Seems to me that it refers to the Bonnie Bramlett incident:
"A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals" seems to refer to the alcohol (chemicals) and the mirror that the press holds up to celebrities when they make a "brilliant" mistake. The "brilliant mistake" being, of course, his attempt to stifle conversation by being (as he put it) as offensive as possible - brilliant in the (drunk) moment, but a mistake in (sober) hindsight.
But the song is great because it can be interpreted as any "brilliant mistake", and we've all made them.
Seems to me that it refers to the Bonnie Bramlett incident:
"A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals" seems to refer to the alcohol (chemicals) and the mirror that the press holds up to celebrities when they make a "brilliant" mistake. The "brilliant mistake" being, of course, his attempt to stifle conversation by being (as he put it) as offensive as possible - brilliant in the (drunk) moment, but a mistake in (sober) hindsight.
But the song is great because it can be interpreted as any "brilliant mistake", and we've all made them.
[Edit: Got the name wrong]