- Annie's Scrapbook
What's New Pussycat?
 I couldn’t understand the hissing noise which rose from the
audience. Surely they weren't dissatisfied with the performance of Cat Stevens. Then one
over-enthusiastic fan jumped up and shouted "Pussy" and I realised the hissing
was the outcome of hundreds of fans going puss... puss . . puss as he leapt round the
stage in his maroon trousers and sparkling purple pearlised shirt.
He leapt off the stage,
grabbed his coat and we hot-footed it off up the stairs and out into the street, where his
car was waiting.
'We'll just drive round the
corner a bit and have a chat out of the way," he said.
"What do you think of
your success?" I asked.
"Incredible"
"Did you realise you
were going to be such a success?"
"I always knew
it-would be either art or music for me-they're the things which interest me most. But with
art you can’t be an immediate success- the great artists weren't recognised till they
were dead! The pop business is here and now!"
We'd agree with you there,
Cat, and here and now we know a lot of Diana readers who love you!
Beautiful brown eyes
twinkle at you from beneath curly black hair as you talk to Cat Stevens, talented young
songwriter and singer of "I Love My Dog", and many other catchy numbers. Like a
walking advertisement for the United Nations, Cat is half Greek, half Swedish, but
considers himself very English. We started our chat with his international origins.
Which part of your
family is the Swedish half?
 My
mother is Swedish and I went to school in Sweden for five months. I like Sweden very much.
The people are very civilised and well organised. Now the Greeks are just the opposite. My
father is the Greek half. Greeks are lively, not particularly well organised and very
fiery. I'm very proud of my Greek ancestors - you know, the ancient Greeks that built all
the wonderful temples and were highly civilised when we Britons were still living in caves
and swinging on trees.
Have you only one
brother?
I've also got a sister
called Anita. I call her Nits!
Did you fight with
David and Anita when you were younger - like most brothers and sisters do?
Nits was all right, but
David and I fought like cat and dog (ah, a pun!). It's funny, we were OK when we were very
small. Then, as we got older, we fought like mad - hated each other. Then, as I got older
again, sort of leaving school age, we came to like each other very much. I think he's
great now - he's a friend!
I believe you were
all brought up in a restaurant owned by your father.
Yes, it's in the centre of
London. I used to be the chef one night a week when the real chef had his night off.
CAT STEVENS hit the
headlines at the age of eighteen and rapidly became one of Britain's most sought-after
young singer/composers. He made hit after hit for Deram. not to mention writing for other
artists, until illness brought him to a halt. Now fully recovered and fighting fit, Cat is
back to take care of business. His new single, 'Where are you', was produced by Mike Hurst
who was responsible for Cat’s earlier hits, and will be released on June13.
" 'Steve Adams' is
quite a nice name, but it sounds like something out of 'Peyton Place' doesn't it"
says Cat Stevens of his own name. But whatever he calls himself, we know that Cat has
proved himself to be one of the boys with all the qualities needed to last for a long time
in the pop business. He sings well and writes terrific songs.
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