Andy Warhol: BBC Radio 4 Interview (March 17th 1981)

Andy Warhol talks to Edward Lucie Smith about portrait painting, his choice of subject, his work process, wanting to paint as many pictures as he can, hsi love of his Sony Walkman, his favourite subject, his dislike of feelings and emotions, his sense of time and ageing and his affection for everyone.

[@rosez2980]

"Painting is an excuse to listen to really good music" - finally a person who gets me

[@Showtroupt2022]

Walk A man

[@theresetaylor7207]

Yes I loved this quote!

[@piercenikolai4551]

instaBlaster.

[@dannydontgoin237]

From what I understand, no not really. He really was shy and quiet, but he played it up when he realized that it was giving him a certain mystique. He liked messing around with people, especially interviewers.

[@stephenpitkin5492]

If someone hasn't already made a talking Andy Warhol doll that vaguely and naively answers your questions with random pulls of a string, I think it would be simultaneously hilarious and a deeply touching homage.

[@WilliamPhelpsIII]

Not only was the man a genius of the highest order, he was very charming.

[@martinhyizna3299]

I met Andy about a year after this interview. I was working as a busboy at Studio 54. It had just re-opened after their IRS problems. I was an art student. Earlier that day, I had seen some of Warhol's Joseph Beuys paintings at Pace Gallery. I distinctly recall they were very subdued, like a dark gray on black, very deliberately monochromatic, but what really stood out was they were done with some type of glittery finish. Possibly metal flake. Anyway, it was early in the shift, maybe like 8:30 or 9 (typically the place didn't get cooking till around 11-12) I was moving tables. I turned around and there is Andy Warhol, by himself, just standing looking out towards the dance floor. It was kind of like he just stopped in, though it was obvious he was too early. I walked up to him, said hi, and told him how much I enjoyed seeing his paintings at Pace Gallery that afternoon. "He smiled and said, "That's nice." Then walked out.

[@herzeliedstein573]

I bet you have some fun stories, haha. Did you ever accidentally bus like someone's expensive drugs?

[@metronomejack]

Thank you for this Warholien testimony!

[@davidharris8797]

Martin Hyizna he used diamond dust

[@onewearycatfromtexas2066]

Wow. I know that you have not only be touched Gold,met Gold, and you have had a Golden life to right?

[@jdb7752]

@@davidharris8797 Damien Hirst copied Warhol with the diamond dust idea on his diamond skull prints for the love of god. I own 2 original Hirst skull prints and a Warhol pink Marilyn print they are my pride and joy and my pension x

[@AWilberforce]

"...it's called a walkabout, or a walkaman or something like that." I love that

[@Twattoo666]

His responses are golden !

[@yz4043]

I love his voice

[@peterh18]

me too soft high pitch and monotone

[@madeleine8662]

me too, one of the nicest voices i've ever heard. i wish so much i could've had a chat with him!

[@WoahAdri]

his voice is everything

[@peterh18]

yea high pitched soft and monotone

[@amusingscreenname]

"the indian guy who turns out three or four thousand pictures a minute... or maybe it's a day..." warhol was such a fantastic comic

[@seaoftranquility7228]

amusingscreenname he was hilarious. Really really funny

[@Lipolimtown]

Every move was so well calculated no one can do this anymore he was such a genius

[@ARP20]

I love his vagueness.

[@yz4043]

Same!

[@blipblip88]

Loveable, coy, Andy-love it.

[@xyzllii]

Original thinker, Warhol is his own man. A driven free spirit.

[@edwardst.boniface7469]

The quote about the shoes refers to something in his diaries from this era when he describes finding some of the actual models of shoes he used to draw in the 1950s commercially at a flea market in New York and it brought a sense of nostalgia so he drew them again. Andy Warhol is amazingly imperturbable and, to an interviewer, maddening because he just won't play along but he's so calmly inoffensive there's nothing for them to latch onto - he was a genius at that and created this incredible legend around himself from saying almost nothing coherent...

[@dannydontgoin237]

What I like is the fact that his answers are totally honest and to the point and the interviewer just doesn't know what to do about it. I think Warhol really enjoyed seeing an interviewer squirm simply by not doing anything. His whole existence was one big piece of performance art.

[@19KISStheSKY97]

Professor Snape is the interviewer.

[@bobsgirl100]

I have to admit to my fascination with Andy Warhol. He was really unique. Yes Andy it is all about getting by…

[@ultinatetruustar]

The 48 Laws of Power: Law 4: "Always Say Less Than Necessary" brought me here.

[@jahpree2189]

Art Of Seduction Brought Me Here

[@cat8594]

The Art of War Brought Me Here

[@koekons]

I want a walker man too.

[@davidbreeze7443]

This interview gets better the more times you listen to it and think about what is being said and why. The interviewer really understands Warhol and teases out what Warhol thinks he thinks. An artist does not need to understand everything he or she does or why they do it.

[@rm-2573]

David Breeze I've probably listened to this over 100 times, over the years, since discovering on the Interweb. It's soothing.

[@briteness]

David Breeze That is an interesting perspective. I have only listened to this interview once, but I was definitely thinking that the interviewer was probably not as obtuse as he was presenting himself to be. He really did draw Andy out. He generally was not this talkative in interviews. As for what Warhol thought he thought, I am not sure how to know what he really thought. He liked to play dumb with his fey evasions (and was very entertaining in the process), but he was obviously no fool. So really, this is a conversation between two men who probably both knew more than they were letting on.

[@xyzllii]

That was fascinating...thanks...

[@theresetaylor7207]

This is such a brilliant interview! The best I have heard Andy talk. When he said Lisa Minelli was the best he had painted I applauded as she is my icon. Omg Andy at his best and honest.

[@DoNBrewer]

Painting is a good excuse to listen to music. - Andy

[@firemachima]

" oh yae. they call me granny "

[@dopecat4012]

"Like a passport picture, those always turn out great" lmao.

[@vinny1883]

"Do you believe in feelings and emotions?" "Well no I don't but I have them"

[@Fuyunoyukii]

YES!!!!!!!

[@onewearycatfromtexas2066]

He Loved making people look Good!❤️

[@bloomtoferal]

YES

[@KristianWontroba]

Really cool! Aspergers came to mind upon hearing him. Love his work!

[@atis3062]

I hate interviews of brilliant people. These are the dumbest questions. God, Andy's being patient, and nice here.

[@Frankybeanselevators]

you do know that he had mild down syndrome dont you?

[@julwasjulwasjul]

his answers are well thought

[@outsidethepyramid]

Wolfgang Icarus such an Americanism. retards are humans that have feelings you know

[@adhhxgxhhg]

Wolfgang Icarus The irony of your comment is painful.

[@xyzllii]

Painting is an excuse to listen to good music.

[@Showtroupt2022]

Guy is such a genius such a genius

[@SuperPussyFinger]

I don’t think that this interviewer understands that Warhol is taking the piss out of him.

[@algerc.5492]

A+, glad somebody else gets it too. His entire "act" was a "put on" a giant hoax. He was the precursor to the internet "troll". Come on ... he called his studio the "factory" punching out prints like a Detroit punch press stamping out car fenders. Not only was he taking the piss out he was literally pissing on the entire gullible art world and fools who got taken. This is no criticism, I admire what he did.

[@metronomejack]

It's magic! I’m a French fan of Andy Warhol, I sing his life and death, played on my channel!

[@cyclinggirl3212]

I dont blame you. I love him. He was magical.

[@metronomejack]

@@cyclinggirl3212 I really like what he says: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6qZe5itlL9lfas

[@craigg5410]

You have commented under EVERY Warhol video I've seen

[@metronomejack]

Oh sorry Craig, I think I'm really too addicted...

[@craigg5410]

@@metronomejack I'm currently also addicted to Edie Sedgewick and Candy Darling.

[@jimmyfigueras4476]

Factory girl brought me here

[@jrlakin370]

👍👍👍

[@vipy4309]

4:08-4:34 really a modren idea of people collecting things, even art and just putting it away having no need to display it as andy says it. Really, decades beyond where he was.

[@ebonyacheampong]

06:58 know exactly how that feels

[@juliebaker1216]

Kenneth Goldsmith brought me here.

[@gaalph]

the waka man lol min 5:55

[@Cuthrin]

LOL! Awesome observation!

[@FlameAlchemisT371]

Iggy brought me here.

[@bowie-rocks543]

iggy pop to be exact? I love Iggy! Such a talented musician/singer

[@donaldharris6449]

REALLY? THAT HIGH!

[@aarongall9191]

Andy is just trolling... what a square reporter, he doesn't get it. I think this was common of celebrity status individuals back in the day. Beatles were trolling, Jim Morrison, etc. "Do you believe in emotions? (7:00)" If you're going to ask a stupid question, don't expect a serious answer.

[@rm-2573]

Aaron Gall I think he is partly persona, partly genuine. As he would say, "a genuine fake." :)

[@ArtCreamProject]

@Xcuze i agree! I think the "emotions question" was a brilliant question

[@andrewmurray5542]

What you have to remember is that the interviewer is trying to ask questions that he's interested in but also what the listeners would like to ask in a way to get to know Warhol and what makes him tick. Warbol is a lot less vague in this interview and it feels like his front is down a bit compared to earlier interviews where i really believe he exaggerated his shy aloof image. All that said, i wonder if we will ever know the real Warhol.

[@thebeginingistheend]

He's very sarcastic, and most don't get that.

[@xyzllii]

@CharmedQuarkZ99 No one ever asks me about things !

[@KingPluto97]

THIS GUY IS SO ISPERATIONAL

[@collj86]

I’ve just been reading studying eugenics online This is like another era to me the sixties and on It’s just funny what people talk about and are interested in I was thinking in 1000 years humans may be very different than we are now. Like people will have the ability with medicine to replenish there organs and presumably live a lot longer. Although I was thinking you could still starve to death or get in a fatal accident or get a fatal disease But also you will be able to get designer offspring hair color, eyes height etc. even designer personalities maybe you want a really smart child. Musical prodigy etc But it’s scary. Imagine bodybuilders 10 feet tall weighing a ton with advancements in steroids etc

[@caesarsneezer6992]

Are those your aspirations?

[@1ACL]

Nah....we are DEVO...

[@jaydoebud]

Interesting man none-the-less though.

[@hustle_tee]

💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎

[@elizabethdarley8646]

The interviewer actually got paid to do this?

[@caesarsneezer6992]

Good insight into the deception of the art world to itself and for itself. The art world is it's own worst enemy. Artists that kiss the right butt and play by the rules, such as Warhol win the prize of success. Most artists even to this day in 2020 paint because they have a statement to make in an honest way simply for the expression of craft. Warhol was a master marketer and some of his work was genius. Unfortunately there is a lot of down time for verbal masturbation and the non art world sees this, making a judgment on the legitimate producers of quality art. As I mentioned, some work of his is pure genius, but the work that we are familiar with is mostly not that genius. He had to play missy kissy withbthe art intelligentsia to get his foot in the door. This movie is an insight into that world of jibberish. Just dont write off this nonsense as the representation of his works. There have been ridiculous displays of art in major museums and the public eats it up, the flock is well trained to respond positively to the avant-garde with gushing delight, because the word is that this work is cutting edge, when the artist and the patron both know its garbage, but neither side is willing to blink. I do painting, but have no network, therefore I will be relegated to writing scathing comments on you tube and observing reality at a distance. Bye.....

[@1P0T]

he sounds like regular Finnish person.

[@Frankybeanselevators]

yea, totally, but in English, without a Finnish accent..

[@JamesBStudios]

Andy didnt seem to have much of a personality in his interviews...hmmm

[@yz4043]

Listen between the lines

[@glenncambray626]

"Didn't seem",you're being very polite.

[@madeleine8662]

he liked messing with interviewers; it's also all part of his public persona. would recommend reading blake gopnik's biographhy on him!

[@owenwilberforce6138]

Just another casual observer was Andy. Trying to like everyone.

[@iHeartCherryCocaine]

i actually came here because i heard part of this interview on the mixtape TrapGold By Iggy Azalea .

[@OFOTCN]

Sounds like Kevin Spacey

[@sodiumlights]

Never noticed that until you pointed the similarity out!

[@thomasswan7442]

I think big problem with the world is the glockenspiel group,if you offered people warholdali Picasso Monet's how many would take the glockenspiel

[@BeerBaron73]

Interviewer sounds desperate.

[@TheExplodingPumpkin]

He was a savant, right?

[@Mdriver1981]

This is the day my parents had the sex that created me. I was born on Halloween, 1981.

[@conesuela1]

TMI

[@dittbub]

lol i also like people that talk alot

[@b7k1l8yn]

What's the sign of a nice person andy? Someone who talks alot lol

[@craigg5410]

3-4000 pictures a minute...or maybe it's a day.

[@ForeverAyrtonSenna]

Why can't the interviewer calm down?

[@sweetjane5033]

200 pictures 1 object? Mmm

[@Ztnarf1985]

Misunderstood genius...

[@tomoe1986]

Iggy Azalea brought me here.

[@igotmojo3378]

Eh. He had an IQ of 86....

[@NoahsUniverse]

iq is meaningless.

[@jaydoebud]

I don't think he's a genius at all I think he was definitely important in an almost dadaist way to prove that anything is art and to stand by his work but listen to this guy and look at his work. To say he's genius in my opinion is naive or viewpoint from someone who's trying to seem hip for "understanding" a man who obviously lacks the symbolism folks pretend to get.

[@BlackMarketManda]

this interviewer is insufferable

[@jogmas12]

He liked doing repetitive work, doing the same picture over and over like a tedious working assembly line worker. Perhaps his IQ was low.

[@adhhxgxhhg]

jogmas12 Context is an important thing in art, helps you gain a broader understanding. And before throwing stones, 'perhaps' you should try comparing your work to his.

[@rudeboyjim2684]

where'd you get that idea? supposedly he had an IQ of 86, though that might be lower than is accurate

[@JimBimBum]

Sometimes 1 is never enough especially when it comes to art. If you take 1 picture, that's not art, that's a portrait but when it comes to art there's so many variables going on and Constantly changing that you never know which is absolutely perfect till you find it. At least that's what I think he'd take multiple pictures, it's why I do it.

[@martab2761]

you can't enter the subconscious without repetition. i don't understand why andy is so hard to get for so many people.