Books

Subterms

    More stories

    • 250 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      Katie Price reveals huge career move and vows to ‘tell the truth’ after sparking rumours she’s engaged for ninth time

      by

      KATIE Price has revealed her latest career move as she vowed to tell the truth after sparking rumours that she was engaged for the ninth time.The 45-year-old took to Instagram to announce the exciting news to fans.Katie Price has revealed that she’s releasing a brand new autobiographyCredit: InstagramThe star took to Instagram to announce the exciting news to fansKatie told fans that she’s set to release her brand new autobiography.In her announcement video, she said: “This book just tops all the others.”For so many years, I hide behind the mask because that’s my way to deal with things.”It gets to a point where it becomes noise, I had my breakdown, the worst thing ever, and now I’ve come on top I’ve learnt to not be afraid.More on Katie Price”I think in this book people will get to see really what it’s like to be me. There will be uplifting moments, there’ll be dark moments, moments where I can put the truth right in a lot of things.”Katie captioned the post: “I’m so happy to share that this July I’m releasing my brand new autobiography, THIS IS ME. This is by far the most intimate look into my life to date, celebrating 30 years in the spotlight.”She added: “THIS IS ME, coming 18th July x.”This came after the star dropped a huge hint that Married At First Sight boyfriend JJ Slater proposed to her on a cosy cabin holiday.Most read in ShowbizThe pair, who have been romantically linked since January, have gone from strength to strength over the past few months – and so much so that it seems they may even be tying the knot soon.Katie took to her Instagram story to share a neon sign from Secret Cabins in West Sussex.This is the most natural I’ve been’ boasts Katie Price as she ditches extensions and make-up (3)She shared the photo of their light-up ‘will you marry me?’ sign to her story.”Absolutely love this place,” she added in the caption.Katie has already published six autobiographies: Being Jordan in 2004, A Whole New World in 2006, Pushed To The Limit in 2008, You Only Live Once in 2010, Love, Lipstick And Lies in 2013, and Reborn in 2016.Reborn detailed her relationship with ex Kieran Hayler.The former glamour model is said to have signed a six-figure deal to write her “explosive” new volume.Back in 2021, a book insider told The Sun: “Katie’s really excited about this latest deal. It’ll be about her life, but she’s warned friends it’s not exactly an autobiography like the ones in the past.”Not wanting to give away the juicy details the source teased of the upcoming release: “It’ll tell readers a lot they don’t know about her.”READ MORE SUN STORIESKatie has also released one fashion book, two series of children’s books and eleven novels.She topped the best seller list with the release of her debut novel, Angel.Katie has previously released six autobiographiesCredit: InstagramThe star has also released one fashion book, two series of children’s books and eleven novelsCredit: RexShe topped the best seller list with the release of her debut novel, AngelCredit: katieprice/Instagram More

    • 188 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      Rebel Wilson admits ‘shame’ amid Sacha Baron Cohen claims – as she reveals huge regret

      by

      REBEL Wilson has admitted ‘shame’ after claiming that Sacha Baron Cohen “sexually harassed” her in her new memoir Rebel Rising.The actress, 44, accused the Ali G star of “humiliating and degrading” while filming the 2016 blockbuster Grimsby in her latest autobiography. Rebel Wilson has spoken about ‘shame’ after her Sacha Baron Cohen claimsCredit: GettySacha has denied the claimsCredit: EPASacha and Rebel worked together on the film GrimsbyCredit: AlamyThe Aussie star played Sacha’s on-screen girlfriend Dawn Grobham in the spy comedy.Rebel said some scenes made her feel like she was “being humiliated” and “sexually harassed”, and also claimed she was asked to perform a sex act on camera.Sacha has denied the claims. Rebel explained: “One of the reasons why I wrote it is because I felt shame at the time that I didn’t do more.Read more on Rebel Wilson”What I should have done is left that set — the moment that first act happened, I should have left.“I should have just gone back to the hotel, demanded to leave and never come back.“But we had the same agent at the time, and I was kind of, you know, talked around into, ‘Well, just be professional.”And if anything else happens, then you can leave’.Most read in Celebrity“The great thing about having the #MeToo movement is that now if something happened like that, the 44-year-old version of myself, like would just get out of it, put them on blast publicly, because I won’t stand for that.“But back then, ten years ago, it was different, you know, there wasn’t intimacy coaches on set. It was a very different vibe. Watch the awkward moment Isla Fisher revealed Valentine’s Day plans with Sacha Baron Cohen – despite having already secretly split”And often not great for women. I wish I knew back then, how to handle it.”Sacha’s rep told TMZ: “While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence, including contemporaneous documents, film footage, and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of The Brothers Grimsby.”It comes after Rebel has said that the ‘truth will come out’ after revealing that other women have contacted her since the claims.In a new interview before Sacha’s marriage split was made public, she blasted Sacha for his attempts to censor her book Rebel Rising.And she said: “What’s been comforting is, like, several women have now been in contact and it’s up to them whether they want to go public with their stories.Sacha and Isla announced their marriage split on FridayCredit: Instagram/IslaFisher“Because it is hard to say something against somebody who’s high profile, because they hit you with high-price lawyers and crisis PR people and all sorts of little tricks.”It doesn’t feel great when all I’m doing is sharing my story in my memoir, which I’m very entitled to do.”But I always think the truth will come out, which is why it’s great to have the book out now so people don’t just read the headlines but can read the actual chapter.”There is no suggestion the women who contacted Rebel have made similar allegations against Brit Sacha.He has strenuously denied Rebel’s claims.SWIPERebel also appeared to take a cryptic swipe at Sacha’s marriage split.In her latest Instagram post she described “what a week” she had. Rebel said: “What a week! I need a lie down on the couch now…for real! “Thank you so much to everyone who has bought REBEL RISING and is already enjoying it! Love you.”SACHA’S MARRIAGE SPLITOn Friday it was revealed that Sacha, 52, and wife Isla Fisher, 48, had split after 14 years of marriage. The Sun understands Rebel’s claims, made in her memoir, and vehemently denied by him, were a catalyst for Isla to publicly reveal  the break-up.The former couple said: “After a long tennis match lasting over twenty years, we are finally putting our racquets down.”In 2023, we jointly filed to end our marriage.””We have always prioritized our privacy, and have been working through this change,” the post continued.”We forever share in our devotion and love for our children.”READ MORE SUN STORIES”We sincerely appreciate you respecting our families’ wish for privacy.”Sacha and Isla met in 2001 and tied the knot in 2007.All the signs Isla and Sacha had secretly splitThe couple have revealed they actually split last year, despite only just revealing their divorce.
      Here we look at the signs they had already broken up before revealing their split news:
      Social media silence –  Sacha has been absent from Instagram since last Christmas.
      Spending time with friends – Isla has been been following that classic post break-up move of spending more time with her girlfriends.
      Hidden ring finger – No fans noticed at the time, but in many Instagram shots from this year, Isla has hidden her right hand so her wedding finger was not visible in many shots.
      Missing man – The last image Isla shared of her and Sacha prior to the divorce announcement was back in November last year. More

    • 263 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      Rebel Wilson says ‘truth will come out’ as she reveals other women have made contact since her Sacha Baron Cohen claims

      by

      ACTRESS Rebel Wilson says she has been contacted by several women since she made  sexual harassment claims against Sacha Baron Cohen.The Aussie said she found it “comforting” and vowed: “The truth will come out.”Rebel Wilson says has been contacted by several other women since she made sexual harassment claims against Sacha Baron CohenCredit: GettyRebel insisted last night that “the truth will come out”, alluding to her claims against her former co-starCredit: AlamyRebel sent shockwaves through Hollywood by using her new autobiography to accuse the Ali G star of “humiliating and degrading” her on the set of 2016 film Grimsby.In a new interview before he announced his marriage split, she blasted Sacha, 52, for his attempts to censor her book Rebel Rising.And she said: “What’s been comforting is, like, several women have now been in contact and it’s up to them whether they want to go public with their stories.“Because it is hard to say something against somebody who’s high profile, because they hit you with high-price lawyers and crisis PR people and all sorts of little tricks. READ MORE REBEL WILSON”It doesn’t feel great when all I’m doing is sharing my story in my memoir, which I’m very entitled to do. “But I always think the truth will come out, which is why it’s great to have the book out now so people don’t just read the headlines but can read the actual chapter.”There is no suggestion the women who contacted Rebel have made similar allegations against Brit Sacha. He has strenuously denied Rebel’s claims.Most read in Celebrity Watch the awkward moment Isla Fisher revealed Valentine’s Day plans with Sacha Baron Cohen – despite having already secretly splitHer allegations are thought to have been the catalyst for Sacha’s wife Isla Fisher to announce on Friday the shock split after 13 years of marriage.The news came  days after Isla enjoyed a night out in London with fellow actresses  Michelle Dockery and Naomi Watts.Rebel, 44, played the girlfriend of Sacha’s character Nobby in spy comedy Grimsby, which the British star co-wrote and co-produced.Isla also appeared in the movie. In her book, Rebel said some scenes made her feel like she was “being humiliated” and “sexually harassed”.She also claimed she was asked to perform a sex act on camera. She added: “It’s about kind of the worst professional experience I ever had on a movie and it was obviously with him.”Speaking recently about her book, she explained: “One of the reasons why I wrote it is because I felt shame at the time that I didn’t do more. “What I should have done is left that set — the moment that first act happened, I should have left.“I should have just gone back to the hotel, demanded to leave and never come back.“But we had the same agent at the time, and I was kind of, you know, talked around into, ‘Well, just be professional. “And if anything else happens, then you can leave’.“The great thing about having the #MeToo movement is that now if something happened like that, the 44-year-old version of myself, like would just get out of it, put them on blast publicly, because I won’t stand for that.“But back then, ten years ago, it was different, you know, there wasn’t intimacy coaches on set. It was a very different vibe. “And often not great for women. I wish I knew back then, how to handle it.”When someone is an a**hole I kind of expected that he would come out and fiercely deny it, which is so weird when you’ve been thereRebel WilsonThe Jojo Rabbit and Bridesmaids star slammed Borat star  Sacha for denying her claims in the book, which has been released in America and will go on sale in the UK later this month.She said: “When you write your truth, not everyone is going to like it. And when someone is an a**hole, I kind of expected that he would come out and fiercely deny it, which is so weird when you’ve been there. “Like you know, it’s happened. The book gets legally vetted before publishing.“Yeah, it was just a very odd reaction to have that.”Sacha’s lawyers have said their evidence shows Rebel’s allegations have “no basis in reality” and are part of a “cynical commercial ploy to promote her book”.  Sacha and Isla, 48, who have three children, announced their divorce  in joint Instagram posts on Friday.They said: “After a long tennis match lasting over 20 years, we are finally putting our racquets down.”The timing  has raised eyebrows after a source claimed that Isla  had started to find the allegations in Rebel’s book “embarrassing”.Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen have announced they have separated and are set to divorceCredit: Getty Images – GettyIsla was pictured on a girl’s night after announcing her separation from her husbandCredit: Instagram/islafisherThe former Home and Away star has been supported by celeb pals in the wake of the break-up.She joined   fellow movie stars Naomi, Michelle  and Aussie film producer Bruna Papandrea  to watch the West End play The Hills of California on Wednesday.A source said: “Isla has a close knit group of friends, who are fiercely protective of her.READ MORE SUN STORIES“The women, many of whom lead high profile lives themselves, are empathetic about what she has been going through and have made sure they are available for her whenever she needs them.Rebel has not commented on the split, but wrote online on Friday: “What a week! I need a lie down on the couch now … for real!” More

    • 200 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      Sheridan Smith defends under-fire musical as she begs fans ‘please come’ saying ‘there’s so much pressure’

      by

      SHERIDAN Smith has pleaded with fans to book up for her under-fire musical as she admitted there’s “so much pressure”.The actress’ new play Opening Night has already seen ticket prices slashed – as well as audience members walking out of the West End’s Gielgud Theatre.Sheridan Smith has opened up on the ‘pressure’ of her new on-stage role – and crowds walked outCredit: GettySheridan plays the protagonist Myrtle Gordon in Opening NightCredit: GettyShe has begged fans to ‘please come’ to the musical – which has also seen crowd members fall asleep’Credit: PHThe musical of the 1977 movie has now been left in chaos with Gavin and Stacey star Sheridan, 42, now admitting she is feeling the heat.She told Radio 2’s Scott Mills show on Tuesday: “I get terrified, it’s worse as I get older. “I was fearless when I moved to London. “Now, there’s so much pressure.”read more sheridan smithShe then insisted to listeners: “It’s [Opening Night] absolutely fascinating and fun… Please come!”Curtain’s upIn the show, Sheridan plays functioning alcoholic actress Myrtle Gordon.Her character suffers a mental breakdown and leans on booze to help her through after she is left devastated by the death of a teenage fan.One theatre buff has already compared the performance to a “multi-lane pile-up,” while another dubbed it “tragic”. Most read in ShowbizStefan Kyriazis, the Arts Editor for Express said: “As the curtain fell, the poor ladies in front of me muttering, ‘I don’t understand – what just happened?’ echoed the bewildered slump of an audience who sat (some smartly snoozed) through Rufus Wainwright’s tuneless tunes, endless pointless and intrusive camerawork (enough, already), some atrocious acting and frustratingly bad staging.”Sheridan Smith speaks about booze sessions for the musical Opening NightAccording to another critic: “Half the audience loved it, the other half hated it.”Mental health battleSheridan has previously addressed her battles with anxiety, depression and addiction.The Fat Friends actress told how these increased the more successful she became, winning rave reviews for her performances on stage and in TV dramas including Cilla and The C Word.During her career, she’s received BAFTA and Olivier awards, but despite the glory, she hid her mental health issues.The new play sees her staggering around the streets of London’s Soho as she portrays her alcoholic character in stark detail.She previously told The Sun on Sunday that even amid her own booze sessions, “I have never turned up crawling into the theatre.”The star has described the role as a “sign” after she also hit rock bottom in 2016 while starring in London’s West End as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, cancelling one show 15 minutes into the performance.READ MORE SUN STORIESSpeaking backstage following her first show, she said: “It is kind of like therapy.”She added: “I love leaving it all on the stage. I have to say, it is quite fun doing that scene outside.”Sadly the London show has been left in chaos following a slew of negative reviewsCredit: PHSheridan has previously described the role as a “sign” after her battlesCredit: Getty More

    • 250 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      From Brit crooner’s skimpy white hot pants to self-titled album Los Wankas…are these the WORST album covers of all time?

      by

      FROM Lionel Blair in hot pants to the self-titled Los Wankas, these must be among the worst album covers ever.Weird depictions of witchcraft and ill-fitting wigs help make these record sleeves real howlers.The world’s ugliest album covers are all showcased in a new book based on music guru Steve Goldman’s collectionCredit: SplashYorkshireman Steve says: ‘Some spend fortunes collecting fine art, no one collects these covers’Credit: SplashArtists including Dolly Parton and David Bowie feature among some unknowns — all showcased in a new book based on music guru Steve Goldman’s collection.Yorkshireman Steve says: “Some spend fortunes collecting fine art, no one collects these covers.”Here are some of the, er, best.
      The Art Of The Bizarre Vinyl Sleeve, easyontheeyeshop.co.uk, £24.99.
      READ MORE MUSIC NEWSThe album cover for Come Home Baby looks very awkwardCredit: SplashWhat’s going on for the cover of Amen!?Credit: SplashThis soapy scene is strange for a sleeveCredit: SplashEven Dolly Parton’s album covers can miss the markCredit: SplashSour Cream & Other Delights have a wacky record coverCredit: SplashThe World of Joseph Cooper has an odd coverCredit: SplashOlivia Rodrigo slammed for ‘copying’ Mariah Carey with new song Obsessed as fans say ‘we want original!’ (mariah also has a song called obsessed)Lionel Blair dons some tight white pants for his album Aerobic DancingCredit: SplashSandwich unveiled a questionable coverCredit: SplashLos Wankas know how to perplex with their album artCredit: SplashDan Crary looks out of place on the cover for Lady’s FancyCredit: SplashThis is a peculiar album cover from Le Grande CirqueCredit: SplashRobots après tout by Philippe Katerine has an ugly coverCredit: SplashPanpan Kuku by Skeff features an odd looking tot on the frontCredit: SplashDavid Bowie’s cover for Toy isn’t his best workCredit: SplashDo you get the meaning behind this album cover for Hand In Hand?Credit: SplashGeraldine and Ricky’s Trees Talk Too features a woman with a creepy wooden puppetCredit: Splash More

    • 200 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      Tom Hardy’s outrageous on set demand revealed which left photographer who inspired his latest film baffled

      by

      I’VE heard more baffling tales about snobbish celebs than I care to remember.But this latest anecdote about Tom Hardy takes the biscuit.Tom Hardy doesn’t like people looking him in the eye while he’s on setCredit: GettyUS photographer Danny Lyon has told how he travelled to meet Tom on set in Cincinnati only to be told not to look him in the eyeCredit: RexUS photographer Danny Lyon whose book The Bikeriders inspired Tom’s latest film of the same name, has told how he travelled to meet Brit actor Tom on set in Cincinnati only to be told not to look him in the eye.Danny said: “They tried to keep me away but I finally get there.“It’s f***ing freezing. I just want to meet Tom Hardy. “He gets on set and they say, ‘You can’t look at him’. read more on tom hardy“I said, ‘What do you mean? Why can’t I look at him?’ They say, ‘Oh, he doesn’t like it’. “So they make me hide behind a tree and all this bulls**t.”Tom stars alongside Elvis actor Austin Butler who, in comparison, is said to be nothing but a gentleman on set.But this isn’t the first time Tom’s antics have come into question.Most read in CelebrityIn 2022 actress Charlize Theron claimed she felt threatened by his aggressive behaviour while shooting 2015 film Mad Max: Fury Road with him. He responded saying he felt pressured in the lead role.The fact Danny is known as one of the most influential documentary photographers of his time – and is the whole reason the film was made – should make Tom hang his head in shame.I’m told I look like Tom Hardy and it makes me feel good – women pay meIf you don’t like people looking at you, why become an actor? The mind boggles. More

    • 163 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      Tommy Fury reveals huge new career as fiancee Molly-Mae says she’s ‘so proud’

      by

      TOMMY Fury has revealed his huge new career move, and fiancée Molly-Mae Hague has said she’s “so proud.”The 24-year-old Love Island star took to social media to alert fans to his brand new book.Tommy Fury has revealed his huge new career move and fiancée Molly-Mae Hague has said she’s so proudCredit: InstagramTommy revealed his brand new bookCredit: InstagramTommy’s latest career move was supported by his fianceeCredit: mollymae/Instagram….Tommy shared a video which saw him documenting the creative process behind his brand new book.He captioned his post: “I’m proud to announce… I have written my first book!“Find out what my life is like juggling many identities: A professional boxer, TV star, mental health advocate, fiancé and father. Coming this October, but available to pre-order now… link on my story.”Molly was quick to comment beneath the post, writing: “So proud of you,” followed by a heart emoji.Read More on Tommy FuryTommy’s book is titled ‘Lightning Can Strike Twice, My Life As A Fury,’ and the cover sees the star posing in a white t-shirt.Many of Tommy’s millions of followers shared their happiness at hearing the news of the reality star’s book.The 24-year-old is following in the footsteps of his famous fiancée Molly, who has also released her own book about her life.Upon releasing her book named ‘Becoming Molly,’ Molly was overwhelmed as it was bought by thousands and reached the top spot in the Amazon charts after just one day.Most read in ShowbizThe book tells the story of how Molly went from an energetic child to a multimillionaire, with a spot of Love Island in between.Molly and Tommy are Love Island’s most well-off couple.Molly-Mae Hague reveals ‘really hard time’ with Tommy Fury and issue that ‘caused so many problems’Thanks to brand deals and sponsorships, as well as Molly-Mae’s six-figure deal with PrettyLittleThing, the couple are worth £9million.Tommy also rakes it in as a professional boxer, earning £3.7million from his fight with Jake Paul, and just under £5million for his most recent encounter against KSI.Away from their business ventures, the famous couple are parents to an adorable one-year-old daughter named Bambi Fury.Tommy’s new book comes after the boxer recently underwent an operation on his hand.At the time, Molly took to social media to share that it had been a “tough time.”She said: “You’ve been going through it, really, haven’t you? We’ve got to be perfectly honest with you. I don’t think…”Basically, for those of you who don’t know, Tommy’s had quite a big operation on his hand. He’s needed this surgery for as long as we can remember.”He’s been laying it on thick. We’ve all known about it in the house, put it that way.”He didn’t share it with anyone, even through all the training for the Jake Paul and KSI fights.”I wrote a caption on Instagram saying we went through some really hard times as a family and I felt like the injury was always just causing us so many problems and was always there and we never spoke about it.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I don’t know why I’m saying ‘we’ as if like it’s my injury but you never spoke about it so no one knew that it was causing a lot of issues for us as a family and for you as an athlete.”Anyway, I’m very proud of you finally deciding to get the operation, but I don’t think we really realised how much of an impact it was going to have on everyday life, him not having his right hand.”The 24-year-old is following in the footsteps of his famous fiancée Molly, who has also released her own book about her lifeCredit: InstagramTommy shares an adorable daughter named Bambi with MollyCredit: tommyfury/Instagram More

    • 225 Shares

      in entertainment and celebrities

      I can only do what I know how to do… and that’s make f*****-up music, says Kim Gordon

      by

      “I FEEL like I am waiting to become an adult,” ponders Kim Gordon, who turns 71 next month.“I think everyone sees themselves as their interior age, not their biological age,” says the musician, visual artist, style icon and former queen of cool of Sonic Youth, the US art rock band she co-founded with ex-husband Thurston Moore.Queen of cool and former bassist with Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon is back with her second solo project, The CollectiveCredit: Danielle NeuRepresenting her view of today’s chaotic and toxic world, The Collective is experimental and reflectiveCredit: Danielle NeuKim and ex-husband Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth performing in 2006Credit: GettyIt takes a few minutes for Kim to connect to our video call from her home in LA where she moved in 2015 and when she is on screen she is happy to chat about her second solo album, The Collective, an experimental and avant-garde project that is released today.“I can only do what I know how to do, which is make f***ed-up music, I guess,” she laughs.“But, yeah, I can enjoy a good pop song but I am mostly drawn to unconventional things.”Representing her view of today’s chaotic and toxic world, The Collective is experimental and reflective.READ MORE BIG INTERVIEWS“Things seem to regress very quickly today — it’s two steps forward, one step back, which is kind of weird and scary. “It’s just like watching something fall over in slow motion. “I feel like there’s nothing you can do about it. “It’s a weird feeling.”Most read in MusicI think everyone sees themselves as their interior age, not their biological age.The Collective was also inspired by the novel The Candy House, by Jennifer Egan, and there’s also a dark track of the same name on the record.Kim says: “It’s about this tech invention, Mandala, which is like an app and through it you can experience anybody’s memories and actually be in their body and know what they’re experiencing if they have uploaded their stuff.“But the catch is you have to upload your own memories and experiences and join the collective.”I don’t trust iPhonesLast June in New York Kim held a 13-painting exhibition which included a large painting of nearly 30 cut-out iPhone-case stencil holes which was also titled The Collective.Is the art show connected to the album, with the album cover also being of an iPhone representing the vacuum of living online?She says: “I started doing the paintings before I chose the record cover photo. “But after I had the title for the record, I gave the big painting in the exhibition the same title.“There’s no escaping technology, I guess. “It’s so embedded in our psyche. “You get lost in your iPhone — people go on there, and I do it too, to get lost.“But I don’t trust the iPhone. “It’s useful and obviously things are never going back. “But it’s just happening so fast.“People see it as a marker of progress. “But I feel as human beings, we’re not really evolved in the same way.“I’m just sceptical of technology.”The Collective started with the song that opens the album, Bye Bye — a hypnotic chant of a list of items to pack for a trip, over a menacing bassline and perilous beats.“That was the first song that I did vocals for. “I always have a certain amount of anxiety about packing. “I have to get it together and think, ‘What am I forgetting?’“I wanted some really mundane lyrics to go with a propulsive beat and I thought it was a good foil.“If I’d tried to make the vocals as intense as the beat, it wouldn’t have been as interesting to me.“And I wanted to do more beats on this record than the last record.“Justin Raisen, my collaborator and producer, makes beats for people [he has worked with Charli XCX, Drake and Lil Yachty], so it was a no-brainer to ask him.“There are some beats on the last record and years ago I made this record SYR5 with Ikue Mori and DJ Olive and there were some beats on that.“I’ve always been interested in beats for my vocals because I’m limited in my way of singing, it’s not really melody-driven. “Rhythm is what gets my brain going.“And Justin knows my sensibility. “I realised that when we made Murdered Out [on 2019 debut solo album No Home Record], he’d put my vocals from a different project on a trashy drum beat and sent it to me.I just like deadlines“I knew he was a punk then. “That’s why he gets me and he likes my work. “So that was the first thing we worked on together, then there were a couple of things we worked on at the end of the pandemic that we never went back to but this was the first song that felt really solid.”Kim says she is not sure why now was the right time to make a second solo album.She adds: “I guess I didn’t have anything else to do. “People ask me that — I don’t have a good answer for it. “I just like deadlines.“Normally, if I wasn’t making music, I would go to my studio and be struggling with things there.“Last January I worked on this dance project with this choreographer, Dimitri Chamblas. “And that went to three different residencies and then we started touring it.“It involved guitars with five of the dancers, so I went to make sure the volume was good.”Psychedelic Orgasm is another standout on The Collective, which Kim describes as “kind of like a fantasy about if everyone went on a passive-aggressive strike by taking psychedelic drugs”.On the industrial-sounding track I’m A Man, Kim examines a blinkered view of masculinity.“It was inspired by the Republican Party politician Josh Hawley, who goes around whining about feminism and saying how it’s destroyed men,” she tells me.It’s like Harry Styles got a new stylist that gave his career a boost. This new fluidity and dressing are great.“The whining aspect and them feeling like victims was interesting to me. “What does it really sound like if you say these things out loud?“There’s so many subtleties and grey areas to this whole discussion.“I thought it would be interesting to throw it out there in a different way, after the peak of old-style, traditional masculinity of protecting and providing, when cowboys rode upon their horses in the movies to save women.“After that era of Ronald Reagan and Nancy, and conservativism, what was left?“Men felt lost and so they became consumers, like women.“They are marketed to. “The song is about how masculinity changed.”The song’s lyrics include “Manicure my nails/Put on a skirt,” and Kim says: “Is it groundbreaking that Harry Styles wears a skirt?“I mean, Mick Jagger wore a dress in 1968 and David Bowie was always individual.“It’s like Harry Styles got a new stylist that gave his career a boost.“This new fluidity and dressing are great.“But men who identify as kind of old school, they may not like it and for them to object to it could be closing doors, which maybe they should open.“Then, for them to turn around and make them feel like they’re the victims is kind of absurd.”In her hugely popular 2015 memoir Girl In A Band, Kim calls herself a “lower-case rock star”, never ever comfortable with being seen as supercool and worshipped by so many.With her DIY attitude, she has opened doors for many women in music today.She says: “It’s nice people think that, but I don’t like to embrace it because I don’t like my head to be there.“I don’t really think anything about it, honestly, because it’s just the part of the music industry that I don’t relate to.“Being cool is not my music industry. It’s the pop world.“During the punk era, when women really started playing guitars, I was influenced by bands like The Slits and The Raincoats and even Chrissie Hynde.Rihanna’s so smart“In LA there were punk bands like The Bags too, but it felt like not many women were playing this music in the mainstream.“And today it’s singer-songwriters who have been successful.“It’s great to see people like Rihanna and Cardi B in charge of their careers in their domain. They’re so smart.”Swimsuit Issue, a song from Sonic Youth’s 1992 album Dirty, was written by Kim after an executive at the band’s Geffen record label was sued by a secretary over claims of sexual harassment.Kim says: “It was a big scandal when we first signed to Geffen.“And it was a little embarrassing, as we were already getting grief from our community about signing to this major label.“But I just thought, ‘OK, well, I’m a woman writing songs so there’s a lot that I can write about’, and I just decided to write about that incident.“In those days, pre-#MeToo, there was no social media.”It was in her book that Kim wrote about the end of her 27-year marriage to Sonic Youth guitarist and fellow singer Thurston Moore, who she shared daughter Coco with.The book begins in 2011 in Sao Paulo at the band’s final show.The couple had separated after Kim discovered, by phone texts, that Thurston had been having an affair with his now wife, book editor Eva Prinz.“Yeah, it was hard,” says Kim today. “I wouldn’t have ever done a memoir but somebody approached me and after I said I would do it, I was like, ‘Why did I say that? I don’t want to write it’.“So I tried to make it not all about myself, but about LA and the 60s, 70s and New York in the 80s, 90s.“It was good for me — writing is sometimes the only way I can think about things.”Next, Kim will release an art book influenced by her brother Keller, who suffered from schizophrenia and died last year. She has described him as “brilliant, manipulative, sadistic, arrogant, almost unbearably articulate,” and “the person who more than anyone else in the world shaped who I was, and who I turned out to be.”She says: “It’s an art book with a good long text, but it has pages of his notebook and pictures of him in there.“It’s more of a tribute to him. “It was emotional to make but writing is a constructive way to deal with stuff for me.“I just wanted to make something positive out of it. “He was schizophrenic and never got to fulfil his potential.”Kim says she sees herself “pretty much like a visual artist that makes music” and she says it’s important to make art when she feels like it and as she can.Time goes so fastShe adds: “It still feels natural for me to be doing it but maybe that is why I decided I should make another record now, because I may not feel like it in a few years.It’s crazy how younger women are affected by this idea you have to be perfect.“I’m almost 71 — time goes so fast. “But I don’t go out that much to shows because I’m always protecting my ears, and not just the music, as people talk so loud.“That is something that has sparked me more as I’ve gotten older because my hearing isn’t as good.” Looking 25 years younger than her age and wearing stylish gold glasses, Kim says she has never felt any pressure with her looks or image.She adds: “It’s crazy how younger women are affected by this idea you have to be perfect.“I might have had some things done, like everyone does, but that idea of beauty has always been incredibly unattainable to me, to such an extent that I’ve never even really tried to attain it.”Kim says she sees herself ‘pretty much like a visual artist that makes music’Credit: Getty – ContributorKim on stage with Sonic Youth, before her split with ThurstonCredit: Getty – ContributorKim begins rehearsals for her live show the next day and says she is looking forward to getting out and playing the new record.She adds: “I think we’re coming to the UK at the end of June and then maybe back in November when we do more of a fuller European tour.“I’ve got the same touring band as I’ve had before and I’ve asked an artist friend of mine to make a film to the backdrop. READ MORE SUN STORIES“I can’t wait to see what it looks like.”Kim Gordon’s The Collective is out todayCredit: SuppliedKIM GORDONThe Collective★★★★☆ More