Got the tape this morning Jackie - thanks for that. Impressive notepaper by the way !

Lyndsay please don't compare boybands to the second greatest band of all time, the Beatles. Boybands are manufactured, packaged record company eye-candy for pre-pubescent girls who predominantly 'sing' cover versions and rarely write there own songs or play any instruments. Even your beloved A1's biggest hit was a cover of an A-Ha song. These so called boy 'bands' (I don't know how they can be bands without playing instruments) are here today gone tomorrow (when they start shaving, getting married, having kids etc. i.e. turn into adults). Boybands pre New Kids on the Block (who were the prototype for all the recent crop/crap) were actual bands who wrote/played their own stuff e.g. Bros, A-Ha, Duran, the Rollers and back to the Beatles and were much the better for it.

Well said Rick, spot on, couldn't agree with you more.

What a load of shite you talk Rick. You really must get your facts straight before opening that mouth of yours. You can be quiet as well Cliff. I don't know why I'm even bothering to reply to such prejudiced comments. Thank god Colombia records and the BRITS panel hold less prejudiced views. Wonder who they beat to Best Newcomers last year, that would be interesting to find out? Compared to The Stones, the Beatles were most definitely a boyband, but you weren't around for much of the 60s so you must not remember all the screaming girls etc. A1 actually very much admire The Beatles, can harmonise just as well and can even do a pretty good take-off of the band as seen on tv recently. Christian even attended the Paul McCartney Fame School!!!

FYI - over half of both albums written SOLELY by the band members, only ONE cover out of a total 27 album tracks (not bad for any band), 7 singles - all top 10, 2 No1s, with only the AHA cover not written by the band. Instruments - must have been a figment of my imagination that Mark was playing keyboards and Christian the guitar on TV at the w/e??!! Mark has played piano since age 3, Ben also plays piano, Christian is a trained classical pianist and has done all the guitar work on the new album.

Working on the new album, Mike Hedges quoted as saying 'Apart from being very good songwriters, the guys are amazing musicians'. As he's worked with U2 and Travis that's a hell of a compliment but I guess given your expert opinions you'd disagree with him as well Rick. If they knock Mr Harrison off the top slot at the w/e I'll cry with laughter. However charity records do have a habit of sticking around for a while. Anyway, A1s last album went double platinum so I don't think they will be too worried by your comments Rick.

Wilke - can't remember which tape it was you were going to do for me. I think I remember you said you'd done 2 - 1 for me and 1 for someone else. I'll see if there are any clues on my emails at home and post something here to let you know. Is your email still down ?

I never bought any Skids albums when they were released but Steve sent me a tape with 2 on in December and I can't stop playing them. The Absolute Game is full of wonderful songs.

First Record 'Part of the Union' - Strawbs. First gig Tom Robinson Band at the Ulster Hall early '79. As far as boybands and manufactured groups go - they've been around forever - what about the Monkees. I quite liked 5 but I think they've split up. Lindsay - if you're succumbing to colds and flu try Enchinaforce drops available from any health shop. You take about 15 drops in water regularly and it helps to build up your immune system. Worked brilliantly for me.

Good to see you back on form Rick ! There's nothing like the odd controversial generalisation to stir someone up ! And what does Lindsay mean - us girls will SOON be the dominant force. Domination has never come from volume on this site ! To add my bit - I don't think it's the Boy Band tag that's offensive. If there was a punk band back in '77 that simply played crap covers of other peoples songs that were manufactured by a svengali producer and had a band that you never saw to play all their instruments I don't think I'd have liked them a lot. Mind you - I did like the Monkee's apparently when I was 4.

Wilke - what are you sending Ernie ? I've just sent 2 cd's to him - the Moondogs album and singles and a live gig from 2000 with the 2001 demo's. Don't think he needs them twice ! If it was something else let me know what you've got.

Good debating Lyndsay & Rick. I have a different view of this boy bands malarky: I personally don't mind them. Some of the records are quite good though I wouldn't buy them meself. However I do have a problem with the mass media's selective coverage of music. Far from representing the musical taste of the majority of kids/teenagers/'young adults', radio & tv stations promote certain genres ahead of others, thus distorting the chart and perpetuating the imbalance. Twats.

F#ckin ell, I need a pint of Natch after spouting that bo!!ocks!

Lyndsay not being a boyband expert I stand corrected on your A1 statistics. However, I was talking in general terms of all the Westlifes, Boyzones, Take Thats, Upside Downs, Bad Boys Inc, Northern Lines, 911's, 5ive's, Backstreet Boys, Nsync, etc. etc. all of whom have songs written performed for them (by record company songwriters and session musicians)and just sing them. Its also true that most of these 'bands' singles (A1 excepted obviously) are covers. For your information I too don't mind them (for obvious reasons) and rate E17 and 'Deep' as the best boyband & song of that ilk of the last 10 years. What I object to is trying to compare their talents (or lack of) to previous decades 'boybands' (and yes I know girls screamed at the Beatles and therefore qualify but their music and influence was cross-gender and became something far more significant post their Beatlemania early years).

As an afterthought can anyone explain why it generally needs 5 pretty boys to sing a song. Surely it couldn't be just to get more girls fancying their favourite (the rough one, the gay one, the serious one, the cheeky one and the muscular one) and thereby sell more records eh ?

Vinny, any mail I`ve sent to you is being returned to me - there obviously is a problem. Anyway, without going into any detail here Martin Roach is awaiting something from Damien(!). If he really wasn`t interested, he wouldn`t be emailing me again. Damien should contact him asap or at least mail me if he has doubts or queries.

alex d have done that skids song for you as well as some others also a band doing covers of undertones songs just let me know were to send the tape ok

lee i was going to send him the moondogs album but now he has them i wont send it ps i have a moondogs cd if anyone wants it just let me know found a single by a group call kissing the pink called the last very good song did they do anymore stuff ps vinny will get the tape back as soon as i can ok

lee i think it was the undertones doc i was going to send you if you want it let me know will take about three weeks to get it ok bye

ps found undertones teenage kicks today with the poster in great will try to get it copy so cmos can post it on the web bye

Thank you Dr Magee, I'll try some of that!!

Point taken Rick, so don't discourage bands who try and break the mould (see review p563 Ch.1 teletext). The concept of boy/girlbands is old hat now anyway - apparently its duos this year. By the way stop spelling my name wrong all of yous!

Julius, are you going to one or more of the film showings this week?

Vinny anymore news if the film is coming to Tyneside cinema?

My favourite duo was Dollar (seriously!) They had some brilliant songs. I don't reckon anyone could top them!I've just had a reply to my post on the Moondogs website from Gerry. Wow. He was fab. Probably still is.

I've been taking Echinacea for years Lindsay but still suffer from numerous colds. I just don't suffer as badly. Also take Glucosamine Sulphate with Chrondoitin for my joints before I get too old. To dance for 80 minutes non-stop at concerts I would suggest Dextrin/Dextrose.

Wow just got caught up on the last day or twos postings. All out war between Lindysay and Rock about boy bands. Its no mystery about boy bands. Everyone knows each boy band is mass produced in a large factory near the Isle of Wight. The record industry puts a large battery in them which is solar powered hence their need for permanent suntans. Their faces are chosen by the record companies executives from the Ikea catalogue. The pieces are made from the leftovers of Michael jackson and seaweed washed up on Leigh on Sea. The shelf life is either three number ones hits, one year, or up until they say something naughty. If you dont believe me look what happened to Spliff Club Seven! Its true, its true.

Sorry Ive blown it, it was Steps not S Club 7 that just split up(=returned to factory for melting down).

Lindsay, -only joking. Seriously, I am sure A1 will be the band to 'break the mould'. Last years seaweed batch wasnt the strongest and the mould could crack at any time.

There will be some film news here very soon, as soon as we have dates confirmed etc. I can tell you that there are at least 6 screenings in England and Scotland already!!ERNIE: There are no problems with my email this end, I'll try and send you another later and ye can check the email address.Talk soon

Sounds good Vinny especially the Scotland bit! The full 'Teenage Kicks' was just played on 'Jackass' on E4 on the telly. If anyone hasnt seen it its about a bunch of skateboarders and general loons who do ludicous stunts. It sthe best programme on the Tv. Its also made my MTV and I think the original series was shown on MTV.Talk about great exposure for The Undertones and probably a much younger new audience. The films should sell out in no time at all Vinny. I wait with baited breath!

jackie is the boy from dollar now in buck fizz .donald your a brave man to come between lindsay and her boy bands even if they are all crap [sorry lindsay i don`t what came over me must have been possess by the spirts of good bands from the past who are turning over in there graves]so see ya

donald good news for about the band playing i hope to be going over are you going over to scotland with the film wife in a bad moon man u got beat tonight ps donald dont forget you promise to take me round some ale house`s

You've lost me there Wilke - too much ale already I think! You seem to be very knowledgeable about boyband processing centres Donald. Perhaps you were the prototype returned back to the factory for extensive changes! (only joking of course).

what a waste of our luvverly seaweed.

Phoned the Ocean tonight and it sounds as though the gig isn't gonna happen at all now.What a sickener, I had a bit of a crowd coming with me as its only an hour from here.bummer.

Bens my favourite from A1 but hes a little crazy ya know.