You ask the questions, such as: so, Justine Frischmann, would you change places with Britney Spears?

Elastica frontwoman Justine Frischmann, 30, was born in London and educated at St Paul's School for Girls in London. She spent six years studying architecture at University College London and a year working in a practice (her father is renowned structural engineer Willem Frischmann). At university she became romantically linked with fellow student Brett Anderson and briefly joined his band Suede. She left him to form her own band Elastica, and to go out with Blur's Damon Albarn, a relationship that lasted eight years. In 1995, Elastica released their eponymously titled début album, which was a huge hit here and in the States. After touring constantly for two years, the band returned to Britain. Bass player Annie Holland left, Justine and guitarist Donna Matthews had a public falling out amid rumours of drug abuse, and Justine and Damon split up. In 1999 Blur released 13, an album which dissected the relationship; this led to a public tit-for-tat between the two. In April, Elastica released their sec

Elastica frontwoman Justine Frischmann, 30, was born in London and educated at St Paul's School for Girls in London. She spent six years studying architecture at University College London and a year working in a practice (her father is renowned structural engineer Willem Frischmann). At university she became romantically linked with fellow student Brett Anderson and briefly joined his band Suede. She left him to form her own band Elastica, and to go out with Blur's Damon Albarn, a relationship that lasted eight years. In 1995, Elastica released their eponymously titled début album, which was a huge hit here and in the States. After touring constantly for two years, the band returned to Britain. Bass player Annie Holland left, Justine and guitarist Donna Matthews had a public falling out amid rumours of drug abuse, and Justine and Damon split up. In 1999 Blur released 13, an album which dissected the relationship; this led to a public tit-for-tat between the two. In April, Elastica released their second album, The Menace.

How much is performing on stage a substitute for sexual activity? Nicholas E Gough, Swindon I don't think it is at all. It's a way of communicating and for me that's something I don't know how to get across without being in a band. It's sad you have to see it that way - like a woman has to do it because she's sexually frustrated. It's kind of weird.

Who, in your opinion, were the most important bands of the Nineties? Rachel Townsend, Chorlton The Manchester stuff at the beginning of the Nineties - the Stone Roses and the Happy Mondays, particularly the Mondays. Blur and Suede were important in their time in the mid-Nineties, but it's hard for me to be objective about that.

I guess Oasis as well, much as I wasn't keen on them. The NME realised it had the power to push a new band and make them really big, and found Oasis who were perfect - easy-to-understand, simple melodies, and cliched rock'n'roll posing. Unfortunately they were too dreary for the mantle they were given, so the whole thing collapsed in on itself. And in their wake lots of other dreary bands followed - Ocean Colour Scene, Travis, Stereophonics...

Are you pleased with the reception given to The Menace? Eddie Maxwell, Rochester I was aware before I put the record out that I was in for a hammering. I had a sense of just having to go for it and bite my lip. As I expected, an awful lot of the press for The Menace has been more about the baggage that went with the record rather than the record itself. Most of the bad reviews were personal - all about my private life - and a couple of really bad ones went into the relationship with my ex, who my parents were and stuff like that.

But I feel like this record marks the end of it. From now on my personal life is irrelevant: I haven't got anyone famous in my life now, and when we release our next record it will be something I will refuse to talk about.

Do you ever talk to Donna? And is there any chance you'll ever play with her again? Gabby, by e-mail Donna came on stage with us at our last London gig. We went on stage and I said: "Donna, if you're out there, it would be really Spinal Tap if you came on." Five minutes later she was up there. I asked her if she wanted to sing but she said she was too nervous and ended up playing guitar. I saw her at a gig a couple of weeks later, and she said she'd really enjoyed it. She's in a really good way now, a completely different person from how she was two years ago. She's straightened herself out and is really well. If someone had asked me a year ago if there was any chance of her getting up on stage and playing with us, I'd have said no way. But now anything's possible.

Do you think that Britpop has a lot to answer for? Toby Osborne, Ealing For all the rubbish bands that came in its wake, the initial Britpop thing was really good. It was people getting into proper bands - bands that wrote their own material. But I can't believe how hypocritical people have been about it. Jo Whiley went on about being an old punk and said how glad she was to see all this music back, but now she's sitting there playing Britney Spears on Radio 1. Even the NME has given up breaking anything good and instead is going with stuff like Travis and Stereophonics - really traditional guitar music. It's given up trying to fight against the rest of the media and the rest of the media has gone so pop. It has just cut its losses and decided to make sure it sells papers.

If you could change places with Britney Spears, would you? Louisa Reissman, St Albans No. I feel sorry for her. When she started out some of her routines were quite cool but now the choreography has taken over, it looks really complicated and she doesn't look like she's feeling it at all. The songs are written by people 20 years older and sold to people her own age. It's really weird.

Do you epitomise everything that Notting Hill stands for? Imogen Edwards, London W12 I do feel a bit bad about living in Notting Hill. I've always loved it round here, but I feel really bad because I brought Damon here. Within a year of us moving in, Chris Evans and Robbie Williams had both moved into the same street. I feel like I had a hand in wrecking the place, though I think ultimately it was the film that ruined it and turned it into something that people despise.

Who are your heroes and heroines? Jack Sullivan, Bristol My mum. She's still supercool and very open-minded. I want to be like her when I grow up. Otherwise PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, Debbie Harry and Marlene Dietrich. Dietrich was amazingly cool in her day, she broke rules across the board. Woody Allen is another hero. I think he's had a powerful effect on my relationships. Whenever I start going out with someone, I always want it to be like Annie Hall, with lots of walks, art galleries and talking rubbish; really romantic and really fun.

Do you still speak to Damon after all those things you said about him? Have you seen his child? Becky Martin, Gateshead I haven't met Missey, his daughter, but I have seen Damon. I think he's wise enough to realise the way the media distorts things. I really didn't want to get into that tit-for-tat thing, I was upset with him when he did all the press for 13, but from doing the press for The Menace I realised even if you say one little thing it manages to go a long, long way. I realised he probably wasn't responsible for me being in every bit of press to do with 13 and I'm sure he realised it's vice versa.

What is your favourite building? And do you ever regret giving up architecture? Nicholas Walker, London W8 I think architecture in the modern period has been a disaster. I was studying around the time Prince Charles announced everything should resemble Classical structures. I think things have got better since then, but I don't think the Dome has done it any favours - aside from being a huge waste of money, it's just not that interesting to look at. I think the London Eye is the most interesting of all the Millennial structures.

In light of the tabloid attention you received, how do you feel about Posh and Becks? Mal Langdon, Brighton I feel sorry for Posh. If I was her, I'd be suicidal - but she seems to be handling it well. Good on her.

What's the most rebellious thing you've ever done? Eva Paulson, by e-mail Ignoring everyone's advice and not putting a record out just after we'd just had a really successful one. But I wouldn't have done it any differently.

How long until history repeats itself and your current photographer boyfriend becomes famous? Rob Tyson, Daventry I have a habit of choosing boyfriends who go on to be famous. I went out with Brett at college and Damon before he had a record deal. And I did briefly see Guy Ritchie at college (he was a useless little sod - a layabout - I didn't feel he'd ever be anything). But I don't think my current boyfriend wants to be famous: he's seen what goes with it.

What is The Menace? Gerard Howden, Enfield Lots of different things. People, including myself; being my own worst enemy and not having enough conviction in my own abilities. But I've managed to get different people into my life so that's a good thing - I definitely needed to clean out the cobwebs.

Elastica's new single 'Mad Dog' is out now on Deceptive