Neil Gaiman
"At the San Diego comic convention in '91, I was given a tape and told I was mentioned in one of the songs. There was just a slip of paper with this name I'd never heard, Tori Amos, and an address. When I finally got around listening to it three weeks later, I was gobsmacked, a colloquial English expression denoting amazement. It was stunning and terrific and wonderful. I immediately sat down and wrote her a fan letter."
Not surprisingly, considering their creative similarities, a genuine friendship has developed. Tori contributed an introduction to Neil's recently-published hardcover edition of Death: The High Cost of Living. Bits of Amos lyrics - Neil quite cheerfully admits, whole clumps of her dialogue - have been known to creep into The Sandman. Some claim that the Sandman character Delirium has evolved a more-than-passing resemblance to the singer.
"As a live performer she's stunning." Neil marvels. "I mean she sits there and she fucks the piano stool!" Neil and Tori Interviews - click here to read more of this article which originally appeared in the February 23 issue of Hot Press Vol. 18, No. 3 on pages 32-34.
Songs referenced:
Carbon