Hello! This is Click Opera.: imomus

Hello! This is Click Opera.

1. What's this? This is the last entry in the blog called Click Opera, which means that, in the funny through-the-looking-glass world of blogs, it's the first page future internauts and web adventurers will come to. So think of this not so much as an ending as an entrance. What you've reached is the door to "probably the best-written blog on the Anglophone web", according to Warren Ellis. "It doesn't get any better than Click Opera," said novelist Dennis Cooper.

2. Who's behind Click Opera? The best introduction to who I am is this article in The Guardian Review. I'm a Scot, a musician, a writer, and -- according to this page, gulp! -- the 4697th most significant contemporary visual artist working today. My Wikipedia page is here. You can download six of my early albums free here. Books I've written are here and here. I want to write more books, so if you're a publisher email me! That goes for people wanting to reproduce bits of this blog in print, too.

3. Where can we find out what you're up to, post-blog? From my "personal digital assistant" Maria Wolonski, who announces my engagements in the charming, ringing tones of a talking clock. From the Momus concerts page on LastFM. From my Flickr page and my two YouTube accounts, momasu and bookofjokes. I may even revive my old website (1995-2003), imomus.com.

4. What do you plan to do now? I want to write books and articles. Maybe teach at an art school. Deliver lectures in many lands. Make some more records. Play concerts. Walk around the world. Learn to speak Japanese and live in Japan. Write my own regular newspaper column of cultural commentary (I've written for people like Wired, The New York Times, Frieze, Spike, The Wire, 032c). Hold some more art shows. If you can help me realise these dreams, email me, please!

5. If I want to stage a Momus concert, what do I need to do? Tell your friendly local promoter (or it could be an art gallerist, store owner, festival director) that all I require is travel expenses (from Berlin), accommodation, plus a fee of around €1000 for a regular Momus show (festivals tend to pay more). If that works for the promoters, get them to drop me a line and we'll take it from there. I also do art performances -- live storytelling and unreliable tours.

6. Will you keep the Click Opera archive up indefinitely? Yes, I will. If you feel like helping with the modest LiveJournal and PhotoBucket hosting costs -- or compensating me directly for some illegal mp3s of my songs you've downloaded -- you can make a donation via PayPal here.

7. What's the best way to search the Click Opera archive? Simply type the word imomus plus your search term into a search engine, then follow the links headed "Click Opera".

8. Will you keep reading and responding to comments left under this entry? Yes, I will. Leave your email address if you want a personal response.

9. Why did you stop updating Click Opera? Not because anything went wrong or it got unpleasant. Quite the reverse, in fact. Click Opera was just too damned good: too compelling, too time-consuming, too satisfying. It took over my life. It became my job, the main topic of my conversation, the hub of my self-mediated fame: "Aren't you that guy from the internet?" (Read the piece called Clickswansong if you want to know more about why this blog came to a "happy ending". Or listen to this radio interview with KCSB's Colin Marshall.)

10. Can I step through the door now? Please do! There's a lot to read! You can browse backwards from here, or start at the beginning (Thursday January 15th 2004) and work forwards. The calendar is your friend, or you may prefer to read through the titles displayed in the month view.

Thanks to everyone who's contributed to Click Opera, this big vineyard! You've given me years of pleasure! Happiness, as T.E. Lawrence said, "is a by-product of absorption", and blogging -- the best hobby I ever had -- has been absorbing indeed.

Hippo birdie two ewes

faunflynn

February 10 2010, 11:59:49 UTC 10 years ago

New comment

Unlike what the gangster in 'Performance' says you don't 'Look funny when you're fifty.'
You still look pretty damn cool. If you were gay I could put it down to the Peter Pan effect but as you are just an anarchic libertine I can't.
Happy birthday Nick and have a rich and happy life full of high quality being rather than the cheap capitalist having that passes for being in our aspirational salmagundy.

You have been a real inspiration. Your music as much as your writting. I shall miss your missives as much as I would miss a friend. Keep on kicking Mr Momus!

Hail and farewell ! The brides of Enderby are calling. Respect.

From Covent Garden to Tasmania... thank you

Anonymous

February 10 2010, 12:29:09 UTC 10 years ago

From meeting you at a Pierre et Gilles book launch in Covent Garden circa 1993 to visiting your blog daily since its inception, first from Melbourne and for the last three years in Tasmania, it's been a long and fruitful relationship. Living, as I now do, in a city the size of a suburb at the end of the world, your words and images have helped me feel connected and alive. Bed-time will never be the same again. Thank you.

thomascott

February 10 2010, 12:30:24 UTC 10 years ago

Happy Birthday Momus.

Well, I am admittedly sad to see the end of Click Opera; in the years of following the blog, I have become fond of it, of you and of several individuals in the virtual community that sprung up around it.
My thanks and appreciation for the articles, the exchanges and the generosity of spirit, creativity and intellectual energy that you brought to this remarkable project.
I will look forward to reading more articles by you elsewhere and wish you the very best with your future endeavours.

Best Wishes - Thomas.

February 10 2010, 12:33:38 UTC 10 years ago

Having a few days to think about it I'm not sad at all; I'm so proud of all your work and I feel privileged to be alive in an era when you were around and creating, you are so important and I can't wait to see what you do next.

All my love Momus xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

February 10 2010, 12:38:48 UTC 10 years ago

Thank you so much for all the interesting reading you've given over the years. I've never commented before, but I've been reading entries and comments since '06, and I don't regret a single minute I've spent checking the latest entry when I should have been doing coursework.

Good luck with everything you do from here on, and come play a gig in Stockholm some day!

/axel

ollie

February 10 2010, 12:50:54 UTC 10 years ago

No, no, no. I'm terribly upset to read this news. Your blog has been such a joy to read. How could you!

February 10 2010, 12:53:14 UTC 10 years ago

I deleted my LJ account and went anonymous the day you announced your blog would end.

Hmmm.

Now it is ending, or has ended....

You are an artist. I wish you many more metamorphoses, and many lifetimes before you die.

(I wish that for me, too.)

February 10 2010, 12:54:54 UTC 10 years ago

Fuck off then ya wanker (an affectionate punch).

Future Nostalgia

jdcasten

February 10 2010, 13:21:06 UTC 10 years ago

Congratulations on your conclusion of Click Opera, and good luck (and such skill!) in your future endeavors; and also… Happy Birthday!

I’ve only known the world of Momus for about a year… a bit of a n00b compared to some decade+ long listeners, contributors, friends etc; but in that year, I’ve learned much about culture, art, music, and more… what is possible.

I think you’re brilliant… expect more genius in the future; and would like to thank you for not cutting me any slack for my “mental disability” when responding… and for introducing me to so many interesting commenting folks as well (I’ll miss many of you too).

Re: Future Nostalgia

February 10 2010, 21:16:06 UTC 10 years ago

same here; you're contributions were always a cut above; all the best with your further work...

February 10 2010, 13:25:00 UTC 10 years ago

Bye, and thanks Nick. I've been reading your stuff for nearly 10 years, and you've introduced me to many new ideas.

It's a shame that you're finishing Click Opera, but I intend to follow you in print, and perhaps in person if you come to the UK occasionally.

All the best.

February 10 2010, 13:32:31 UTC 10 years ago

I can't wait to see your upcoming works and projects; I approached so many new and old ideas, seen cities and countries under a new perspective, thanks to this blog and your thoughts.

take care
Carlito

http://bizcarlito.tumblr.com/

February 10 2010, 13:42:17 UTC 10 years ago

impressive body of work.
a masterpiece.
happy birthday.

-- the minimalist

February 10 2010, 13:50:49 UTC 10 years ago

It was fun sparring with you, my friend.

marxy

imomus

February 10 2010, 13:54:21 UTC 10 years ago

But couldn't exactly the same thing be said of the West?

;-)

...

February 10 2010, 13:57:38 UTC 10 years ago

well thank god, i'll finally have time to go through all the older posts. reading a new one everyday was much too absorbing for me too!
haha.
good luck!
(がんばって and so on ... )

Bye

February 10 2010, 14:22:57 UTC 10 years ago

Happy birthday and farewell. Today is my birthday too, I'm exactly 10 years younger than you. I will miss Click Opera. I'm sure there is nothing that could replace it. So, thank you for all these years.

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Hello! This is Click Opera.

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Hippo birdie two ewes

From Covent Garden to Tasmania... thank you

Future Nostalgia

Re: Future Nostalgia

...

Bye