Versus America

By Mark Binmore

When I undertook my first ever meet and greet tour throughout America during 2016, I asked Chris Henson to accompany me with the idea of eventually producing some sort of picture book with text in a similar vein to his previous book Tour De Europa. In America and back in Europe, he followed me with a notebook jotting down everything of  interest he witnessed. In the end I agreed he could write a more detailed account than I first imagined. The book you are holding is the result. Reading the manuscript for the first time, I was, yet again, horrified. Am I really that critical? Do I really have many demands? Do I seem to be always eating? Do I always complain? Am I self-obsessed  and so frequently rude?  Do I discuss money and snipe about other people quite so much? Apparently yes. Perhaps we will learn as much as anyone  else who reads this book about me.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Binmore
• Release date: Aug 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223289296

Book preview

Chris Henson with Mark Binmore

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

Johnny I’m Sorry

Private Places

Published by Fontana

First published in Great Britain by Kindlight 2016

Copyright ©Chris Henson 2016

This Edition ©Chris Henson 2021

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The right of Anonymous to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and publisher of this book

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

Mark Binmore proves that being an author can be modern, ecstatic, flippant and funny but also serious and intelligent.

Although frequently seen as reserved and secretive, Versus America written with his co-operation, shadows Mark in unusually intimate detail as he works, relaxes, gossips, argues and every now and then, trying to make sense of what he does. 

Perceptive and amusing Versus America describes the inspirations, the rows, the confrontations with obsessive book readers and the earning and expenditure of vast sums of money. 

In this book, I present more than a documentary of a book tour.  I trace Mark Binmore’s wider history and shows his determination to be expressive and entertaining. 

It is an extraordinary story of what it means to be an author today. 

Chris Henson.

When I undertook my first ever meet and greet tour throughout America during 2016, I asked Chris Henson to accompany me with the idea of eventually producing some sort of picture book with text in a similar vein to his previous book Tour De Europa. 

In America and back in Europe, he followed me with a notebook jotting down everything of interest he witnessed.  In the end I agreed he could write a more detailed account than I first imagined. The book you are holding is the result. 

Reading the manuscript for the first time, I was, yet again, horrified.  Am I really that critical? Do I really have many demands? Do I seem to be always eating? Do I always complain? Am I self-obsessed and so frequently rude?  Do I discuss money and snipe about other people quite so much?

Apparently yes. 

Perhaps we will learn as much as anyone else who reads this book about me. 

Mark Binmore.

Prologue.

When I heard that Mark was planning a full scale promotional assault in America, I was pleased and yet surprised to receive an invitation for me to join him on the road. I had travelled with Mark and his entourage when he was promoting his book a few years ago resulting in Tour De Europa which, surprisingly was a big hit, sold well and was nominated (and won) a few awards so the chance to be alongside Mark once again was something to look forward to.

Since that book publication, Mark signed a new contract with his publishers, a new overseas contract and personal PR representation with ReActiv8 in Los Angeles and PukkaBosh in London. Tony Guilder, is Head Editor at Marks American publishers. He is also in charge of Marks American tour. 

'Very funny but a bit snotty,' was how Mark first struck Tony. 'He was a bit very British, a fan of the old school and could have lived in a different era. But there were times when he spoke that you knew or got to know that he was joking so most of his appearance is a facade. He is also one of the best storytellers I know.'

At first, when Mark had met Tony, they didn't exactly get on.

'It was quite funny,' says Mark. 'He was an incredible puritan. He used to sneer at people who drank. And he always had this thing about playing the underdog to the hilt, but he is a very nice person now.'

Despite his initial reservations about his writings, it was Tony who started the ball rolling by taking various scripts to the main directors to ensure a state-side contract. According to Tony, there was one person listened to a story he read out and announced, 'I think there's novelty book in there.'

It was then Tony decided to come to London to photograph Mark in a variety of disguises to showcase what Mark was all about.

The first photographic sessions saw Mark in a tight white tee-shirt with a band of light across his eyes, wearing a brand of sportswear standing next to some shelves of books, and bizarrely with Mark holding a tennis racket. They both decided to do another set of photos. From these came what Mark calls the famous 'ugly photographs' (these have been shown recently in various American magazines) and the alleyway shots that appeared on the limited collector’s edition of Simply Divine. The photographs were close up; an unshaven Mark slumped against a brick wall, close cropped head, smoking, dirty clothing, almost homoerotic. The result though was full page advertisements showing a dishevelled Mark with the wording of his management at the bottom. People started to question who Mark was. The result of the sessions proved a hit.

Once again we set out with a plan, which as is normal in the world of Mark Binmore, never happened. Instead of a second observational account, Mark was keen to see this publication as some kind of scrapbook, a travelogue, a journey, favourite restaurants, titbits, that kind of thing. So I obliged, but in the end realized that many people aren’t really captured about what restaurant he is eating in but more of what he is doing and saying while there. 

The book tour itself was incredibly successful, more than what people thought it would be so instead of looking at the downside of book promotion which I did with Tour De Europa, this book, Versus America, shows a more upside. 

Mark was finally, coming to America.

London.

In an article titled, 'Thinking the possibility of realization for Mark to promote in America,' featured in an in house publishing magazine, the writer chews over his predicament. Would a mini book tour of America ever happen? Could it happen? There follows a whole list of reasons why it should happen. 

Mark has mentioned the possibility of going to America for some years.  When we first met, it was high on his agenda, then dismissed as something that will probably never happen. To many of his followers across the water, it has proved disappointing that it hasn’t happened.  There was an agreement that providing book sales were high enough and the right kind of promotion was available, Mark would come over and promote.

Further developments arose when Mark signed lucrative contracts with two PR firms, PukkaBosh in London and ReActiv8 in Los Angeles. Mark has never disclosed the financial or finer arrangements of these contracts. 

I teamed up with Mark in London, where for the release of a new two book collections designed for the American market, I was asked to observe and simply write what I saw.

At this time, Mark had decided to present himself rather differently from the way he has done in the past.

Sitting on a Beidermicier cabinet is a model made by Rene Morphett of an enchanted forest. It shows a Hansel and Gretel style house with a backdrop of stars and for no reason whatsoever, a large egg. There is also a small orange figure wearing a pointy hat sitting at the top of a ladder. This is supposed to represent Mark. 

On the other side of the room, the real, full-size Mark is still debating the details of if and when- he will actually wear such clothes. With him are Jeff Thorne the photographer and Paul Nash a clothes maker and a stylist. A specimen orange suit, made out of the same sort of spongy material from which ski trousers are often fashioned lies on the sofa. A cardboard pointy hat sits on the floor. Unfortunately the only person with a sufficiently large head to fill it is Mark’s friend Agi, and so he is intermittently called upon to model it. The resulting spectacle seems to cause some amusement. The meeting's principal bone of contention seems to be shoes. Paul Nash has suggested that they resemble loaves of bread. Mark is worried that this may he just one strange accessory too many.

'Maybe they could have lights on them,' suggests Agi.

'It's the way it feels,' says Mark, explaining the problem. 'It feels as though you've got fluffy slippers on.'

'Maybe we could use fluffy slippers?' suggests Agi logically.

'Shall we come up with some options for shoes?' suggests Paul diplomatically.

'Yes,' nods Mark. He thinks for a moment. 'I know what would look really good, platforms.'

As they talk, promotional copies of Simply Divine and A Sorta Fairytale are being delivered. Once they are unpacked there is some consternation. A different cover has been used; Mark has not approved this design. A quick discussion ensues, and Mark descends the arching stairway to the other side of the office, and arranges for the new cover to be substituted.

'And what is this fucking egg all about?' he shouts. 

Meanwhile, talk has turned to how happy or otherwise Mark will actually be to wear these clothes. They are to be featured not just in photographs but in a publishing house promotional video and on forthcoming meet n greet appearances. They all discuss the art of making a promo video.

'The worst moment is walking from the dressing room to the stage,' says Agi who then divulges he used to be an actor.

'No.' Mark disagrees. 'The worst moment is when you're standing on the stage, waiting to start.'

There is an idea that, for the promotional video, he might walk around Paris, perhaps across several bridges, wearing the clothes. 

'I won't do that,' insists Mark. 'No fucking way I am going to do that.' 

There is silence. 

'They could get a stand-in,' suggests Mark after a while.

Later we are at Green Screen Studios. 

In the dressing room assistant Cheri is applying make-up and Mark is discussing certain rugby players. He also exchanges gossip about other rugby men, grooming kits and nude celebrity calendars. He then tries on his pointy hat. 

'Guess who wears a hat like this?' he says. 'That guy at the end of the Nirvana video.'

'Did he?' mutters Cheri in a complete uninterested way.

'Yes,' says Mark, 'but it's not striped.'

He wriggles into his orange body suit. 

'It’s very ballroom dancing,' says Mark. 'Actually it is very ice-skating, I feel like John Curry.'

'Do you?' continues Cheri.

Mark purses his lips and does what he calls his Maggie Smith face. It takes some time for the clothes to be adjusted. Mark's trouser legs are too long, and there is much fishing around his ankles with pins. Then his hat doesn't quite balance right. In the end it is held in place by double-sided sticky tape. He has simple black shoes, spray-painted orange to match the clothes. There are gloves, orange on his left hand, and white on his right. 

Mark surveys his reflection. 

'I've got a tummy,' he sighs. 'Isn't that terrible?'

He chats more with Cheri. 

'The point of this,' Mark explains, 'is to give me some sort of image for this book release. I want to intrigue people with the book and the video.'

He discusses how there are plans to do some interviews in America in the short term, and Mark asks out loud why he still pays for an American press agent.

'You've got to have someone to say no,' Agi points out. 

They wander out into the studio.

'It's the orange-and-white minstrel show,' quips Mark.

Mark is photographed first up a ladder. The photographs are to be shot by Jeff against a white background. A huge white curved surface which no-one else treads on without removing their shoes, so that dark scuff marks won't show up on film. These photos will then he combined by computer with other still-life photographs he has already shot to create the original design. Mark sits on the ladder and both Jeff and Rene shout out instructions, try both hands holding onto your chest, hands out like you’re surprised, stick out your fingers, like you're a witch. 

'Oh,' sighs Mark, as he responds to the latter instruction, 'this is very Bananarama.'

Next Mark points each index finger in different direction.

'He looks like an Italian traffic director,' says Agi.

'I feel a right twat,' Mark moans.

Meanwhile lunch, two large trays of sandwiches, arrives.

'Can we stop?' asks Mark.

Not yet.

Mark explains that, under the strictures of his rather complicated diet, he does not want to eat any bread. The photographer's assistant telephones for a salad instead. Agi then reminds him he ate a burger and chips last night. It's about another half an hour before they all stop. Mark remains in his orange body suit, but takes off his hat.

'It’s all about doing something different, and for the American market, it has to be different. How many authors on the block wear an orange suit, sit on an egg and present, for no apparent reason, an enchanted forest?'

'It symbolizes your short stories,' empathizes Agi.

'Oh, stop being so ruddy diplomatic and say what you feel,' replies Mark.

'Okay, you look right a fucking twat,' Agi replies.

After lunch.

'This is the sort of thing I wake up in the middle of the night, worrying about,' says Mark. 

Jeff shouts at Mark to look more innocent. Mark does so, to his satisfaction.

'That's my new wide-eyed and innocent expression,' Mark says between rolls of film. He has now been here for nearly six hours.

'It's 5.25,' Mark announces at 5.25. 'The time is ticking away. I'm out of here at six, regardless of whether we've got any more shots.'

'You only work until six o'clock,' agrees Agi.

'Six o'clock watershed, union rules,' says Mark. 

Everyone laughs.

'The novelty value has worn off,' smirks Mark. 'I no longer find the outfit amusing.'

At six, he finishes, and begins to undress. 

'I've been dying for a pee for about three hours,' says Mark. 

'Do you want to go now?' asks Cheri, who is removing his make-up.

'No,' he says. 'I have a massively strong bladder. I'm like the Queen.'

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There was still talk of going to America a few weeks after the egg photography session when I met Mark and his friend Martin to receive my very own copy of Marks single Vortex. 

As described in Tour De Europa, they both composed this song in a London studio over several days, by their own admission drunk following an evening drinking and eating (or, in another rendering of the story, 'an Italian disco night in London') and then worked on it sporadically through the following months. Martin worked on it some more and even gave it a one-shot debut it in a dance club in London without Mark’s advance permission, an act he considered both cheeky and thrilling. It became the opening number on his Meet Mark party held in Paris earlier in the year as a fanfare to his previous book tour.  Essentially a techno-dance instrumental with minimal lyrics and vocals, the latter provided by Mark, it indeed provides a powerful introduction to what hopefully will become a bigger project. 

It was later discovered after recording the track that Martin used to DJ at a club night in London called Vortex back in the early 1990s. In keeping with its role as teaser or special release, it was made available as a limited edition single via Martins label Spilt Milk Records. There was never the intention to release it commercially although Mark has since agreed for several white label copies to be sent to DJs across Europe to incorporate into their set. 

Eager vintage listeners will undoubtedly notice the opening bears a striking resemblance to Patrick Cowley’s Menergy.

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The first I hear of a confirmed American tour is late summer when I receive an email from Rob Letcher at ReActiv8.

Mark has agreed and contracts have now been signed, he will be coming to