Is I connected up the Mic to the tape-recorder, I saw Adam at the door to the floor inside. I walked in a few minutes later and began chatting with another girl who was there to do an interview. By the time I had asked which Poppies were where, Adam had flaked out in a corner!
I came back a couple of hours later, with a friend, James, in tow. (James scanned all my desginers republic gallery for me ...) All the Poppies were in the venue!
I spotted Fuzz chatting, and when he was free, had a chat. Strangely enough, chat about the weather was as popular a topic as anything else. I did however, ask him whether PWEI would ever sign to a major label again.
I was told by Fuzz that the Poppies were interested in the Internet, but none of them had accounts. (A big "Up Yours" to whoever it was in NME that called PWEI "Net Addicts"!) I asked him if Graham (whom I considered the most likely to take in interest in technology) had one - apparently the wife and one year old child consume too much time and money for him at the moment!
Anyway, there was a small queue forming to get Fuzz' autgraph, so we thanked him, and went off to find another member of the band, overall very impressed.
Next was Clint, who responded to my request with an "Oh yeah, sure ..."! We sat down, and got the tape rolling ...
Clint was positively affable, and for someone who wore a leather cod-piece and mesh bodysuit in the "R.S.V.P." videoclip, most humble! He wasn't one to explore deeply the technology of the Internet, but was impressed with it and had a bit to say about his Net Fanclub.
I was curious to know what he thought of his home town, and of our country, especially considering that we are a country of about 17 million, we get our own releases, and we've had four tours .... with another one being considered for September! His response made us very happy! Two fingers to the rest of the world! (In the nicest possible way!)
The poppies cheerful "two fingers" attitude to everything is well known, and this certainly extends to their music. But what is Clint's opinion of PWEI as musicians? Well, he says they aren't!
But then what the hell are they? Well, they're sortof something to do with music, anyway! And are PWEI Rock Gods, pweople? Always!
Last but not least, I asked clint if he had a message for us:
Then I gave him the address of the mailing list, and details of how to join ... and he was off to soundcheck.
I was left to recover from the shock.....
I feel that I should also add a little of my impressions of the band, particularly Clint and Fuzz. Maybe I had built up in my mind the Poppies to be something insanely huge - I know I was expecting to see a bit of the attitude shown when Clint and Graham trashed a bar in that fight with each other. Maybe I was expecting Clint to appear decked-out in 100% Desingers' Republic clothing.
Both Clint and Fuzz were amiable, funny and almost humble! I never thought I'd say that. I'm out!
Anyway, I never got to chat to Adam - I was going to before I spoke to Clint - but I got a kindof "I hope that guy doesn't recognise me" vibe. Anyway, I introduced my self to Richard at The Lounge after the gig, and showed Graham my hair - "PWEI" shaved into my undercut at the back. That got me a thumblock ... and before long I was being told that "Madonna is good to relax to .." and "Some techno is getting so fast, it's a bit pointless, 'innit .." or something like that!
Created 19th April, 1995. More real soon!