daniel craig the way of the yakuza te bes of auumn`s fshion jeremy

THE QUARTERLY STYLE REPORT BY
DANIEL CRAIG
THE WAY OF THE YAKUZA
TE BES OF AUUMN’S FSHION
JEREMY CLARKSON
DIGITAL ADDICTION
AUTUMN 2006 / EURO 3.5
Do you think hard work is fun?
- your career might start here!
CONTENTS
03.2006
06 ON THE WALL
WHAT EVERY MAN NEEDS IN HIS WARDROBE
10 BOND BOMBSHELL
INTRODUCING THE NEW AGENT 007, DANIEL CRAIG
14 ALL THE GEAR YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT
DESIGNER CHOICES, COATS OF ARMS, DEVON AOKI, PING PONG, MUSIC, GAMES AND MUCH MORE...
22 HOMEWORK
ALL YOU NEED TO TOP THE CHARTS
24 PARK LIFE
GET UP CLOSE AND (EXTREMELY) PERSONAL
28 THE WAY OF THE YAKUZA
MEET THE BADDEST MOFOS IN THE EAST
32 NINE LIVES
STRAY CATS STRUT
42 BACK IN BLACK
TIMELESS SOPHISTICATION
52 ENTER SANDMAN
EXPERIENCE THE DESERT BLUES
60 JEREMY CLARKSON
JUST A NORMAL GUY – WITH THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD
Selected is looking for colleagues to take part in our future challenges
Selected is Bestseller’s men’s wear brand; a clean-cut design aiming to secure the style for fashionable
individuals who are not afraid to lead the way when new trends emerge on the fashion scene.
Our team consists of passionate people who walk that extra mile to make it happen.
We are specifically looking for:
· Area Sales Manager
· Buyer
· Designer
Find your new job at www.selected.com or send an unsolicited application to contact@bestseller.com.
64 DIGITAL ADDICTION
CONFESSIONS OF A NET ADDICT...
66 STORE LOCATOR
FIND YOUR NEAREST JACK & JONES STORE, ALL OVER THE WORLD
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CAPU SWEAT
DKK 399,95. NOK 449,95. SEK 499,95.
EUR 59,95. GBP 39,99. CHF 79,90.
USD 63,95. CAD 100
THE PRODUCTS SHOWN IN THIS MAGAZINE WILL BE IN STORES DURING JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER.
SOME OF THE PRODUCTS WILL NOT BE IN ALL JACK & JONES STORES.
MUST-HAVES
MUST-HAVES
1
3
1
2
2
4
6
4
3
5
5
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6
ROCK’N’ROLL WILL NEVER DIE (AND THAT’S A PROMISE)
EASY RIDER
01 MORRIS WAISTCOAT DKK 299,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 399,95. EUR 39,95. GBP 29,99. CHF 59,90. USD 39,95. CAD 54 02 SIMS TEE DKK 99,95. NOK 99,95. SEK 149,95. EUR 12,95. GBP. 11,95.
CHF 24,90. USD 14,95. CAD 25 03 NICK SHIRT DKK 299,95. NOK 399,95. SEK 399,95.. EUR 39,95. GBP 29,99. CHF 69,90. USD 44,95. CAD 70 04 ANTIQUE BLAZER DKK 599,95. NOK 699,95. SEK
799,95. EUR 79,95. GBP 59,99. CHF 109,90. USD 79,95. CAD 120 05 LOUIS JEANS DKK 399,95. NOK 499,95. SEK 499,95. EUR 49,95. GBP 34,99. CHF 69,90 USD 49,95. CAD 70 06 REPOS TUCKED
BLAZER DKK 1199,95. NOK 1299,95. SEK 1299,95. EUR 139,95. GBP 99,95. CHF 219,90. USD 169,95. CAD 120 07 PETER SHIRT DKK 299,95. NOK 399,95. SEK 399,95. EUR 39,95. GBP 29,99. CHF
59,90. USD 39,95. CAD 60
01 JOHNSON SCARF DKK 129,95. NOK 149,95. SEK 159,95. EUR 19,95. GBP 14,99. CHF 24,90. USD 21,95. CAD 35 02 STATE LEATHER JACKET DKK 1349,95. NOK 1399,95. SEK 1599,95. EUR 174,95.
GBP 129,99. CHF 269,90. USD 209,95. CAD 310 03 SEVEN TEE DKK 149,95. NOK 149,95. SEK 179,95. EUR 19,95. GBP 13,99. CHF 29,90. USD 23,95. CAD 35 04 MOTO TEE DKK 59,95. NOK 69,95.
SEK 69,95. EUR 7,95. GBP 5,99. CHF 14,90. USD 9,95. CAD 18 05 ALADIN BELT DKK 299,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 39,95. GBP 29,99. CHF 59,90. USD 44,95. CAD 75 06 MURAT BLACK
JEANS DKK 599,95. NOK 599,95. SEK 699,95. EUR 79,95. GBP 59,99. CHF 129,90. USD 99,95. CAD 150
HERE YOU HAVE IT: YOUTH, FASHION AND ROCK – INSEPARABLE SINCE THE SIXTIES
06
REPORTAGE
IF YOU DREAM OF CHUCKING THE SUIT, GIVING YOUR BOSS THE FINGER AND TAKING A RIDE
OUT INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE, BEST GET YOURSELF SOME JEANS TOUGH ENOUGH FOR THE LONG OPEN ROAD...
REPORTAGE
07
10
REPORTAGE
ALL OVER
BOND
BOMBSHELL
HE’S PROVING TO BE A CONTROVERSIAL CHOICE FOR THE SIXTH JAMES BOND.
BUT AS A SERIOUS ACTOR WHO HAS MASTERED BOTH ART-HOUSE AND THE
ACTION MOVIE, DANIEL CRAIG IS DESTINED TO BRING A SHARPER EDGE TO 007
– A GRITTIER, LESS FLIPPANT BOND FOR A DARKER WORLD.
DANIEL CRAIG
REPORTAGE
11
DANIEL CRAIG
BOND
BOMBSHELL
“WE’RE GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINS OF THE CHARACTER,”
SAYS PRODUCER BARBARA BROCCOLI DESCRIBING THE FILM AS
CONTINUED
“ROUGHER AND MORE COMPLEX...MORE REALISTIC,
AND NOT AS FANTASTICAL AS THE LAST COUPLE HAVE BEEN.”
It’s certainly true that Craig represents a
deviation from the traditional Bond. First
of all – shock! horror! – he’s not darkhaired (‘James Blond!’ was the headline
in more than one British tabloid). Second, whereas his predecessors were all
over six feet tall, Craig is a mere 5’11”
(and this single inch appears to be a big
deal for his detractors). Third, his looks
are neither particularly slick nor suave –
formerly a Bond prequisite. Indeed, the
very first Bond back in 1962, Sean Connery – considered by most critics to be
the best so far – was dismissed as being
‘too unrefined’ for the role by the character’s creator Ian Fleming. So who knows
what the author, who died two years later,
would have had to say about the appropriateness of Craig, whose looks have
been diplomatically described as ‘craggy’
and ‘full of character’.
So, with Craig neither tall, dark nor (according to some) handsome, debate has
been raging on all sides: in the press, and
particularly among Bond obsessives on
the internet. There are even entire websites devoted to arguing various angles
on The Craig Question, among them
craigisbond.com
(vehemently
pro),
craignotbond.com (vehemently anti) and
givecraigachance.com (‘he’s OK’).
In the midst of all the fury, a long line of
Bond-related stars have rushed to his defence. Casino Royale director Martin
Campbell reckons he’s ‘the best actor
who has ever played James Bond.’ Previous Bonds have also leant their wholehearted support. Even before Craig landed the role, Sean Connery commented
that he would be a ‘terrific choice... a
12
REPORTAGE
completely new departure. Daniel would
be really interesting, different in the
role’. And Dame Judi Dench, no less, who
currently plays M in the Bond movies,
has laid into his critics: ‘I hate how people have been attacking him; it’s despicable and it disgusts me. He is a fine actor
who brings something new and edgy to
the role.’
So what has Craig himself made of such
lively reaction to his latest role? ‘Of
course I’m aware of all this controversy,’
he says. ‘When I accepted the job, I understood there would be consequences. I
know there are a lot of fans out there for
whom James Bond is incredibly important,’ he nods, declaring himself a fan
too. ‘I want to make it clear he is incredibly important to me as well, so I’m giving
this my best shot. Judge the movie, because that’s the deal!’
Perhaps it’s been some consolation that
shooting for this Bond movie has been
taking place in Prague and Jamaica,
where the actor is at some distance from
the eye of the storm. However, those farflung locations aren’t beyond the radar
of mischievous journalists who have smelt
blood. And unfortunately, filming hasn’t
been without its problems. In one of the
very first scenes he shot, it was reported
that Craig had his front teeth knocked
out during a fight. Then he couldn’t drive
Bond’s famous Aston Martin. Then he
got severe sunburn.
All stories Craig laughs off as ‘stupid’,
with celebrity-obsessed tabloids either
exaggerating events (such as one of his
caps coming loose on set) or else making
them up completely. But yes, the physical
nature of filming has been challenging,
he says. ‘Every day you pick up an injury
and you’re battered and bruised,’ he confesses. ‘If you’re not physically fit then it’s
difficult to get through.’ This is why he
headed for the gym as soon as he signed
up for the role, where he maintained a
constant presence until filming began.
Even during shooting he has made time
to work out every day. And it shows: he is
certainly by far the most muscle-bound
Bond ever.
Craig’s Bond debut marks a major change
of direction for the franchise. Casino
Royale was Fleming’s first Bond book,
and – rather like Batman Begins did with
the character of DC Comics’ caped crusader – this film represents a wholesale
reboot, taking Bond back to his roots and
starting again, showing the spy at the
start of his career.
THE
DEFINITIVE
BOND
GIRLS
‘We’re going back to the origins of the
character,’ says producer Barbara Broccoli, describing the film as ‘rougher and
more complex... more realistic, and not
as fantastical as the last couple have
been.’ Why the sudden gear-shift? ‘You
change with the times,’ she explains.
And, far from feeling ‘frivolous’, ‘at the
moment, I think everybody is feeling very
serious about the world.’ Craig – whom
she rates as ‘a phenomenal actor, the actor that defines his generation’ – was chosen specifically for this meatier new
mood.
EVA GREEN in Casino Royale is the
latest in a long line of long-legged Bond
co-stars. Here are the most memorable
notches from 007’s bedpost.
He’s certainly well qualified for this new
take on the world’s most famous spy.
Craig’s CV boasts a healthy balance of
worthy, challenging roles in critically acclaimed art-house films and leads in multiplex-pleasing action movies. From the
mentally tortured lover of artist Francis
Bacon in Love Is The Devil and the poet
Ted Hughes in Sylvia, to Angelina Jolie’s
rival in Tomb Raider and the nameless
lead in the easy-on-the-eye, easy-on-thebrain crime movie Layer Cake, he’s proven his talent as both a serious heavyweight actor and a big-screen action man.
And perhaps the time really is right for a
grittier, more realistic Bond: Craig recently starred as a Mossad agent in Munich, Steven Spielberg’s thriller about
the assassination of Israeli athletes at the
1972 Olympics – a political and provocative movie from a director who made his
name on family-friendly blockbusters.
URSULA ANDRESS as Honey Ryder
in Dr No (1962) Movie icon history is
made as a singing Andress makes her
entrance, rising from the waves in a
bikini considered controversially
minsicule in its day.
When asked what he looks for in a role,
Craig replies: ‘Every piece of art or whatever you do should have some sort of political import – political in the wider
meaning. Something that has something
to say, and hopefully provokes a little debate when you walk out of the cinema.’
So a more down-to-earth 007 in a more
realistic world certainly tally with the actor’s own tastes.
TERI HATCHER as Paris Carver
in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Known then as Superman’s other half
and later to find superstardom in Desperate Housewives, Hatcher uses her
relatively small amount of screentime
to memorable effect, quickly losing her
little black dress for one of the steamiest
bedroom scenes in Bond movie history.
Craig attests that the new Bond is more
fallible and his world less far-fetched. In
Casino Royale, ‘we’re discovering him;
he’s still got rough edges. I just wanted to
see him make a few mistakes. I want to
make the audience believe that it’s all going to go wrong – so when it goes right,
it’s much more exciting.’
DIANA RIGG as Tracy di Vicenzo in On
Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) Played
by another ex-Avenger, Tracy is the only
woman whom Bond ever marries for love
– only to be murdered in the passenger
seat of his Aston Martin by a shower of
bullets from the villainous Blofeld.
BRITT EKLAND as Mary Goodnight
in The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)
One of the most underwritten Bond-girl
roles – but frankly, what do we care?
Ekland’s overwhelming screen presence
positively bursts forth from another
skimpy Bond bikini.
ALL OVER
When it was announced in October last
year that Daniel Craig was to become the
sixth actor to play supersmooth British
spy James Bond, it provoked an unexpected storm of controversy. It’s not as if the
announcement itself hadn’t been expected – rumours of the 38-year-old British
actor’s imminent appointment had been
buzzing about the celebrity columns for
most of the year, and the truth was finally
let slip by the actor’s mother several days
before it was officially confirmed. The
fact that it came as no surprise did nothing to quell the furore, however, with
some die-hard Bond fans so appalled by
the decision that they called on the public to boycott the actor’s first film in the
role, the upcoming Casino Royale.
HALLE BERRY as Giacinta ‘Jinx’ Johnson
in Die Another Day (2002) The only Oscarwinning actress in Bond-girl history
(not counting Kim Basinger in 1983’s
‘unofficial’ Bond movie Never Say Never
Again), Berry brings things full circle
with a sensual homage to that definitive
‘Andress in the waves’ moment from 40
years before.
REPORTAGE
13
NOTES
ALL THE
GEAR
YOU CN’T
LIVE
WITHOUT
NOTES
SEVEN NATION ARMY
TO
DIE
A TOUGHER LOOK FOR THE JACK & JONES MAN
FOR
04
02
autumn 2006
Rock’n’roll will never die.
And that’s a promise.
Check out this wristband.
SOLDIER BRACELET DKK 34,95. NOK
35,95. SEK 39,95. EUR 4,95. GBP 3,20.
CHF 6,90. USD 5,40. CAD 8
03
PLASTIC FANTASTIC
To add to the seemingly endless array of useless designer toys
for affluent adults, British designer KEANAN DUFFTY has
collaborated with KIDROBOT for the design of the latest
plastic playmate. It’s a colourful design
which includes the coat of arms for
Duffy’s own clothing line, Slinky Vagabond.
And to go with it, a line of puppet-sized
designer clothing for those of you who are
into the whole dressing-up thing.
05
ALL OVER
01
PIMPIN’ AIN ESY
A FRIENDLY GAME OF PING-PONG
Between the huge successes of the
sociopathic and marvellously entertaining
GTA series made by Rockstar Games, the
company’s programmers have found time
for something less aggressive: table tennis.
Yep, that’s right – the Rockstar guys love
table tennis so much that they’ve built an
entire game around it. Gone are the carjackings and machine guns; enter Rockstar
Games Presents Table Tennis – RGPTT
for short – a superbly detailed and featurepacked Xbox 360 game.
Expect a full package of trick shots, zoom
and slow-motion utilities, and good, clean
family entertainment. But don’t fret, GTA
nerds: Grand Theft Auto IV is scheduled
for release in October 2007.
Pimp movies tend to tickle the same spot in that macho corner of your psyche
as the gangster classics, but they’re all about extreme ghetto fab, spittin’ game
and sex. They’re much funnier, and the slang is incredible.
AMERICAN PIMP 1999, Hughes brothers. A documentary chronicling the lives and businesses of contemporary pimps across North
America. These guys have the gift of gab like you wouldn’t believe.
Favourite quote: “I had these looong-ass fingernails, cuz back then,
all I did was touch bitches and count money.”
THE MACK 1973, Michael Campus. Classic pimping. Goldie, a
newcomer to the pimp game, makes his way up the ladder in a tough
business. Mind-blowing outfits and the best collection of memorable
quotes, which have made this movie a sampling favourite. Favourite
quote: “You know the name of the game. Yo’ bitch chose me. Now,
we can handle this like some gentlemen, or we can get into some
gangsta’ shit.”
HUSTLE & FLOW 2005, Craig Brewer. The ambitious Memphis
pimp Djay runs a low-scale operation to finance his first demo tape
of crunk and dirty Down South rap. Sort of like 8 Mile, but better.
06
01 FORM BLAZER DKK 599,95. NOK 599,95. SEK 599,95. EUR 79,95. GBP 59,99. CHF 109,90. USD 89,95. CAD 125 02 SERIAL JACKET DKK 799,95. NOK 799,95. SEK 899,95. EUR 99,95. GBP 74,99.
CHF 149,90. USD 119,95. CAD 180 03 JUNGLE WOOL JACKET DKK 1.099,95. NOK 1.199,95. SEK 1.399,95. EUR 139,95. GBP 99,99. CHF 219,90. USD 149,95. CAD 230 04 FUSION BLAZER DKK 599,95.
NOK 699,95. SEK 699,95. EUR 79,95. GBP 59,99. CHF 119,90. USD 89,95. CAD 150 05 STATE LEATHER JACKET DKK 1.349,95. NOK 1.399,95. SEK 1.599,95. EUR 74,95. GBP 29,99. CHF 269,90. USD
209,95. CAD 310 06 BASE SWEAT DKK 349,95. NOK 379,95. SEK 399,95. EUR 49,95. GBP 34,99. CHF 69,90. USD 54,95. CAD 85
REPORTAGE
15
NOTES
DESIGNER’S 006
2
CHOICE
n
m
autu
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
LISTEN UP!
GUNS N’ ROSES
APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION
Dirty, raw and legendary album that
embraced everything Grunge was honoured for a few years later. Songs like
‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Sweet Child
O’ Mine’, ‘You’re Crazy’ and of course
‘Paradise City’ made the album one
of the most important of the decade.
Catch Guns N’ Roses on one of the
many music festivals of the summer.
Jack & Jones’ designer gives us six vital products for all men this autumn.
It’s all about print, leather and cotton with a cool, washed-out quality.
1
Super-soft washed-out T-shirt with
prints on the inside as well for that used
and faded look. LOCK TEE DKK 199,95.
NOK 199,95. SEK 199,95. EUR 24,95. GBP 19,99.
CHF 34,90. USD 26,95. CAD 45
2
Raw hooded sweatshirt in autumn’s
coolest colour, navy blue, with exposed
03
BES IN
GROOMING
seams for a laid-back, inside-out look.
CAPU SWEAT DKK 399,95. NOK 449,95. SEK 499,95.
EUR 59,95. GBP 399,95. CHF 79,90. USD 63,95. CAD 100
3 Distressed dark denim with authentic
01
vintage wash: jeans complete with
character as standard. CLARK BLUE FIRE
DKK 599,95. NOK 599,95. SEK 699,95. EUR 79,95.
GBP 59,99. CHF 129,90. USD 99,95. CAD 150
4 Uniform-style cap with flock print and
rivet details.DERY CAP DKK 79,95. NOK 79,95.
STADIUM ARCADIUM
The LA-band’s ninth studio album is
the most ambitious work of their career,
and an attempt to capture everything
that is Red Hot Chili Peppers, from the
funny funk-metal beginning to ‘Under
the Bridge’-style ballads and to vocalharmony pop of today - A triumph for
a band.
Renowned beauty product maker
KIEHL’S has a couple of new products
on the market. Enriched with sesame
and sunflower extracts, its Just Out Of
The Shower hair gel creates a wet-look
effect, while its Super Thick Volumiser
provides extra density and volume.
THE RACONTEURS
BROKEN BOY SOLDIERS
What does the White Stripes frontman Jack White want more? He has a
supermodel wife, a baby on the way,
more money than the Prince of Saudi
Arabia, well-cut red trousers and neat
black hats. Well, when you listen to this
great rock album ‘Broken Boy Soldiers’
it sounds like the boy just want to have
some fun.
THE BARE FACTS
SEK 79,95. EUR 8,95. GBP 5,99. CHF 14,90. CAD 15
5 Utilitarian shoulder bag in used
WHAT DO MEN LIKE? Well, naked women, among other things. Now feast your eyes on this publication from TASCHEN,
as 460 full-colour pages take you through a hundred years of men’s magazine history. Of course, you’ll get a collection of
beautiful girlie photos, but also a large body of text which outlines the history and development of the genre.
canvas with leather trims and antiqued
rivets. JACK CANVAS BAG DKK 399,95. NOK 399,95.
SEK 329,95. EUR 54,95. GBP 39,99. CHF 79,90.
USD 54,95. CAD 95
6 Simple but smart belt with woven
leather detail finished with a classic
buckle. FERRY BELT DKK 199,95. NOK 199,95.
02
SEK 229,95. EUR 26,95. GBP 19,99. CHF 39,90.
USD 29,95. CAD 50
04
05
06
16
REPORTAGE
REPORTAGE
17
65
GREY DAY
THIS SEASON’S COLLECTION IS ALL ABOUT THE COOL OF SIMPLICITY AND GREYNESS
03
01
PLAYER UP!
NOTES
GUITAR HERO II
PS2
The sequel to one of the most innovative
PlayStation 2 games in many years turns
the volume up another notch with a slew
of new fret-burners and axe-grinders.
This time players can team up, with one
playing the lead guitar and the other
rhythm guitar or bass, leading to an
even more cooperative feel than in the
original game. The cost of the game and
the Gibson guitar controller may seem
steep, but very few other games out there
deliver raw, unspoiled entertainment and
good party atmosphere like this one –
no other games make you feel like a true
rock god! A must-have for all music lovers
and fans of innovative entertainment.
02
GEARS OF WAR
WORLD OF WARCRAFT
PC
This much-talked-about fantasy game
overtook the online gaming world last
year, and now the first expansion is in
the works. The Burning Crusade adds
a host of new features – the new Blood
Elf and Draenei races, as well as the
new Outlands area, among other things
– and the success looks set to continue.
Being heavily time-consuming and
playable online with other people for a
monthly fee, World Of Warcraft calls for
a good deal of discipline. But balanced
properly with real life the game delivers
top-entertaining, addictive fun, and The
Burning Crusade promises even more of
the same amazing gameplay.
XBOX 360
Stomping around in heavy combat
armour and shooting nasty monsters
with big guns never gets boring. From
the people that created the Unreal
games, Gears Of War efficiently delivers
the trademark alien-blasting that the
shooter genre is known for. Apart from
the relentless firing of guns and lobbing
of grenades, the game offers Metal Gear
Solid-style cover behind walls, doors etc,
with dynamic camera angles, visceral
special effects and overall violence
adding to the chaos. Not a game that
requires a lot of thinking – but with an
army of evil enemies and a powerful
arsenal of weapons at hand, who cares?
04
1. COMBAT T-98 HARD TOP
The Russian version of the Humvee.
Weighing in at 3750 kg, this monster is
already equipped with armour and loads
of gadgets, but a handyman with a bit of
imagination could work wonders with
this baby.
07
08
09
01 CLYDE POLO DKK 249,95. NOK 249,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 29,95. GBP 22,99. CHF 49,90. USD 37,95. CAD 60 02 SKULL TEE DKK 129,95. NOK 149,95. SEK 159,95. EUR 17,95. GBP 12,99. CHF 24,90.
USD 19,95. CAD 35 03 MOTT SHIRT DKK 279,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 34,95. GBP 24,99. CHF 49,90. USD 34,95. CAD 60 03 SHOT ON DKK 399,95. NOK 399,95. SEK 399,95. EUR 49,95.
GBP 34,99. CHF 69,90. USD 51,95. CAD 80 04 EIGHT TEE DKK 199,95. NOK 199,95. SEK 199,95. EUR 24,95. GBP 17,99. CHF 34,90. USD 29,95. CAD 45 05 GRANDS DKK 199,95. NOK 199,95. SEK
199,95. EUR 24,95. GBP 16,99. CHF 34,90. USD 24,95. CAD 45 06 GRANDAD TEE DKK 199,95. NOK 229,95. SEK 259,95. EUR 29,95. GBP 19,99. CHF 49,90. USD 34,95. CAD 50 07 UNI SHIRT DKK
279,95. NOK 279,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 29,95. GBP 24,99. CHF 49,95. USD 34,95. CAD 60 08 ROSS SHIRT DKK 249,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 29,95. GBP 24,99. CHF 49,90. USD 34,95 CAD 60
09 PARIS SHIRT DKK 299,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 34,95. GBP 24,99. CHF 49,90. USD 39,95. CAD 60
18
REPORTAGE
Automobile enthusiasts everywhere have been
modifying and converting their vehicles since
the dawn of petrol-driven transportation.
Xzibit and Funkmaster Flex have made great
entertainment out of it, and now the Brits
are trying it too (Pimp My Ride UK, MTV).
Have a go, guys – but WTF is up with that
host? Can’t be arsed with the whole rags-toriches approach? Try grabbing a ride that’s
already fly for a head start...
2. ROLLS ROYCE 100EX
Pimping this one might seem like desecrating a classic, but who cares? Just
imagine it: you could lower the top just a
tiny bit to get those hot-rod slit windows,
paint it matte black, and take it from
there...
3. MAYBACH EXELERO
This one is already close to being a
proper Batmobile in its own right – so if
you can’t figure out how to upgrade the
design, you could always install flame
throwers and smoke bombs.
POP ART COLOSSUS
ALL OVER
05
WHIPS TO PIMP e
CATwalk
06
ANDY
WARHOL
A lemon-haired Marilyn,
eight hours of the
Empire State... Andy
Warhol is a cultural
icon like few others.
Now you have the
chance to catch up
with the legend in a new book, GIANT,
a chronological scrap book of the artist’s
life and work. Loads of private letters
and information help to take you deeper
into the world of this eccentric artist.
COOL WOOL
If wool usually reminds you of grandpa’s
old frocks, try the smooth sofistication
of high quality yarns such as soft tweed,
merino or cashmere. Whether it’s for
your scarf, pull-over, suit, or coat wool
is cool. Drawing inspiration from war
movies like ‘The Pianist’, ‘Stalingrad’
and such the sharp woolen trench-coat
is king of the runways for this winter
season.
REPORTAGE
19
NOTES
NOTES
LIVING IN A BOX
Cube World is a new electronic pet for those of you who’ve grown tired of feeding,
walking and berating pets in the real world. Cube World consists of four different
pixelated stick characters, each inhabiting its own digital cube, and each endowed
with a special skill; you can interact and play games with each character through
three buttons on the front panel. The cube is also equipped with motion sensors
that allow you to shake the little man around in there.
But when you connect the cubes to each other, that’s when the
fun really starts: the characters leave their individual cubes and
start to mingle, and before you know it, you’re the proud overseer
of a vibrant small-scale social environment. Reports tell of
fistfights and baseball matches breaking out between the stick
men, and there are rumours that, under the right circumstances,
they’ll even start bungee jumping as well.
CATwalk
CHECK IT OUT AT WWW.GADGETS.COM.
FOR THE NERDS
LOOSE ROCKS
Gear and gadgets for those of a nerdy disposition can be found at
WWW.THINKGEEK.COM
So if you’re searching for a Yoda backpack, an illuminated mouse pad, a
USB-powered beverage cooler or a hand-held electronic sudoku game, this
is the site to visit. You’ll also find a wide selection of caffeine products –
everything from drinks to mints and even skin gels – to keep you awake and
combat-ready through those all-night sessions of Counterstrike.
The influence of rock’n’roll on fashion
has been evident for some time.
For this fall though, mixing it with
other styles will be the way to dress.
In this essential NYC look pictured
here, street wise baggy jeans and
sneaks are pared with the old
Europe feel of a waistcoat.
ROCK ON!
ALL OVER
FOR THE NATION
DEVON AOKI in 2 Fast 2 Furious
DEADLY LITTLE
MIHO
20
REPORTAGE
The Aokis are busy people. Devon Aoki
began her modelling career at the tender
age of thirteen. Born to a Japanese father
and an English/German mother, she has
an irresistible innocent beauty, which has
made her a sought-after model on catwalks across the world. Measuring only
five feet and six inches, she’s the shorty
of the international modelling business.
But modelling is not her only trade; she
has appeared in 2 Fast 2 Furious (for this
role it is rumoured that she didn’t know
how to drive, but was taught by a crew
of professional stunt racers), D.E.B.S.,
and most memorably, Sin City, in which
she takes on the character of Miho, the
awe-inspiring assassin who dismembers
her victims with the cautious grace of
a ballet dancer. Not many women can
make ultra-violence that beautiful.
Her brother, STEVE AOKI aka DJ Kid
Millionaire, is, obviously, a DJ, as well as a
club promoter and president of the L.A.based record company DIM MAK, named
so after the ancient “touch of death” technique in Chinese martial arts.
Whether brother Steve possesses any
deadly handskills outside the turntable
field remains undisclosed. But deadly little Miho will be back in Sin City 2 before
you can blink your eyes.
Coats of arms, authority, mystery and symbolism. They take you back to the Templars,
the Freemasons, and the ancient families of the British Isles. Not to forget, they usually
provide excellent graphics on clothes. But remember, the coat of arms is not complete
without a motto. Pro Patria, Latin for For the Nation, was an importantant part of this
autumn’s collection from Jack & Jones, and if you insist on a customized polo shirt with
your own design, check out the talented people at
WWW.FAMILY-CRESTS.COM
THE CLASSIC DVD
A freshly appointed police lieutenant is given what appears to be an easy task:
to oversee an almost unmanned LA police station, which is about to be moved.
Simple, practical stuff. But before the night is over, he finds himself trapped inside
the station with a convicted multiple murderer, a father and his daughter, besieged
by a well-armed street gang. For this action drama ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13,
writer John Carpenter was inspired by stand-off movie classics like Night of The
Living Dead and Rio Bravo, which are among his personal favourites. But beware:
John Leguziamo and Ja Rule are in the cast in the 2005 remake.
ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 IS OUT ON DVD
2
7
3
1
8
4
5
9
6
HOMEWORK ...is the fitting title of the French house duo Daft Punk’s first album. Taking a low-tech approach,
they worked with a cheap sound compressor, the Alesis 360, a Mini-Moog synthesiser and basic sequencers and samplers.
‘Homework’ inspired a wave of DIY-music producers and came to be recognised as one of the most influential house releases
of the 1990s. Since then, tools, hardware, and applications for the home producer have become progressively more advanced
and accessible. Check it out – who knows, perhaps there’s a Dr Dre within you just waiting to be let out...
1 LOGIG PRO 7 2 HEADPHONES FROM AKG 3 YAMAHA ACTIVE STUDIO MONITOR 4 KORG PADCONTROL 5 MOTU FIREWIRE SOUNDCARD 6 KORG MIDI KEYBOARD
7 THE NEW MACBOOK PRE-INSTALLED WITH GARAGE BAND STUDIO SOFTWARE 8 VESTAX MIXER 9 THE CLASSIC TECHNICS 1210 RECORD PLAYER
BABE
Park Life
Photographer Rick Shaine
Styling Sebastian Machado
24
REPORTAGE
BABE
26
REPORTAGE
THEY’RE BIGGER AND OLDER THAN THE SICILIAN MAFIA, YET THEY OPERATE OUT OF A COUNTRY THAT BOASTS
SOME OF THE WORLD’S LOWEST CRIME RATES. THE WELL-ORGANISED OUTCASTS WHO CONTROL THE PARALLEL ECONOMY IN JAPAN OPERATE IN A VAST NUMBER OF DIFFERENT BUSINESS AREAS, LEGAL AS WELL AS ILLEGAL. BEING DEDICATED FASHIONISTAS AS WELL AS RUTHLESS GANGSTERS, THEY HAVE CREATED A TRADEMARK
AESTHETIC OF DRESS AND BODY DECORATION. AND IN POPULAR MYTH, WHICH HAS SPAWNED A WHOLE GENRE
OF YAKUZA FILMS, THESE CHARACTERS TAKE ON THE CHIVALRIC ROLE OF THE ROBIN HOODS OF ASIA. LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN, MEET THE YAKUZA.
THE WAY OF THE YAKUZA
28
REPORTAGE
REPORTAGE
29
THE WAY OF
THE YAKUZA
CONTINUED
BUT FIRST, A BIT OF HISTORY
The story of the Yakuza dates back to
feudal times of the 17th century and the
Bakuto, bands of professional gamblers.
The earliest of these were recruited by
bureaucrats and local bosses, who supplied their incomes by hiring the Bakuto
to win back from the workers some of the
money they themselves had allocated to
public construction projects. The very
term ‘yakuza’ supposedly has its origins
among the Bakuto: In the card game
hanafuda, the worst possible hand is the
combination 8-9-3, in Japanese, ya-ku-sa.
Thus, the word ‘yakuza’ came to denote
something useless. To the surrounding
communities, this was exactly what the
Bakuto gangs were: outcasts from society,
useless, yakuza.
But useless as they may have been in the
eyes of outsiders, the Bakuto gangs operated according to strict internal principles that made them at least useful and
respectable to each other. These early
Yakuza laid the foundation for the generations of Japanese underworlders to
come: the principles of secrecy, bravery
and unquestioning allegiance to one’s
obayun, the commanding boss, and to
the gang. It was also in this period that
the still-existing practice of yubitsume
emerged: the act of cutting off a finger
joint, starting from the left little finger, to
be delivered to the obayun as an apology
for a misdeed or failure.
FUELLING THE FIRE
Japan’s relationship with amphetamines
reveals something of the role of the Yakuza in the greater society. During World
War II, teams of the notorious Japanese
kamikaze pilots were sent off on a plane
ride to certain death with a cup of sake
spiked with speed. As the war drew to an
end, most of Japan’s urban and industrial areas had been turned into charred,
ghostlike landscapes by incendiary bombs
dropped from the high-altitude American B-29 planes. The once thriving cities
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nuclear
wastelands. The ensuing chaos and social
turmoil left exactly the type of vacuum
necessary for the strengthening of the
Yakuza syndicates, which had developed
in Japan through four centuries. By the
mid-Sixties, the Yakuza organizations had
grown to a total of 180,000 men. During
the post-war period of restrictive policies
against stimulants, narcotics and hallucinogens (you know, all the fun stuff that
makes you rebel), the Yakuza provided
the drug that has helped fuel the workdemanding economic boom. Apparently,
speed has dug a niche into the Japanese
workforce, and the Yakuza seem more
than willing to help keep them working.
THE GODFATHER OF TOKYO
Among the many obayun to have contended for the title of Top Dog in the
history of the Yakuza, Yoshio Kodama is
THE YAKUZA OF THE 21ST CENTURY
IS A GLOBAL WEB OF
ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES
30
REPORTAGE
the one who played the highest stakes
and had the deepest political connections. Unlike its Sicilian counterpart, the
Japanese mob has never felt too proud to
meddle with men of politics. So Kodama
greased the wheels between spies, nationalists, politicians and gangsters, and he
never forgot to secure a piece of the cake
for himself. He is credited as a gangster
of vision, the man who, in the beginning
of the sixties, brought the business and
organisation of the Yakuza up to date
with the financial and political developments of the legitimate side of Japanese
society.
In 1976, a commission under senator
Frank Church caught American weapons
producer Lockheed red-handed in a bribery scandal that involved the top brass of
Japanese political politics, as well as...
guess who? Yoshio Kodama, the power
broker. The pressure of the scandal took
a heavy toll on the godfather’s heart. He
spent his final days, bed-stricken and
weak, in his Tokyo mansion.
One Tuesday morning, for reasons undisclosed, a stern nationalist by the name
of Mitsuyasu Maeno decided to take personal action against Kodama. Maeno and
his buddies, dressed in kamikaze-pilot
uniforms, rented three planes, told the
airport staff that they were making a fiction kamikaze film, and took off. Maeno
broke off from the group and circled over
the suburban setting before crashing the
small Piper Cherokee plane head-on into
Kodama’s home. Ironically, the kamikaze
killer killed only himself; Kodama survived unhurt by the attack, but he never
fully regained his health. He died from a
stroke in 1984.
NOT SO USELESS AFTER ALL
Large-scale criminal enterprises like the
Yakuza seem to fill the vacuums, which
develop where the services of the state or
of legitimate businesses have been withdrawn or hindered. As such, a key feature of Mafiosi, Triads, Yakuza and Bikers across the globe is that they provide
goods and services that the state itself
cannot or will not provide. The Yakuza
of modern-day Japan is no exception; the
bulk of the annual multi-billion dollar
profits stems from drugs and gambling;
the rest is divided among protection
rackets, prostitution, fraud, theft, scams
and extortion, while as much 20 percent
of the total may be made up of legitimate
incomes. In Japan, as in many other parts
of the world, explicit pornography is prohibited, so naturally this high-demand
commodity has provided yet another lucrative market. Now the Yakuza can also
put the boner-business on their curriculum vitae: proud purveyors of wanking
supplies Japan-wide.
GOING TO THE MOVIES
In the four centuries of the Yakuza’s development, it has become interwoven
with the samurai folklore. This is especially true of the older wave of Yakuza
films, ninkyo eiga, in which the plot usually centers on the hero’s battles with conflicting emotions about his duty, jingi, to
the gang, and usually ends up fighting off
a whole heap of enemies in lonely-samurai style. Given that some of the major
Yakuza-film production studios in Japan
were run by bona fide Yakuzas, no wonder that the movies are shamelessly nostalgic about those old-school gangster
values. Veteran actor Noburo Ando was a
self-made man himself, who got into acting after the bankrupcy and break-up of
his gang.
The recent wave of straight-to-video
Yakuza flicks adopts a less idyllic and
more realistic view of their characters
and their on-screen lives, plus they have
exchanged the time-honoured sword for
the gun. Not surprisingly, the films are
highly popular among the Yakuza themselves who find understandable satisfaction in seeing their criminal exploits dramatized and, basically, made into art.
And the general public likes them, too;
in this way the feedback loop of organised crime and entertainment becomes
complete. Not only that: the whole Yakuza aesthetic fits the screen perfectly. It is
traditional, stylish, flashy and elegant at
the same time. No doubt, this adds considerably to the fascination factor and
the commercial appeal. To this is added
the graphic violence, the colourful tattoos, and the tales of tough, gun-toting
men trying to balance their duties in an
unforgiving world. Very likely, the majority of Yakuza-film enthusiasts are guys.
Also catering to the yakuza enthusiasts
is a quarterly publication called Nihon
Yakuza Chizu, Japan Yakuza Map, which
gives information on the 24 major Yakuza
gangs of Japan, complete with HQ addresses in case anyone wants to sign up,
as well as Yakuza-fashion photo spreads.
LET THE BOSS THROUGH
This phenomenon of Yakuza has had 400
years to root itself firmly in Japanese society and, notably, in the twilight zone
where politics and business meet organ-
ised crime. The Yakuza of the 21st century is a global web of organized criminal
enterprises. Yakuza franchises now exist
in many countries, probably some legal
ones, too. The modern Yakuza are ambitious men who play the world of high
finance, and like many of the multinational corporations who operate on the
so-called right side of the law, they too
have the muscle to back up their interests.
Today, one of the most serious threats to
Japan’s internal economy are the trillions
of yen in unrecoverable loans, irresponsibly shelled out by Japanese banks, mostly
to Yakuza front operations who have no
intention at all of repaying the astronomical debts. During the investigation of
the scandal, key witnesses have had a peculiar habit of dying of unnatural causes
before being able to give their testimony.
It’s all about Big Money, and you know
crime pays. So much so that the obayun
have chosen the Mercedes Benz S-Class
limos as their favourite rides, a conspicuous display of their wealth and power in
a country where most people drive small
cars. So if you ever find yourself in a bustling Tokyo traffic jam, and you catch a
glimpse of a big, white car in your rearview mirror, just remember to always let
it pass.
REPORTAGE
31
JACK&JONES
NINE LIVES
Photographer Søren Solkær Styling Jenni Jet
VERSION SHIRT
DKK 279,95. NOK 279,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 29,95.
GBP 29,99. CHF 49,90. USD 34,95. CAD 60
ROSS SHIRT
DKK 249,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 29,95.
GBP 24,99. CHF 49,90. USD 34,95. CAD 60
IGNITION TEE
DKK 99,95. NOK 99,95. SEK 149,95. EUR 12,95.
GBP 9,99. CHF 19,90. USD 16,95. CAD 25
SPACE SHIRT
DKK 299,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 39,95.
GBP 29,99. CHF 59,90. USD 39,95. CAD 65
CHOCKER TEE
DKK 179,95. NOK 199,95. SEK 199,95. EUR 24,95.
GBP 16,99. CHF 24,90. USD 26,95. CAD 40
CLARK LABEL JEANS
DKK 599,95. NOK 599,95. SEK 699,95. EUR 79,95.
GBP 59,99. CHF 129,90. USD 99,95. CAD 150
METRO TEE
DKK 159,95. NOK 159,95. SEK 199,95. EUR 19,95.
GBP 15,99. CHF 29,90. USD 24,95. CAD 40
MOTT BLUE BLACK JEANS
DKK 599,95. NOK 699,95. SEK 699,95. EUR 79,95.
GBP 59,99. CHF 129,90. USD 99,95. CAD 155
SEASON SHIRT
DKK 299,95. NOK 349,95. SEK 349,95. EUR 39,95.
GBP 29,99. CHF 59,95. USD 44,95. CAD 75
MIER JEANS
DKK 499,95. NOK 499,95. SEK 599,95. EUR 69,95.
GBP 49,99. CHF 99,90. USD 79,95. CAD 120
METRO TEE
DKK 159,95. NOK 159,95. SEK 199,95. EUR 19,95.
GBP 15,99. CHF 29,90. USD 24,95. CAD 40
MOTT BLUE BLACK JEANS
DKK 599,95. NOK 699,95. SEK 699,95. EUR 79,95.
GBP 59,99. CHF 129,90. USD 99,95. CAD 155
MOTO TEE
DKK 59,95. NOK 69,95. SEK 69,95. EUR 7,95.
GBP 5,99. CHF 14,90. USD 9,95. CAD 18
MOTT BLUE BLACK JEANS
DKK 599,95. NOK 699,95. SEK 699,95. EUR 79,95.
GBP 59,99. CHF 129,90. USD 99,95. CAD 155
SAUR SHIRT
DKK 279,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 34,95.
GBP 24,99. CHF 49,90. USD 39,95. CAD 60
SELECTED
BACK IN BLACK
Photographer Marc Høm Styling Stine Goya
MORRIS WAISTCOAT
DKK 299,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 399,95. EUR 39,95.
GBP 29,95. CHF 59,90. USD 39,95. CAD 54
LETTER TEE
DKK 149,95. NOK 149,95. SEK 149,95. EUR 17,95.
GBP 14,99. CHF 29,90. USD 21,95. CAD 28
SELECTED
STRAP SLIPOVER
DKK 299,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 399,95. EUR 39,95.
GBP 29,99. CHF 59,90. USD 44,95. CAD 70
TREAT TROUSERS
DKK 399,95. NOK 499,95. SEK 499,95. EUR 54,95.
GBP 39,99. CHF 79,90. USD 59,95. CAD 90
SELECTED
FLASH 2 BLAZER
DKK 799. NOK 99,95. SEK 99,95. EUR 99,95.
GBP 79,99. CHF 149,90. USD 109,95. CAD 180
DUN SHIRT
DKK 399,95. NOK 399,95. SEK 499,95. EUR 49,95.
GBP 39,95. CHF 79,90. USD 54,95. CAD 100
LOUIS JEANS
DKK 599,95. NOK 599,95. SEK 699,95. EUR 84,95.
GBP 59,95. CHF 129,90. USD 89,95. CAD 150
SELECTED
LEGION WOOL JACKET
DKK 1299,95. NOK 1499,95. SEK 1699,95. EUR 179,95.
GBP 149,99. CHF 279,90. USD 199,95. CAD 300
FALCON CARDIGAN
DKK 399,95. NOK 399,95. SEK 399,95. EUR 49,95.
GBP 39,99. CHF 69,90. USD 54,95. CAD 80
MOIST SHIRT
DKK 399,95. NOK 399,95. SEK. 399,95. EUR 44,95.
GBP 37,99. CHF 69,90. USD 69,90. CAD 90
FLASH 2 TROUSERS
DKK 499,95. NOK 599,95. SEK 599,95. EUR 64,95.
GBP 49,95. CHF 99,90. USD 69,95. CAD 120
SELECTED
NICK SHIRT
DKK 299,95. NOK 399,95. SEK 399,95. EUR 39,95.
GBP 29,99. CHF 69,90. USD 44,95. CAD 70
REPOS BLAZER
DKK 1199,95. NOK 1299,95. SEK 1499,95. EUR 179,95.
GBP 149,95. CHF 249,90. USD 179,95. CAD 280
REPOS TROUSERS
DKK 599,95. NOK 599,95. SEK 699,95. EUR 79,95.
GBP 59,99. CHF 119,90. USD 84,95. CAD 130
EARL CARDIGAN
DKK 399,95. NOK 399,95. SEK 399,95. EUR 49,95.
GBP 39,99. CHF 69,90. USD 54,95. CAD 80
PELLE SHIRT CAMEL
DKK 299,95. NOK 399,95. SEK 399,95. EUR 39,95.
GBP 29,99. CHF 59,90. USD 34,95. CAD 60
TEST JACKET
DKK 1199,95. NOK 1199,95. SEK 1199,95. EUR 159,95.
GBP 99,95. CHF 199,95. USD 149,95. CAD 220
TREAT BLAZER
DKK 399,95. NOK 499,95. SEK 499,95. EUR 54,95.
GBP 39,99. CHF 79,90. USD 59,95. CAD 90
JACK&JONES
ENTER SANDMAN
Photographer Rick Shaine Styling Sassie Baré
REVERSE SHIRT
DKK 299,95. NOK 349,95. SEK 399,95. EUR 39,95.
GBP 29,99. CHF 59,90. USD 44,95. CAD 70
STRIPE HOOD
DKK 59,95. NOK 59,95. SEK 59,95. EUR 7,95.
GBP 4,99. CHF 9,90. USD 7,95. CAD 10
REPEAT SHIRT
DKK 279,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 34,95.
GBP 24,99. CHF 49,90. USD 39,95. CAD 60
PITCH UNWASHED JEANS
DKK 399,95. NOK 499,95. SEK 499,95. EUR 59,95.
GBP 39,99. CHF 89,90. USD 69,95. CAD 100
JIMMY HOOD
DKK 59,95. NOK 69,95. SEK 69,95. EUR 7,95.
GBP 5,99. CHF 12,90. USD 8,95. CAD 15
BRUCE WOOL JACKET
DKK 899,95. NOK 999,95. SEK 999,95. EUR 119,95.
GBP 89,99. CHF 179,90. USD 129,95. CAD 215
TOKE HOOD
DKK 49,95. NOK 49,95. SEK 69,95. EUR 7,95.
GBP 4,99. CHF 9,90. USD 7,95. CAD 15
SHOOT SWEAT
DKK 399,95. NOK 499,95. SEK 499,95. EUR 59,95.
GBP 44,99. CHF 89,90. USD 64,95. CAD 100
FERRY BELT
DKK 199,95. NOK 199,95. SEK 229,95. EUR 26,95.
GBP 19,99. CHF 39,90. USD 29,95. CAD 50
MURAT BLACK JEANS
DKK 599,95. NOK 599,95. SEK 699,95. EUR 79,95.
GBP 59,99. CHF 129,90. USD 99,95. CAD 150
SPACE SHIRT
DKK 299,95. NOK 299,95. SEK 299,95. EUR 39,95.
GBP 29,99. CHF 59,90. USD 39,95. CAD 65
TOKE HOOD
DKK 49,95. NOK 49,95. SEK 69,95. EUR 7,95.
GBP 4,99. CHF 9,90. USD 7,95. CAD 15
MOTT BLUE BLACK JEANS
DKK 599,95. NOK 699,95. SEK 699,95. EUR 79,95.
GBP 59,99. CHF 129,90. USD 99,95. CAD 155
SERIAL CORD JACKET
DKK 799,95. NOK 799,95. SEK 899,95. EUR 99,95.
GBP 74,99. CHF 149,90. USD 119,95
STATE LEATHER JACKET
DKK 1349,95. NOK 1399,95. SEK 1599,95. EUR 174,95.
GBP 129,99. CHF 269,95. USD 209,95. CAD 310
MIER JEANS
DKK 499,95. NOK 499,95. SEK 599,95. EUR 69,95.
GBP 49,99. CHF 99,90. USD 79,95. CAD 120
THE CLARKSON EFFECT
EV
B
JO
ST
BE
JUST A GUY
WITH A JOB
ER
,I
N
EE
D
D
!
HE GETS PAID TO TEST-DRIVE NEW
SPORTS CARS AND WRECKING
OLD ONES. WHO WOULDN’T ENV Y
JEREMY CLARKSON, THE OPINIONATED PRESENTER OF TOP GEAR
WHO HAS TURNED THE MOTORING
SHOW INTO MUST-SEE, HIGH-OCTANE TV?
If you saw him walking down the street,
he might put you in mind of your old
history teacher. But looks aside, Jeremy
Clarkson is far from boring – he may in
fact have one of the most enviable jobs
in the world: he’s the presenter of the
BBC’s motor show, Top Gear.
The outspoken Clarkson, 46, has been
on Top Gear for more than a decade.
With 350 million viewers worldwide and
a budget to do pretty much anything he
wants on the show (including dropping
a Porsche 911 onto a caravan and wrecking a Nissan Sunny by throwing it from
a catapult), he has more influence over
the world of cars than you’d think.
Yet he looks fairly unimpressed by it all.
When not out driving, he can usually be
seen in the Top Gear studio, standing
surrounded by cars and an audience
comprised of equal parts car fans and
Jeremy fans. Then there are his two sidekicks who also seem to be a bit of both.
The goofy Brit can’t seem to do anything
wrong, even when he does screw up his
jokes or looks awkwardly into the camera. Top Gear is his playground.
ALL OVER
Just consider Clarkson’s idea to try to
drive a Vauxhall from the back seat because he thought the legroom there was
the only good thing about the car. Of
course, he crashed. Or take the experiment of driving on regular roads from
Surrey in southeast England to Monte
Carlo faster than the high-speed TGV
train, which reaches a top speed of 320
km/h on the same distance. He drove
an Aston Martin DB9 and won, violating
speed limits along the way. Clarkson’s
brutal honesty and controversial style
are the main reasons why Top Gear is so
popular, along with the cars themselves.
Of course, Jeremy’s not the only driver
featured on the show; nor is he the best.
In one episode, he visited Germany’s
Nürburgring race track and spent a
whole day trying to do a lap in less
than ten minutes in a completely new
Jaguar S-Type. After the ordeal, his best
time was almost beaten by local Sabine
Schmitz, known as the fastest taxi driver
in the world. She was driving an old
Ford Transit Van.
And whenever a new supercar like the
Ferrari Enzo or the Lamborghini Gallardo comes in, Jeremy has to hand over
the keys to the mysterious Stig, who
always appears on the show wearing a
racing suit and helmet. The Stig tests the
cars for the fastest lap around the Top
Gear track while he listens to Queen or
Pink Floyd on the car’s stereo. The list
counts several legendary cars, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston
Martins. Jeremy’s confined to sitting in
the studio commenting.
Sporting a permanent jeans-and-sportsjacket uniform, he is miles away from
the stereotypical TV show host. The
clothes have earned him the title of one
of the world’s worst-dressed celebrities,
and one fashion magazine even spoke of
the ‘Jeremy Clarkson effect’ that caused
sales of classic denim jeans to decline
because young people too often associated the garments with men like JC.
But when it comes to cars, Jeremy knows
his stuff, and he treats them with a passion that often spills out to touch a lot of
other subjects too. Just ponder his statement that “Most Americans barely have
the brains to walk on their back legs” in
a commentary about the aftermath of
the Hurricane Katrina. Many feel that
he regularly crosses the line. But the
BBC, brushing off a particularly controversial incident, simply said, “Jeremy’s
colourful comments are always entertaining but they are his own comments
and not those of the BBC.”
In private – as you’d expect – he also enjoys driving: apparently he owns five cars
and a fighter jet. So look again, because
that probably is your old history teacher
walking down the street. After all, why
would Jeremy Clarkson be walking?
JEREMY ON...
...BMW
“Nazi-staffed cars”
...PORSCHE 911 TURBO S
“It is, without doubt, the scariest,
nastiest, ugliest piece of donkey dirt
that has ever graced my drive.
The only possible way you could have
fun in this car is by dropping a lighted
match into the petrol tank”
...RETIRING OF THE CONCORDE PLANES
“This is one small step for a man,
but one huge leap backwards for
mankind”
...HEARING THAT THE BRITISH MG ROVER
PLANT WAS CLOSING
“When I heard the news my first
thought was: ‘GOOD’”
...CYCLISTS IN LONDON
“Do not cruise through red lights.
Because if I’m coming the other way,
I will run you down, for fun.”
JEREMY
CLARKSON’S
MACHINES
· Ford GT
· Mercedes SLK55 AMG
· Volvo XC90
· Ford Focus
· Bac Lightning F MK. 3 Jet Fighter
DIGITAL
ADDICTION
CONFESSIONS OF A NET ADDICT...
DIGITAL ADDICTION
CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THE WARM GLOW OF AN LCD SCREEN,
THE BUZZ OF A HARD DRIVE AND THE ECSTASY OF GLOBAL
COMMUNICATION EVERY TIME YOU MAINLINE THE INTERNET?
YOU’RE NOT ALONE...
I’m on a family holiday in the Florida
Keys. Naturally I’ve packed all the essentials for a beach vacation: a 23-inch
flatscreen monitor, a 17-inch Titanium
Powerbook, a brand new 13-inch Mac
Book Pro in stunning black, an iPod
Nano, a video iPod and three LaCie
hard drives. We’re only here for a week,
so that should do me just fine. And – of
course – I’ve called the company that
we’ve booked the house through to
double-check that the place has wireless
cable internet. Yes, the owner tells me...
for the third time.
After a four-hour drive from Miami, I’m
convinced that I’ll need additional supplies, so on our way to the rental home I
make a quick U-turn and head for Office
Depot, one of America’s greatest office
supply superstores. I walk in and it’s like
Christmas. I’ll need a few Firewire cords
and a hub, CDs and DVDs for archiving
files, two surge-protected power strips
and of course a D-Link wireless router
(since they don’t stock Apple AirPorts),
just in case this alleged wireless router
the owner has promised isn’t up to par.
I emerge from the store with my bag of
goodies and off I go.
Upon arrival to the house, everyone
– my mom, aunt, cousins and their
husbands – is selecting their appointed
bedrooms. Everyone except me, of
course. Instead, I’ve asked if the small
kitchen in the additional guesthouse
can serve as my central command centre. Family members offer a resounding
yes, but look at me with a bit of concern
and pity – a look that I will see far more
frequently in the days to come.
In less than half an hour, I’ve set up the
central command. And while the others
sip margaritas by the pool, I’m busy
cursing the wireless router – wondering
why the installation CD is in Japanese,
and more importantly, why the damn
thing simply won’t work. I begin making phone calls. Message to the owner.
Discussions with five cable company
representatives. Unplugging the router,
plugging it back in, hitting it with my
fist. I grow more irritable by the second. My muscles are tight, I’ve broken
a sweat and I’m absolutely starving, yet
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REPORTAGE
cannot even think about eating until
I’m online. My mother tells me to relax
just as I’m about to snap. I take a deep
breath and kindly explain to her that
in order to enjoy the holiday, I must be
fully connected and online. True, I have
a Blackberry firmly planted in my hand
at all times, but it’s not enough. It’s just
not enough.
you stay online longer than originally
intended? Have you repeatedly made
unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back,
or stop internet use? Do you feel restless,
moody, depressed, or irritable when
attempting to cut down or stop internet
use? Yes, yes, yes, yes and YES. I am an
internet addict... and I am definitely not
alone.
Ten irate phone calls and three hours
later, Adam, the trusty neighbourhood
tech-support guy, has arrived; he appears to be slightly stoned, which to me
is a very good sign that he knows his
tech. After a bit of unplugging, plugging
and fussing with various system preferences, we’re at full signal and ready to
roll. Noting this accomplishment, we
pop open two beers and cheers, knowing that today is a beautiful day indeed.
Internet Addiction, or IAD as it’s been
dubbed in clinical circles, is defined as
an impulse-control disorder which does
not involve an intoxicant; experts believe
that somewhere between five and ten
per cent of all internet users suffer from
it. Here the drug of choice is a seductive
LCD glow, the click of a keyboard and
an insatiable appetite for communication, information and, most importantly,
entertainment. And apparently it’s no
joke. Members of the American Psychiatric Association are pushing to add it
to next year’s DSM-V, the American Psychiatric Association’s bible for diagnosing mental illness. The New York Times
reported on the severity of it by profiling
a teenage boy who had bouts of rage and
incontrollable ‘cyber shakes’ upon being
admitted to good old-fashioned drug
and alcohol rehab. The Chinese government opened a treatment clinic for it
in March 2005 for chatters and gamers
whose anxiety, depression and sleep deprivation are web-related. And the British Psychological Society has dedicated
entire pages theorising the disorder,
ironically enough, on their website.
I take my MacBook Pro out next to
the pool and bask in its warm reflection. I sign on to MSN Messenger and
iChat, popping back and forth between
the two. I hit dozens of friends from
Copenhagen, London, Milan, New York
and LA to let them know that Key West
is absolutely amazing, and that most importantly I am now wireless. In between
chats, I head to Acquisition to steal
some hip hop, accept two new friends
on MySpace, reject an unwanted Skype
invitation, skim the headlines on BBC.
com, play a couple of hands of online
poker, upload a few iSight shots to Flickr,
and set a maximum bid on a Ted Nugent
pinball machine I found on eBay. And
then the dreaded email arrives, pulling
me out of cyberbliss and into reality:
have you finished that article on internet
addiction?
Have I finished it? No, but I’m fairly sure
I might be living it. I think. Maybe. Well
I guess that depends on exactly what the
criteria are. Where is the line between
recreational web use and full-blown dependency? For the answer to anything,
there is only one place: Google. Twentytwo million, nine hundred thousand results in 0.5 seconds later, I have just what
I need. Do you feel preoccupied with the
internet? Do you feel the need to use
the internet with increasing amounts of
time in order to achieve satisfaction? Do
But the single-source, one-stop-shop for
everything you need to know about web
dependency is netaddiction.com. Here
you can read about internet addiction
in full detail, consult with IAD pioneer
Kimberly S. Young, email her to schedule a chat room consultation, purchase
an e-booklet, and pay for it all via
PayPal. It’s a bit like attending your first
AA meeting in a bar: true net junkies
can delight in the fact that in order to
get help, you’re still entitled to a fix. In
fact, it’s part of the programme. A programme that I am clearly nowhere even
near ready to begin. And why should
I be? After all, I’m entitled to a bit of
indulgence – I’m on holiday.
REPORTAGE
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