Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch: ‘Songs tumble out like dreams – you can’t control them’

The band’s leader reveals the gig that changed it all, why launderettes are central in his life and how he found God while on the dole Can you please explain what exactly an “Arab strap” is [as in the song The Boy with the Arab Strap]? Asking for a friend … Lennon The funny thing is I can’t! I know it’s something vaguely sexual, but the reference was to Arab Strap, the band. I gave the gold disc for it to my mum, who put it up in her living room. When the minister came round for tea, he was looking at the gold record and reading the label, so there was an awkward moment. After that, she gave it back to me. Continue reading...