IN THE MAGAZINE

IVOR CUTLER

© Estate of Ivor Cutler, 2008

In a perfect world everyone’s grandfather would be a kindly yet razor-sharp old goof just like Ivor Cutler (and we’d also be able to fly). From the late 1950s onward Ivor wrote heaps of kooky poetry and children’s books and composed little ditties that he would sing in his deadpan Scottish accent, often while playing a harmonium and even oftener while wearing a wee little hat. Our two favorite songs by him are “Bicarbonate of Chicken” and “Pussy on the Mat,” which is the one that starts, “Go and lie down… pussy. Lie on the mat… pussy… lie down and I will turn on the HooooVERRRR.” The Beatles loved him so much McCartney tapped him to be the bus driver in that movie where they fed the entire crew acid and drove around. Now that he’s gone, his radio work with the BBC and John Peel should be insured as a national treasure.

We are pleased as punch to present you with these four drawings and their accompanying texts. They are all from an unpublished bestiary circa 1966-1971, right on the eve of Ivor’s first published books. Enjoy!

ivorcutler.org


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Comments

Anonymous, on Jan 6, 2009 wrote: well shit, man. add something then. here you go - while i wasn’t blown away by mr. cutler’s work, i found it a welcome break from reading my computer screen for ten minutes. i don’t like them enough to buy his books but others may have sentimental reasons to love him. discuss.
Anonymous, on Jan 6, 2009 wrote: It’s a pity that an inventive magazine attracts so many tedious comments. Whatever happened to original thinking?
Anonymous, on Dec 31, 2008 wrote: it’s not so much that you don’t like the beatles as you don’t like not getting attention.
Anonymous, on Dec 31, 2008 wrote: he would have been the best guest organist at yankee stadium. oh well, too late now.
Anonymous, on Dec 31, 2008 wrote: ivor cutler is the best. and strangely, he fits vice perfectly.
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: you don’t like the beatles? i’ve heard of people like you. a very rare breed, but you do exist, eh?
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: like Dr. Seuss without the skills!
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: now really, this is total crap.
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: i do not like the beatles. i do not like john lennon. but when he shovels (like literally, with a shovel) spaghetti in that fat pig’s mouth in magical mystery tour i forget about all the world’s problems and become a transcendental firefly
	lowbrow, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: that would be the magical mystery tour. duh... worth a watch? well, maybe if you’re into the beatles. or very, very stoned.
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: what is this beatles movie of which you speak? and is it worth a damn?
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: mmm. yellowed paper is so nice looking.
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: check out the reissued CD of A Flat Man, which has more new Ivor Cutler artwork: www.hoorgihouse.com
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: his house looks like a fucking pig sty!
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: youtube has lots of good ivor cutler videos, including both the songs mentioned above.
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: "the goldfish is howling for her din-nerrrrr ’where are my fleas, jumpin’ little parasites?’ pussy... lie on the mat before the crowd gets home..."
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: my gramp’s breath smells like BH too but i think it’s from rotten gums
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: The Guardian did a nice, short piece on Cutler. If nothing else, make sure to read the last few paragraphs. He was a funny old man, no doubt. guardian.co.uk/music/2004/jan/16/1
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: i want a feather foofer!
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: interesting photographs of mr. cutler’s home are on his site: www.ivorcutler.org/worldofivorcutler
	poozer, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: no sweat, man. needless to say, my grandmother was a very happy lady. and now that i think of it, pawpaw’s breath was kinda asshole-y smelling.
Anonymous, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: wow poozer. too much information.
	poozer, on Dec 30, 2008 wrote: yeah, he seems like a pretty rad gramps, but i think hearing him sing about pussy might be a little weird. i remember the one time my pawpaw sat me down on his knee and told me all about eating asshole. i could never really look at him the same way after that day.