Subject: Level 42 Digest, #210 ===================== * LEVEL 42 DIGEST * ===================== Digest 210 Saturday, 10/08/94 85 subscribers Today's messages: Are you addicted? All you lucky Brits... Bob C's 42 cents Re: Level 42 Digest, #209 ------------------------------ From: "Jan D. Berkeley" Date: Fri, 7 Oct 1994 09:04:48 +0000 Subject: Are you addicted? Geez! Y'all are a serious lot! Being a stateside L42 fan, I've never met anyone that's like the group as much as myself. I've learned a lot since joining the mailing list. I'd think the mailing list would be the one place where one could profess one's admiration for the group, in whatever way. If one can't be slightly geeky about the group in the mailing list (where kindred souls abound and actually know who the heck you're talking about), then where can one? That's not to say, of course, that some of us aren't just a WEE bit fanatical about the group. And I've figured out a way for you to be able to tell... Just think about it. Have you done 6 or more of the following: - Named your offspring after a band member? - Named your offspring or yourself after a song title? - Gone to excessive lengths to obtain boots or videos? - Bought releases in two or more formats? Or bought multiple releases to keep one set at home, one at work, in car, etc? - Dreamt about the band members? - Listened to anything NOT produced by group members this week? This month? This year? - Tossed one's underwear at the stage while band members were performing? - Travelled over 2000 miles in a single tour to see band members live? - Been recognized by the band after not seeing them for a year? - Received a restraining order? - Dressed up like a band member for Halloween? - Actually met band members? - Been caught in a compromising position with either a band member or a roadie? (or not caught?) - Placed yourself in a compromising position with a roadie just to get to a band member? - Followed up a person's conversation with quotes from a song? Example: someone says "It's over" and you say (or sing) "and I ain't coming back"? - Gone home and play that song? - Called up strangers just to talk about L42? - Been called a groupie by EVERYONE after you describe your summer vacation? - Blacked out on a tour bus? - Sleep with a band member's photograph and/or signature underneath your pillow? - Done air bass (actually, I'd be surprised if any of us HADN'T! :)? - Spent more than $50 this month on music originally released over 10 years ago? - Questioned and/or analyzed song lyrics? There's probably a LOT more I could have put on the list, but this is a good start... Be fair to yourself, your families, your friends, and those who share your turntables and/or CD players and have to listen to what you play...the first step is to admit your addiction. I should mention that I've never seen them live, and I'm jealous as can be of all the UK dates that are flying around. However, one of my favorite groups just got back together and I thought that'd never happen (I waited 13 years and not only got to see them play live twice, but got to meet the band members), so who knows? Keep the faith, everyone... -- Jan D. Berkeley / berkeley @ ganymede.jpl.nasa.gov Cassini CDS SFP Liaison (i.e., rocket scientress!) Jet Propulsion Lab, Pasadena, CA 818-393-2666 [doesn't dare quote a lyric...might anger someone! :) ] ------------------------------ From: Elson "?" Trinidad Date: Fri, 7 Oct 1994 10:11:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: All you lucky Brits... To all of those people who had L42 play in your town recently, could you check if their concert was reviewed in the local newspapers and share with us excerpts of their reviews? I'm curious to find out how their concerts are reviewed over there... Elson ------------------------------ From: BobC971 @ aol.com Date: Fri, 07 Oct 94 14:49:02 EDT Subject: Bob C's 42 cents All, Well, I've been here all of this time, just taking it all in - the comments, the memories, the bickering. Let me start with the breakup. This was really something I think we all feared since the Staring at the Sun days and as each album continued to roll in, fears subsided. At least that's what happened to me. So, yes, I was surprised and disappointed but those emotions are wearing thin and, of course, their breakup seems more understandable. It's just hard to imagine them not together anymore. I was offered a ticket for their final show (Crockford Mgt knows who I am, which is probably really sad). Anyway, couldn't afford the airfare for a roundtrip ticket and I am bumming. Please, I ask of our UK friends, please post your thoughts of that last show if you're there. A touch of irony, the night Mark announced at the Portsmouth gig that this would be the last, I hung out with Danny Blume at a show in New York City - he's the guy who played most of the guitar on the Forever Now album. We had became Email buddies and he invited me down to watch him play. So me an another computer bud went and had a great time. Before the show we talked about an hour about the Level 42 insights and how they work and the grumblings. I really would like to get into this stuff a little bit more in depth, but there's too much to talk about with the breakup. I'll get into it at a later date. And finally, the bickering. I can see a lot of W.A.'s points about the comments sounding like Teen Magazine and all that stuff. But for me, Level 42 was just my favorite group of all time and I think what brings out the comments of dedication from everyone is that we are such a select group. I've always felt that in being a Level 42 nut you were in on the biggest secret in popular music, because they aren't big here in the states. Maybe things are different in the UK, but being a fan here is like trying to impress your girlfriend's father - you always have to prove yourself to get an ear to listen. I will really miss Level 42. According to PCM, Mark's solo album is nowhere near on the way. So we have to keep the conversations going and if that means comparing the band to a religion, who cares?! Like W.A. said, everyone's got their opinions. He just forgot to say that none of them can be right or wrong. TCOY, Bob C. ------------------------------ From: "Robert S. Kadel" Date: Fri, 7 Oct 1994 18:23:57 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Level 42 Digest, #209 > ROFL. nice one, Oh beloved Preist of the Order of Kansas City Milkmen ....<8-} So what does that make us? Servants of the _King_, Lindupeans, or how about just plain WEIRD!? ;) > From: "W.A. Bitchy" > (I bet no one's heard of them, or do y'all listen to one band and one band only?) Give us a break, Bill. Remember, IF this is considered a religion, Mark and Mike are the gods. We've no room for your ego. > ANYWAY, as a bassist, King is one of many influences (but then nowhere near as > important as Jimi or Jan Hammer) as is Stanley (who Mark learned JUST A FEW > licks from), Chris, Louis (most likely from him as well), Pino, Mark, Geddy, > James, Jaco, etc. - if you're a bassist you know who they are. ANYWAY, as a bassist, I know them all, but the difference between you and me is that I don't have to say their names just to prove to everyone on the list what I pompous ass I am. ANYWAY, as a bassist, we do have complete freedom to express our thoughts on this list, but remember what you said about opinions? Well, the stench of yours is so powerful its coming across the data-transmission links and stinking up my office!! ANYWAY, as a bassist, thank you for your input. It was quite enlightening for me to realize that even the emotionally unstable, psychologically insecure, mentally incompetent listen to L42. And here I thought we were all one big happy family. Silly me. :) Enjoy your day, and (as a bassist) "turn it on, whenever you can." Rob I've-had-a-bad-day-and-your-message-didn't-help-so-shut-it Kadel