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ALS signed "Love, Courtney," seven pages, 7.75 x 10.5, no date but circa 1993–1994. Handwritten letter to Christof Ellinghaus, owner of the German record label City Slang, mostly related to the release of Hole's second album, Live Through This. In the remarkable letter, she refers to Kurt Cobain and Nirvana's Nevermind, the Smashing Pumpkins and Billy Corgan, and the songs 'Doll Parts,' 'Violet,' and 'Jennifer's Body,' while commenting on corruption in the music industry as a whole.
In part: "Now that was some letter. Well. I want to believe yas. I also want to fuck up the ass and slip it in the Loders, Albinis, and Hirschbergs who have invalidated me coz I got my fucking cake and I want to eat it too. I am going to bleed to make this record great, if I stay with you, I have a few problems… I am scared of Caroline's E.P. for one. I've titled it, and given it good artwork and it's a fucking Peel session. I want to be cool like Kurt where he was so cool he didn't even put Dive or Sliver on Nevermind—a lot of the yanks especially Lewis Largent a top MTV programmer take cues from the Slimey Press. In the case of Belly for instance—not a chance—but they debuted at #2 in the Slimeys and thus got Buzz bin. This did not work here for Polly Jean however. She's too 'scary' and part of that is the Double Date of Polly and Albini, not a pretty sight, brilliant by cold clinical and redundant even to me, coz I've been in 'touch with my vagina' and done that albeit a lot more sloppily than her and yes, three (really three? years ago—no it came out the same week in the UK as Gish and Nevermind. And that was two).
Also not to criticize her coz she's her and I'm me, in some ways where she goes, I go… However I do not fall into the Dylanesque—12 bar blues trap I untrained myself from that mannerism years ago—I am pop, pop, fuck yes, stop.
Now, is this RTM you guy now? Will he be mine? Suede & Belly did fab. I'm sorry but I need/want to do fab too…I have just had some genius shirts made as well not dumb tannis root S.Y. shirts but very cool and very us. So I know they will sell.
Since I've lent the Caroline E.P. so much credence I am fucked coz I want Doll parts and Violet on this L.P., and I'm afraid it won't be marketed for what it is. A jerk off Peel session…
I am touring with Evan—yes, Evan—sweet ass Evan—here in Nov/Dec I got a Pearl Jam opening slot. Vomit. But it's for a good cause. Did 6000 singles come back in returns? Wow…
Let me ask you this if Nevermind came out on Subpop my guess is 250,000 and they couldn't do much more. So, in Europe if you had Nevermind could you have handled it? I know the key to Europe is touring. I hate the fucking press and I don't trust them anymore. My press allies are American—what would your plan be for press? You know media shutdowns do work… the English are slimes and I blew my face cover…
So what's my press plan? No interviews? Reviews? Do I have to open for the Pumpkins or can I still sell ULU, etc.? I don't know my worth any more…Can I tour the continent w/ no product? And if the Peel sessions come out that will fuck the surprise of a well produced Violet and my little Viola bit on Doll Parts. So can I tour good size venues on nothing? (I want to—and stay out and build up until the L.P. comes out).
I've got a 50/50 London feminist contingent. They will fight for me. Still they're slime. I need to get over there before Kurt comes and burns all my bridges. This would mean Dec/Jan. What T.V. is left for me? I need to create the buzz again and behave like a fucking 'artiste.' I also need to make 2 good videos. One for 'Miss World' and one for 'Jennifers Body' if you've heard the roughs they are nothing. Compared with the finals. Who pays for these? Geffen?
And like I said, I am not being preposterous but if I take back the night by force of will, (it's possible) do some acoustic 'artiste' shows (I may get it back. I just don't know what press to do—if any). My original question could you take this all the way if it can go that way, I mean HMV, Virgin, Tower, or… is that the domain of the majors? You must tell me the truth. I realize you believe in me and are very ambitious. These things are great but aren't the fucking charts rigged by the Majors? And isn't MCA Europe now Geffen? I know I shipped the same as Billy Fucking I am in so much pain Corgan.
Also, Anna may think I am Diva du Paranoia, but, and I'm not being condescending, everyone is out of their league when it comes to me. They are rabid to kick my ass and replace me with virgins. Hymens = vocal chords… big connection… they will say anything to get me. And the only way I can possibly do interviews is to communicate w/ the writer beforehand… see the mag… see everything s/he has written re: me and women in the past two years… Christof, if you can handle it, if I go, I wanna go all the way, if I don't so fucking what, but I'd like to take the credit for failing. Can you handle it if it gets big? Can you create or help create the tie ins and hype and all that Limey shit? That's all…
I have no problem sticking with you, none, I only think that Geffen UK has more pull, more ads, all that shit. It seems very corrupt. To me it seems I should tour on nothing to warm them up but has our audience become smaller?"
She adds a postscript: "P.S. and since you control the Peel session release when do you plan to release it so as not to fuck with my one big trick… my element of surprise… good songs….?" In fine condition.
