Needlegun

[Christian Mumford]

> > > ---
> > > Needle Gun - actually refers to Jerry Cornelius, an alternate, contemporary
> > > version of Elric.  *The Final Programme*, the first Cornelius story, is a
> > > re-writing of *The Dreaming City* in modern dress, in which Jerry's needle
> > > gun fills a similar role to Elric's sword Stormbringer.
> > > ---
> >
> > This is half remembered from over a decade ago so don't laugh if I'm
> > wrong... After the CotBS gig in Sheffield we hung around and had a word
> > with Brock. Someone asked him about Needle Gun - was it a weapon that
> > Elric used? Brock said that the song was about drugs.
> >
> > Make of this what you will, I make no claims for accuracy. Can you
> > back me up on this Big Mike W? (You were there weren't you?).
> >
>


oops



> OK. First of all, both Jerry Cornelius and Elric are (soul) junkies.
> Cornelius used to shoot speed and heroin and snort cocaine. Both Elric
> an Yrkoon had a black sword, Stormbringer and Mournblade, and both Frank
> and Jerry Cornelius each had a black Needlegun (but they also used
> vibraguns and heat guns). Like most of the Eternal Champion's weapons,
> they were splinters of some evil, sentient hell-thing which plagued all
> of the Eternal Champions to some extent, most noticably Cornelius and
> Elric. Erokese had a poison black sword, and I believe Corum had a
> "Moonsword" or some such thing. I've read about 35 of Moorcock's books
> (years ago, tho') because I became so fascinated with the connections he
> planted throughout the books. I believe these weapons are Moorcocks
> metaphors for certain drugs being weapons against one's own inner
> demons, but all to often with a bad catch in the end (if drugs are taken
> for that reason alone- escape from oneself, they'll catch up with you in
> the end). Don't get me wrong, I don't think Moorcock would be preaching
> against drugs, and I wouldn't either. Its a matter of choice. Some drugs
> are fun, some are tools and some just kill you. Depends on the
> individual I suppose (and the Eternal Champions like Elric and Jerry
> had enough problems to deal with). Jeez, I'm rambling, but hopefully
> somebody knows what I'm trying to say!
>
> BTW, I have the Jerry Cornelius-flick "The Final Programme" on tape...
> weird little movie.
>
> Christian