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 ALL BETHS ARE OFF
A household name in the U.K. for her outspoken attitudes on body image and sexuality (and tabloid feud with Posh Spice), Beth Ditto, of Portland-based rock band The Gossip, isn’t afraid to tell it like she sees it. We knew she’d be perfect for our pop quiz!
INSTINCT: 1. What was the last song you downloaded?
BETH DITTO: Marine Girls, “You’re On My Mind.” I had to download it because we covered it. You know the lead singer of Everything But The Girl? She was in this band in the ’80s. It was like a punk band. It was so good.
2. Choose one of the following:
a. Rosie
b. Oprah
c. Ellen
d. Martha
Roseanne Barr. I know she’s not on the list, but I think she’s such a revolutionary. She’s forgotten about, but she’s so fuckin’ badass. I mean, when she did that shit with the national anthem and people were like, “That’s a joke gone wrong”—actually, that was a really radical statement. People never ever think about it.
3. Keira Knightley once said she admired you for your level of comfort with your body and sexuality. Whom do you admire?
I love Ana Matronic from Scissor Sisters. I have a deep admiration, a sisterly kind of love for her. It’s a whole different bag in England than it is here for both of our bands, and I see people run people through the wringer, and she’s still such an artistic brain. She gives 110% and she’s super-grounded.
4. What do you think is the biggest way the British are different from Americans?
I think we have a different standard. I think where Americans get confused a lot is that they think they’re the bee’s knees, and I also think that they forget, because this fucking country is too goddamn big, that there, for one, are different cultures, different sets of rules in different countries for different sets of things. I really do think that people in the U.S., no matter how cool they are sometimes, forget that there’s a whole world. I don’t mean to sound so typical[ly] anti-American, but I mean—[London is] two hours away from France. And France is what, like five hours from Budapest? It’s crazy. That kind of shit. I think that that gives you a whole different window into the world.
5. Fill in the blank: When I was seven, I wanted to be a _________ when I grew up.
I wanted to be in Cinderella. The band.
6. Who do you think will come back first, Britney or Lindsay?
Did they go anywhere? That’s my answer. Where’d they go?
7. Free response: The moment I first realized I was famous was when…
For one, I never feel famous, really, that often. The moment I realized that things were a little out of hand, in a way bigger than I thought they were, was when the paparazzi chased me around at a show for the first time [at the Barfly in London]. Before, I had seen them around, but I thought they were just nice people with cameras. [Laughs]
8. Tyra Banks or Heidi Klum?
Tyra!
9. A movie I can never get tired of watching is __________.
There are three of them. Female Trouble, by John Waters, of course. Pretty In Pink. Genius. And Fried Green Tomatoes.
10. On a scale of one to 10, how much do you think America cares about the Beckhams?
Um…two? I don’t think America cares. I think it’s going to be hard for the Beckhams. I think it might be easier for David than it is for Ol’ Bobble-Head.
11. Fill in the blank: If I had a free day, I would spend it ___________.
I would spend it with [my partner], Freddie. And make soup. Chunky butternut squash.
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