OK list opening again now. Here's a mail to start you off - Stuart M and Chris's little column they're writing for the Glasgow University Guardian paper (not THE Guardian). Katrina from the band office sent it me to send along - she says she will send them regularly, bless her. And yes, the irony of it being a diary is not lost on me. Now, do the right thing. Honey ******* DIARY OF A BAND 29th September 1999 Belle & Sebastian write for Guardian. No, really. My first deadline is here and I am not in LA. This doesn't happen to Honor Fraser. It's not even as I've had a particularly busy day. I skived the morning because I'd been playing bass particularly badly on a tune last night. I didn't want to hear it again straight away. After I'd cleaned the house I spent some time phoning record dealers down south to try to get some new tunes for DJ gigs I've got coming up. The band has been in the studio for the past several weeks recording for a new LP. It should have been finished by now but it isn't, although a lot has been done. The other week everyone got a letter from the label with a schedule explaining how it takes 20 weeks from when we're finished to when the album is released. This means it won't be out until well into next year, which wasn't what we'd originally hoped. Sometimes the process of recording can be pretty wearing. After your initial enthusiasm for a new song and enjoyment of playing what seems like a good take, you then have to face up to your own inability or lack of taste. In the cold light of day the tune is worked on until it's finished to everyone's satisfaction. When you are playing you can't think you're good. Afterwards is harder. That's when you start comparing your efforts to your favourites. Fortunately, I work with people with the talent and enthusiasm to see things through and have a purpose to what they're doing. When I finally went along to the studio today Bel was mixing a different tune and it sounded amazing. Chris Geddes to be continued ... DIARY OF A BAND 13th October 1999 The next thrilling installment of 'Guardian's' exclusive Belle & Sebastian diary The band aren't up to much at the minute so there's not much to tell you. Bel's making her second LP just now so most of us are playing for her. It's sounding very good just now, but she's got quite a bit to go so I shan't curse it by telling you much about it. I bumped into Richard this morning on the way to Dublin. It's quite rare to see him, although I share a flat with him. He manages to be the only one in the band to live a sort of celebrity lifestyle apart from maybe Stuart David. Mick gets around quite a lot but doesn't quite have the knack of stepping easily from hotel lobby to award ceremony to party the way Richard does. Richard told me he was going to Dublin to pick up an award but fuck knows what it's for! Mick has just been voted 48th most eligible bachelor in Scotland by a Sunday newspaper. Probably some horny journalist just made it up but it may help him to get invited to the sort of parties that Richard gets invited to. Just as long as he keeps playing with the fabulous Amphetameanies, because that's what he's best at. I haven't seen Sarah, but I do know that Stevie's gone to play jazz with a man called Bill Wells in Aberdeen. Beans has gone to play Northern Soul in the south, and Stuart David's book 'Nalda Said' came out this week, which is very good. So I think everyone's pretty happy. Me and Richard spent last weekend collecting jumble in a van for our sale on Saturday. I put up notices in the University but you didn't come. It must've been too early for you. You missed a lot of good stuff. It's a good way to save on clothes and furniture. But it's funny the stuff people try to give you ... old pants, little bits of plastic. We spent most of the time trying not to piss ourselves. If you have any queries or problems about how to be a student, or what bus to get, or whatever, you may write to me care of 'Guardian'. the band's full of people that have perfected a 'student lifestyle'. What with your Rector being away all the time you must be feeling a bit abandoned ... Stuart Murdoch +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the reborn Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail "sinister@majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo@majordomo.net". WWW: http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "jelly-filled danishes" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+