Despotic Leaders of the World

Two interesting articles in The Gonad today, both on perfectionist leaders who make huge demands on their employees. First this, on The Fall: Dave Simpson tracks down everyone who has ever been a member of Mark E Smith's band:

Some of this was tongue-in-cheek. Smith confessed to me that he used to fine drummers £5 each time they hit the tom-tom, and that on tour in Europe he would employ the 'European phrasebook', sending guitarists to say things like 'I am a flower' in German. Hanley's brother Paul, a drummer, remembers how one of Smith's favourite jokes was to 'take new members abroad just so he could send them home'."

(I'm not a fan, but it's interesting reading.)

And then this on Steve Jobs' preparations for his famous keynote addresses:

I believe it is one of the most important aspects of Steve Jobs's impact on Apple: he has little or no patience for anything but excellence from himself or others.