She was the crazy-haired singer in the Thompson Twins. Now Alannah Currie is back, in a new incarnation as artist-upholsterer.

On becoming an upholsterer…
I wanted to make something useful. Chairs are incredible objects, as well as being the place where you sit and tell stories. I decided to use them to tell dark tales, but first I had to learn the craft, so I went to London Metropolitan University and spent two years learning from the old blokes. It was physically hard, my fingers bled, my back ached and I cried a lot.

On the Thompson Twins…
We lasted until 1992. We finally decided we’d said everything we wanted to say with music. I went back to New Zealand with my husband, Tom [Bailey, lead singer of the Thompson Twins], and our children, Indie, two months, and Jackson, five. It was the great escape from the music business. We’ve been offered loads of money to re-form, but I’d rather vomit on my boots.

On the pop star lifestyle…
One day in 1986, I had breakfast in LA with Timothy Leary and dinner in New York with Andy Warhol. That was fantastic.

On crazy 80s hair…
It took a lot of effort and energy, which could have been spent on something more productive. But, hell, it was fun.

Julian Benjamin
The Guardian Weekend, 26 April 08

An exhibition of Ms Currie’s work is currently showing in London. For more information follow this link to the exhibition website.

Click here to see the full Guardian article or click here to view coverage in The Independent.