Inside Issue #4...
Inside Issue #4...
I'll See You In The Nuthouse Now, just suppose that their singular passion is, in and of itself, quite harmless. They heard a song on the radio, they liked it. Slowly but surely things develop to a point where nothing else matters. They run out and buy every album by the band in question and quite literally devour them. Repeatedly. They turn to second hand record shops and mail order catalogues to find obscure b-sides and bootleg live recordings. They study tour schedules and plot an intersecting route. If they are still managing to hold down a job at this point, it's only to finance their obsession. They drag their few remaining friends along to concerts, converting them into, by definition, fans, once removed. They are able to acknowledge the absurdity of the situation but are powerless to let go. They have a good grasp of reality, insofar as they recognize that it no longer applies to them. They are special. They know something that no one else seems to know. They have told hundreds of people what they know but it's not enough. They must make these people believe.
One day, an amazing revelation happens. They meet another person who feels the same way about the band. They are no longer alone. There is strength in numbers and now, fuel to the fire. Suddenly, in this limited social circle, they are accepted and even encouraged to behave like lunatics. Word begins to spread, the circle enlarges. They will no longer listen to any other music. They acquire pets so they can name them after members of the band. They fill binders with pages of lyrics from their current favourite songs. They invent meaningless polls for their friends to take. Informal competitions spring up over who's behaviour is the most bizarre. Reunions are planned for people who have never met. How long can this go on? Where will it all lead?
Well, we can't say for certain. But, theoretically, sooner or later, there will be a dramatic increase in the diagnosis of mental illness in the communities in which these poor souls reside. Something will have to be done with them, no doubt at the taxpayer's expense. To this end, it would seem the kindest solution to commit these feeble minded individuals someplace together. That way, they won't be boring anyone when they talk continuously about their idols, nor will there be much dispute over what music should be played on the state of the art mulitmedia sound system.
The inflicted souls can spend their days arguing the hidden deepest meaning behind the lyrics of "In The Frame". Or any given Del Amitri song. they can make each other believe. Evenings will be given over to shameless promotion of the band via marketing schemes and promotional items suitable for mass consumption. They won't be given any stamps though, so none of it will reach the very public that sought to silence them in the first place. If they do sleep, those few happy hours will be filled with dreams of the last live gig they attended before being captured. The only drug required will be the chord progression for the current single. It will be a happy place, indeed, nirvana for those in on the secret of the music in question.
If obsessions are empowered, such is the power of Del Amitri. And if that's the case, I'll see you in the nuthouse.
76. Justin's name tag on his bunk on the bus
77. Hearing them over the PA in a grocery store
78. "...why don't you get it over with and walk out of my life?"
79. The two 'Scottish' words for beer: ale, and beer
80. Surprising humility from a band on the verge of superstardom
81. They give really funny interviews
82. The many versions of singles, CD and vinyl that we can go bankrupt collecting
83. Their refreshing, honest cynicism
84. Facial hair that's never boring
85. "We gave away our innocence when we were fifteen, and since then I've been trying to get mine back
86. The way Justin's hair hangs in his eyes
87. Iain's talent of smoking and playing at the same time
88. Black satin and leather for New Years Eve
89. When Justin plays b-sides and laughs when he forgets the lyrics
90. The between-song banter
91. "Every precious second is a chance to change"
92. The fun cover tunes they throw into their shows
93. Justin lying on the stage singing at the House Of Blues in LA
94. The guys playing turmpets as a practical joke on Josh Clayton-Felt
95. They read I&P!
96. The precious picture inside the "Driving" single
97. A lack of fashion sense you can count on
98. "Just as the early bird catches the worm, the early cat catches the bird"
99. The countless hours of enjoyment they've given us - - Thanks!!!
100. The way their songs touch our hearts.
 
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