Here's my useless thoughts on recent list subjects, skim as applicable: 1) Rock Legends Part 374: The Jeepster Story Yes, Orlando were signed to the label in December 1995, but sadly didn't release anything for boring money-related reasons. From Sarah to Jeepster to Mike Alway/Geoff Travis' Blanco Y Negro. We have taste, what can I say? Mark Jones had a Post-It by the desk that said "SKIN UP YOU CAAAANT", which I always wondered about, but was too afraid to ask. 2) Claims to Fame I think it's funny that a mailing list for a band that (commendably) rejects the fame and PR machine so much should be concerned with prostrating themselves before "names"... it seems Baudrillard was right. Still, the Jim Morrison one was pretty impressive. As for me, I could relay many anecdotes and scurrilous tales since entering the evil music business. But here's a few: I've been on a homosexual TV show, playing guitar with the words "Miserable Spice" written up my arm. You could read my lyrics on Ceefax as the song played. Noel Gallagher came over to me at an aftershow party once when I was in full eyeliner and shiny suit mode, and was so charming I won't have a bad word said against him. My friend Howard tried to chat up Gore Vidal the other week when I was with him. Oh, and I met Russell Harty once. He took the mickey out of my gran's Weight Watchers autograph book. And my album has had great reviews in Gay Times and Penthouse UK. But my proudest moment to date is this: the latest issue of the Pastels newsletter, "Pastelism", namechecks me as cool. Noel who? 3) Tigermilk copies Amelia Fletcher has one. Blanco Y Negro has at least one. Ian Watson, Melody Maker writer, has one. Sandy Blair, internet wizard friend of mine has one. Harvey Williams, who thinks B & S are the Orchids without the beerguts, has one. I don't have a copy myself: but like the Pooh Sticks song, I've got it on tay-ay-ape. Along with everything by the Ronettes. I've got "Falling and Laughing". The original Postcard version. I've got The Pastels' "Songs for Children". Sky Saxon's solo album... Sorry, I'll get a grip. I do recall "Tigermilk" coming out, and (heresy alert!) really hating the sleeve. To me it looked like some bad heavy metal group was behind it. Girls with no clothes on fronting boys' music. It made it into Select magazine's corner of dubious sleeve artwork, I remember. I still think the cover image is a bit creepy... the childhood purity of cuddly toys sullied by the adult nudity of breast-feeding. But then, the Tellytubbies give me the screaming ab-dabs too. Thankfully the subsequent B&S artwork has proved to be much loved in my world. But who cares what I think? 4) Sarah 100 Party - Why Violence Is Entirely Justifiable Against Music Critics I'm always pleased to see the old "Sarah 100 Tim Chipping/Neil Bouquet" ruckus rearing its lovely head on internet mailing lists over two years later. Tim, the signer of Shelly (cat no SARAH 98) and Orlando is a hot-headed firebrand of a waif who spent his formative years surviving on a rough council estate in Poole, Dorset. You can all sneer safely behind your computers now, but I dare you to cross him in the flesh. Neil out of Bouquet frankly had it coming to him, even his ex-girlfriend congratulated Tim afterwards. It was a vicarious thrill for many good people and a blow against the myopic, kneejerk, lazy critics and cowardly little shits of this world. I was honoured that he got himself thrown out defending a record I made and I'm amused that Tim's actions clearly upstaged the rest of that evening's tweefest (Bristol, summer 1995). There should be a blue plaque on that boat. I myself am completely incapable of violence, I take it out on myself and on guitars, which is a shame because there are so many names on my dartboard these days. Thoughts of hurting certain journalists, for example, cross my mind daily. Any Americans here willing to get me a Uzi? I can swap.... (snip!) Belle and Sebastian leaving the NME out in the rain? Great stuff, but next time if Murdoch and co want to gang up and "do a Bjork" on a journalist I'll happily hold their coats. Don't phone, it's only a bit of fun. dickon x Fosca homepage: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/4152 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net . We're all happy bunnies humming happy bunny tunes. Aren't we? -----------------------------------------------------------------------