego. He just wanted to say how good he thought it was. Whether he meant my article or the zine in general I can't recall. I recall no more of the conversation, probably because it didn't last long. He talked. I mumbled, recovering from the shock. 

I put the phone down. 

LJ asked who that was. 

"Tricky," I said. 

She didn't believe me.

I hardly believed me either. 

That's my Tricky story.