Cornered

Welcome to the show.

Today, we're going to be playing two hours

of the music with Brian Corner

on the anniversary of his death.

We're gonna start the show off today with the music

from the Arthur Fisher film that never got made.

she draws real good

as a young Clint Eastwood

he writes great songs

he never sends them out

he writes like Capote

the words that he wrote, yeah

photos like Cartier-Bresson

middle of the night to say

middle of the night to say

Dorothy, sweetheart, come here a sec.

Look over these.

These two pictures are of the same person.

I can't really tell.

It's blurry and it's of his back.

He's got a hat and glasses in that one.

Who is it?

Brian Corner. Musician from the '80s.

Never heard of him.

Well, you haven't heard of anyone.

- That's 'cause I'm not obsessed with fame, like some.

- I'm not obsessed with fame. It's just curious, you know.

He fell off the face of the earth

when he was about to hit the big time.

Supposedly died.

He just went missing.

He's like a cult artist now.

I think I heard the story.

He took a boat out to sea, but,

he just was gone.

Hmm. Sounds fishy.

You know, they found a boat.

It was not him.

Suicide?

Well, why would he do that?

I mean, just throw himself off a bridge

or eat cyanide or something?

- Many people have their own reasons for doing

what they do when they kill themselves.

Can't always make sense of it.

No, it was just too easy.

If there's no body, there's no death.

- It's not unusual to not find a body, especially at sea.

Yeah, but the idea that he was suicidal,

and a heroin addict, it's complete bollocks.

Was there a suicide note?

No, it's too obvious.

Or the truth?

He woulda turned up by now if it was a hoax.

People are always looking for a hoax or conspiracy.

And he would've needed help.

Yeah, and he's had a lotta help,

and he's got away with it for a long time.

But I'm telling you, I'm gonna get him this time.

David Watford's spot on.

So what if he is alive?

If he wants to be dead, let him be dead.

If I sell these, when I sell these,

tell you what,

we could go anywhere in the world.

Where'd you wanna go?

- I'm going to the kitchen and do the dishes.

Oh, come on.

Live it up. Come on.

Apparently Nevada has more

Brian Corner sightings than any other US state.

I'm not sure how they measure these things.

Sometimes I think someone's pulling my leg.

Arthur Fisher's "Ticket to the Bridge"

wasn't made for various reasons.

The only thing that still exists in reality

is Brian Corner's soundtrack.

Good evening, folks.

My guest this evening is David Watford,

who was good enough to send me

an advance copy of his book, "Cornered."

So let's turn to our guest this evening.

That's a pretty big claim you're making in your book,

which I read, and did not enjoy.

Really? Well, you're one of a very few.

- Oh, well, it doesn't take away from the fact

that Corner's is a pretty low-hanging fruit.

- What was it that you didn't like about it?

The premise is that Brian Corner's still alive.

Well, only time will tell.

But it's been a long time.

Are you hoping this book will prompt him

to come out of hiding?

Well, maybe, but I actually think

it will push him deeper into hiding.

- Look, it's been 25 years since he's died.

Uh, disappearance.

OK, disappeared, if you must.

Thank you.

- Why not leave him alone? Why do you want to unearth him?

Well, 'cause there's an interest.

So what? Is it worthy?

- Well, you know, I like a good story, a good mystery.

And worthiness is relative.

This is Brian Corner's story.

I think he set up his disappearance.

- So it's like a Madeleine McCann meets Harry Houdini?

You know, he's a complicated man.

Maybe he can explain everything when he reappears.

- He might've died in the 25 years that he's been hiding.

- Yeah, that's possible, but he was very healthy.

Wasn't he a heroin addict?

Debatable.

What would you like to see happen

if he comes out of hiding?

- D'you know what, I'd like him to create another album.

I think maybe he could've been making music

for the whole 25 years.

Do you really think that's gonna happen?

See, I'm not buying it. That's wishful thinking.

- Well, yes, it's what I would like to see happen,

'cause I'm a massive fan.

Look, he probably looks a lot different.

He probably sounds a lot different.

His voice has surely matured.

He would have a completely different sound.

- If he's reinvented himself, all the better.

- You might not approve of what he's become.

You know, I'm open to change.

- Where would he be hiding, if he's hiding?

He could be right under our very noses.

Or he could be living in a log cabin somewhere.

My guess is that he's died,

and you are milking the public that thrive on conspiracies.

- Well, now, you can think what you wanna think,

but only time can tell.

When "Cornered" hits the shelves,

where can the public buy it?

So "Cornered" hits the shelves tomorrow,

and the public can buy it

in any respectable bookshop and online.

- D'you think Brian Corner will be purchasing a copy?

If he's still around, that is?

- Well, you know, he may be living in solitude somewhere,

and never know that the book is there.

But if he does know, I think he'll buy it,

I think he'll read it, and I think he'll enjoy

reading about the mystery that he set up.

I just don't like the thought of someone

capitalizing on someone else's debt.

It don't sit right with me, all right?

I mean, I know all the rumors. All the conspiracy theories.

"Oh, Brian Corner's still alive!"

All that old bollocks.

It's not right.

He'd blow his bloody head off.

- Well, you'll always get that sort of thing.

It happened with Elvis, Michael Jackson, Cobain.

You know, that fellow that blew his brains out.

There will always be conspiracies.

Don't make it right, though, does it?

Don't worry about it then.

- So I want to send a message to these people.

Teach 'em not to spread lies.

How do you know it's a lie?

Maybe it's the truth.

Oh, bollocks.

He's paid people to change their stories, hasn't he?

He's just a hack job.

Just to sell his book and make some bloody money.

You can't blame people for making money.

Are they hurting anyone by doing it?

And besides,

maybe it is true.

So you believe it then, do ya?

- I don't know Brian Corner like you do, so.

Will you just listen to yourself?

You're talking like he's still alive.

He's dead, mate, all right, yeah?

He died 25 years ago.

That's what they say.

I'm not so sure after reading that book.

- You're unfuckingbelievable, you know that?

You actually believe it, don't you?

Listen, I don't know what I believe.

It's just a story for me.

I'm not invested in the man like you are, so.

I didn't know him like you did.

So what do you want me to believe?

I only read the book because you gave it to me.

- You people. You're so gullible, aren't ya?

Listen, listen.

Whether you like it or not, people like good conspiracies.

People believe Jesus Christ died on the cross

and he came back to life.

Why is it so hard for you to believe

that the man faked his own death?

I think you need to chill out. Check.

I'm a realist, mate.

I don't buy into other people's bullshit.