Rich

I agree with TTL3... 'Newfoundfreedom' is ideal. My favourite local band names are Goldfish Don't Bounce and Gandhi's Flipflop. God only knows how much alcohol/substances was involved in coming up with those.

Fixed.

I am in total awe of anyone who can get a tune out of a Stick. Nick Beggs makes my jaw hit the floor. He's one of those people who is so talented, you really want to be able to say something negative just to make you feel less crap -- "yeah he's good, but have you met him? bloke's a complete tosser" -- but the trouble is you can't, because he's a really lovely guy too. Huge talent and nice with it. I hate him

Soul Destroyers I answered an ad in a Swindon music shop. Three of us turned up for the audition rehearsal; another bassist and I, plus our dear friend and brother OldGit who was after the baritone sax chair. Thankfully, my bass rival was woefully underprepared and had obviously not listened to the songs. I knew I was in with a good chance when I watched him crash his way through Signed Sealed Delivered. I got the gig and so did Simon. That was the tail end of 1993 and I'm still there. How I wish he was too. Train to Skaville Gil the Destroyers keys man is also the Skaville ivory tinkler; he knew I love ska and that I was itching for a chance to play it. When their old bassist started becoming miserable and unreliable, Gil gave me the heads up that they'd be looking for a new one soon. I made sure I was well-prepared, and that helped me get it.

Oh great, you just had to bring that up. It's taken me 18 months of counselling to get to a stage where I could even think the S-word without hyperventilating, and now that's all down the drain. Back to square one. Thanks a bunch.

Back in the day, Mrs Rich saw Golden Earring with Focus in support. Apparently the Earrings were dull and Focus totally blew them off stage.

Curved, he said without a hint of bias *coughcough this is mine cough*

Pick snobbery gets right on my toot.

You forgot: * General good behaviour thanks to the ever-present threat of being lured to a deserted warehouse and shot in the face.

Yes dear, of course he did. And I suppose he was the one who sewed your nametags into them as well..? Tsk.

This is my favourite photo of me. Mainly because my lovely Shuker is in it but my face isn't.

Pixies. They come out at night when we're all asleep -- well, most of us -- and they tidy the place up a bit**, stick a new hamster in the wheel and away it goes. ** they have a request for Teebs, by the way; if you're going to leave those things hanging around, could you at least put them in a bin bag. One of the pixies is having great difficulty getting the stains out of his tunic. Yup, it's been a lot nicer.

It's actually 31... you forgot to include the stacked knobs and the one holding the camera.

Take 1 x rack of basses, 1 x old wardrobe, 1 x dull afternoon, a selection of hand tools and several cups of coffee.

I have no experience or knowledge of Xvives Al, but all I will say is that I haven't heard one single glitch from my cheapy Ammoons yet.

Oh it's not just you, don't worry. I already had a very lovely Line 6 G55 but I still bought this anyway. I blame my guitarist.

I've got these exact things and I have to say they're absolutely marvellous. I now use them at every rehearsal and have also at several gigs. Works a treat. There is a notable latency on anything with a bit of 'attack', but not so much that it puts you out of time or anything. Definitely recommended.