ARTS / Overheard

There is nothing like being thought about to die to make people interested in you. - Derek Jarman, film maker, Daily Telegraph

It's an opportunity to fly first-class, sit around the pool and be betrayed. - Ian McEwan, novelist, on screenwriting, NY Times

We were using him more than he was using us. - Ray Phiri, Paul Simon's guitarist, looking back on the Graceland row, South Bank Show

(The) lessening of my alcoholic intake, coinciding with my libido leaving the stage, has left me, at night, with the happy sensation of having been unchained from a lunatic. - George Melly, jazz singer, Independent

F****** f*** with me you f*****,

And I'll f****** f*** you up.

Lyric by Riot Grrls, teenage feminist rock band

If (TS Eliot) had not met Vivien he would simply have been a writer of a few bad poems with strange, Dickensian titles. - Michael Hastings, author of Tom and Viv, Independent

You last as long as your poster on the the wardrobe door. As soon as that gets a bit peeled and curly at the corners, as far as they're concerned you're a bit peeled and curly at the corners. - Simon Le Bon, of Duran Duran, Q