Re: I'm sure you can all see the old familiar pattern forming here.....
> Before I start, I love my north american readers and the time I've spent
> there.
> The following bands do not register in the minds of average-age ( 30 -40?)
> Smiths fans in the UK.
> Duran duran, , depeche mode, a flock of seagulls, tears for fears, the
> thomson twins. None of them escape finger-pointing ridicule.
> I've left out the cure because they maybe, just maybe, don't quite fit in
> with this grouping.
> I was away during the 80's and paid no attention , generally speaking, to
> what was going on. It's only since then that I've learned of this enormous
> difference between Smiths fans in the UK and the US.
> There's a certain irony that all these bands are British as well. I, for
> one, don't get it. I'm simply stating a fact.
> But my north american readers should be aware that we point at these bands
> and laugh very loudly.
> As the posts from established Moz-solo regulars like PD, Johnny, and Ruff
> have already indicated.
> It truly is a most perplexing mystery.
> For some reason, something happened somewhere over the atlantic to bring
> about this COMPLETELY different mind-set.
It is a tad perplexing Pat but you can some it up in this way. By the age of 14 you already know that "Tears For Fears" the girls from "Duran Duran","Depeche Mode" etc are shite.
They were the sort of bands that your wee sister like but ony if she had particulary shite taste in music.
I could rattle off the bands that the American Smiths fans like and to a man they have been and always will be scoffed at by UK Smiths fans who by and large looked to the punk,indie scene for their inspiration.
Where as a UK Smiths fans would explore The Wedding Present, The Fall,2 Tone etc our friends in the States are more than happy to cherish a Genesis album that no one under the age of 48 would dare buy in the UK.
You have to remember that in the USA AOR is still their staple diet.Any day now we will see a post saying that Chicago,Foreigner or Rush have a new album out.
It's laughable but it's a fact.Bands that were looked up here for their emotion,aggression and brilliance barely sold a record in the States.
The Jam sold nothing over there which says it all really.
So we just have to accept the fact that we are both different and thank God that we never have to worry about friends popping round and seeing a "Tears For Fears" C.D nestling in be sides "The Smiths".
How could you ever live it down ?