I’ve followed up most of Jim’s school classmates, both close friends, like Brad Jones or Jim McLaughlin, and those who merely looked on from afar (many of these latter were either impressed or irritated by his confidence, and convinced he came from a wealthy background). Today I got a short, but intriguing note from Ann McArtor, who helped organise the High School reunion.

 

Several interviewees, including Gary Lachman, Nick Kent and others , recall a distinctive aspect of Iggy’s behaviour, where he would draw people in, acting all pleasant - and then then slap them away without any of the expected social niceties. Gary remembers how Iggy might start a conversation, perhaps about a book or something Gary was interested in: “You’re feeling like they’re interested in what you’re saying and [you tell them all about it] and you’ve made yourself kind of open. And you turn a corner and [there’s] some sort of remark that puts you back in your place and says, ‘Ha! Ha! You thought I was opening up to you but I’m not really!’ Then you get burned a little bit and learn not to be so…young and impressionable.  I think it was a sort of control thing.”

 

I’d put that “I’m interested - but not that interested” casual rudeness down to typical star behaviour. But Ann’s short, illuminating note showed that this behaviour was innate, not learned, at least in Iggy’s case. “He was funny, with a quirky take on things, really smart and interesting, and I always enjoyed him a lot. Sometimes he would call me at home. We'd be having a lively conversation and then, abruptly, with absolutely no niceties or wind down, he would say, "Okay, goodbye." Either he didn't like where the conversation was headed or he'd gotten bored (probably the latter) and he was gone.”

 

So, if it’s not being a star that makes you self-obsessed, does that mean that only self-obsessed people become stars?