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Post by earlybird on Apr 5, 2011 16:54:02 GMT
As one of the "quiet, read-only" Bluetones listeners, I eventually thought I might as well register on the new forum and have my say before it is too late. Hello everybody, by the way. ) I first encountered the Bluetones when they released "Solomon bites the worm" (still my favourite song from the band). Back at the time the band was quite successful in Britain and (perhaps a bit in the wake of the Oasis phenomenon) also at our's, on the "continent". As the band's popularity became less, I lost track of the band, until rediscovering them in 2003 by pure coincidence (actually, by seeing and downloading the "Luxembourg" album in a filesharing network... but don't worry, I own the original too ;o)). "Luxembourg" is still my favourite album among the six regular studio ones. Unfortunately, the buying masses didn't quite have the same opinion. So... obviously, not everything went quite right in the Bluetones' career. A negative NME article here, the "Britpop" decline there, the record company row in 2002, not always met the public "flavour of the day" musical taste, etc etc etc... Whatever, it is what it is. But I have a lot of respect for these four guys who have been holding out for so long, touring and even creating new (and good) music, instead of just splitting up years ago, which might have been a lot easier. "A New Athens" has been a really strong album (actually stronger than a lot of the earlier stuff), but the world just isn't always fair. I understand the band's decision to put the band to rest (after all, "A New Athens" should have made the charts and it's a shame it didn't), and I'm happy that they're doing it in style by giving it a proper send-off in autumn. I'll be there. )
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Post by jonnyboy on Apr 5, 2011 22:26:30 GMT
........I think what makes the bluetones so special is that as fans we all knew, that we were indeed priviledged. Each and everytime we listened to one of thier cd's or saw them live we were witnessing something pretty special. Special because, they were without doubt one of the most criminally underrated bands to every grace this planet, yet for some mistifiable reason their true greatness had been hidden from the masses and only been revealed to a chosen relative few and that made us as fans feel special too.
I know it sounds selfish and I'm sure it will come as little consolation to the band themselves, but I whilst I did long for the band to recieved the music-world conquering recongition they so truly deserved, a small part of me hoped they wouldn't and I don't think I am alone with this. They were our band no one elses, the lyrics at times could have been written especially about us, citing and exposing our own personal feelings and circumstances, the music was specifically designed to pinpoint the hairs on the backs of our necks and send a wave of shivers down our spines, every gig was no less live and personel than if it had been arranged as a special treat for us in our very own living rooms.........quite frankley that selfish small part of us knew they were just too fucking good and too precious to be shared with rest of the world!
Mark, Adam, Scott & Eds, your work here is done, although sadly justice was never done and although your music may well not have changed the world, rest assured it did change many of our own individually worlds- massively and speaking personally, in ways you couldn't possibly realise. Like many here, I can't imagine my life without knowing and loving the bluetones music, it has indeed been a great priviledge and for that we thank and we salute you from the bottom of our hearts, and wish you all the very best for the future.
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Post by earlybird on Apr 6, 2011 5:57:07 GMT
........I think what makes the bluetones so special is that as fans we all knew, that we were indeed priviledged. ... I know it sounds selfish and I'm sure it will come as little consolation to the band themselves, but I whilst I did long for the band to recieved the music-world conquering recongition they so truly deserved, a small part of me hoped they wouldn't and I don't think I am alone with this. They were our band no one elses, the lyrics at times could have been written especially about us, citing and exposing our own personal feelings and circumstances, the music was specifically designed to pinpoint the hairs on the backs of our necks and send a wave of shivers down our spines, every gig was no less live and personel than if it had been arranged as a special treat for us in our very own living rooms.........quite frankley that selfish small part of us knew they were just too fucking good and too precious to be shared with rest of the world! I think it's in a way quite normal, wanting to keep a very special thing in the "inner circle". But in a certain way, as the long-time "hard core" followers, you are special anyway and I think the band will confirm that anytime. Anyway, I think we owe that final tour to your never-ending devotion to the band... I have a feeling that the band would have been put to rest immediately if it weren't for a final "thank you" to the most loyal fans (that is, you crazies .
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Post by allthatglitters on Apr 19, 2011 20:08:16 GMT
I know I've already posted in this thread, but I think that this is the other reason I'll miss the Tones - you can't dance like this behind an acoustic guitar...
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Post by starbug on Apr 19, 2011 20:12:42 GMT
Make it stop.
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Post by johnkneem on Apr 19, 2011 23:03:44 GMT
NO! This wonderful thread needs to go on and on, although it must be renamed "why I am a fag".
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Post by philip on Apr 20, 2011 17:44:23 GMT
there are many more reasons for that mr murray!
*sniffs the unwashed piss and jizz stained sheets you once slept in*
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Post by philip on Apr 20, 2011 18:14:51 GMT
and thom and monkey and dez
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Post by vjohn82 on Jun 8, 2011 17:14:29 GMT
Just thought I would throw my tuppence worth in.
I had watched the 'tones performing Solomon Bites the Worm on Top of the Pops and I immediately saw something magical... I saved up all of my pocket money earned from oddjobs to buy RTTLCS and ETF and it was the best money I ever spent.
My first girlfriend was a few years older than me but she was a massive fan of the band so we immediately hit it off and had things to talk about. But, being older (17) than my 15 years it was never going to work but it was the Bluetones that helped make the summer of 1998 one of the most memorable periods of my life.
I spent the years listening to the album which helped me through my Grandad passing away at the age of 16, getting me through my GCSEs and helping me during my military training. There truly was a song for every moment.
When I left the forces aged 20 I spent another summer in a musical haze listening to everything that the Bluetones cited as influences from the Stone Roses to the Smiths (another band that changed my perspective on things). My Father passed away in 2007 and, again, I used the music of the 'tones to cheer me up and get through the day.
When I met my future wife we went to a Bluetones gig in Leicester and they became her favourite band; I knew she was the one for me and here we are 7 years later all married and love up still. We celebrated the birth of our two sons to the newly released albums and I graduated from university to the crashing tunes of RTTLCS once more.
I've spent the past 7 years learning all of the songs on guitar and playing them with my own band. When you play the songs yourself you can really appreciate the different levels of sounds and texture that go into a Bluetones song; the band are truly fabulous musicians. Adam is an absolute genius on the guitar and some of the multi-tracked guitars on RTTLCS have given me headaches when working out for two players. But that's all part of the fun.
The Bluetones will continue to play a huge part in my life even though they are moving onto pastures new. I wish them the best of luck for whatever they decide to do in the future. I just want them to know that they have been there for me when many other people weren't. So thank you.
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Post by shelagh on Jun 24, 2011 9:23:54 GMT
Just seen this thread, the comments are wonderful.
I don't know many people on here, but I do love the Bluetones. I am so looking forward to this tour but only because I can't quite believe it is the end. I'm going to get horribly drunk at every gig. Saro - you're driving!!
I've been to quite a few gigs over the years, but the best for me has to be my own 40th, (I've been dining out on it for ages). The lads came back to my house after the party, got a bit tipsy, etc. Eds nearly fell in the canal on his way back to the hotel, according to Scott, and that could have been the end because I'm sure they'd have all dived in after him...
They are the most special band to me, but nothing lasts forever.
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Post by philip on Jun 26, 2011 14:30:31 GMT
surely a typo she! 30th you mean!
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Post by beatnikdub on Aug 4, 2011 13:12:10 GMT
The Bluetones are a band that have made music that have brought a smile to my face for the last 15 years. I don't believe there is any other band like them and I am going to miss them (more so the gigging as I the more recent hasn't been completely to my taste) terribly. Thanks for the memories boys. I apologise in advance for any wailing, crying, shouting, screaming and general fishwife beahviour at the London dates. As for you lot - I'll save that for when i've had a few bacardis
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Post by oneofthethree on Aug 10, 2011 23:33:21 GMT
I'll miss having an easy excuse to meet with some of the people on here - will have to make more effort.
And I'll miss the predictable setlists, the drunken behaviour and the na na na na na's
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jenny
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by jenny on Sept 4, 2011 10:07:44 GMT
This is probably and bit long and a bit personal but I just wanted to note down and share some of my own personal highlights of seeing the band....
There’s only one band who I’ve followed from start to end, whose every album I’ve bought, each of which remind me of some different era of my life. Their songs somehow gather memories, get better every time I listen to them. Here’s some of my highlights…
- My first boyfriend dumped me to the sound of Expecting to Fly. In fact, he made it sound like he dumped me because of Expecting to Fly. You know how it goes, you hear Putting Out Fires, you start having doubts…. Still makes me smile when I hear the slightly petulant/anguished ‘And now I don’t know’
- Numerous holidays spent sitting in the back of a car, parents in the front, driving around mountains in North Wales, listening to ETF on my Walkman and thinking about boys I fancied. This album still sounds most right when I’m gazing through a rain-blurred window at some a half-grim half-pretty British landscape. Now my holidays occasionally begin at an airport and I’m always disappointed when the roar of an aeroplane doesn’t fade into the opening bars of Talking to Clarry.
- Luxembourg also reminds me of a holiday, again in North Wales but years later - amazingly the weather was hot that week. My husband and my sister and her boyfriend spent the week driving around in our old Ford Escort with the top down. We could never resist the suggestion at the end to ‘flip it over again’ so listened to Luxembourg solidly for a week. Stopping off at Tesco, Porthmadog, we were hugely excited to find they sold Liquid Lips lip gloss….
- Science and Nature is a night-time album for me, reminding me of uni years and late night phone conversations with my now-husband, to the sound of Tiger Lily (‘it’s four in the morning’) and others. . - The gigs, every winter, starting at Exeter Lemongrove, progressing to Exeter Great Hall, then, in uni years: Liverpool, Warrington, Shrewsbury, Birmingham. Then back down to see them in Poole, Bristol and Exeter Cavern. Wherever I saw them, two things were always the same: the shouts of ‘Blue Army’ (in the latter gigs, that was just me!) and the loud-voiced idiot who forgets the all-important dramatic pause before the line ‘And some blood on my shirt’
- The last time I saw them, last year - I couldn’t believe it, they played my home town, Taunton. A wonderful night, hearing songs from A New Athens for the first time and meeting old friends who’d been there right at the start. The best bit was walking right past Adam on the stairs. I was star-struck, momentarily forgot his name- all I could do was exclaim to no-one in particular ‘It’s a Bluetone!’ He looked a bit bemused.
- Oh and t-shirts, the blue one and the yellow one and the red one…The classic blue/white one that I got off a friend, swapping it for a Shed Seven t-shirt. It was yellow and green South Africa football strip Shed Seven tee, and that was good, apparently, but even so...the fool! The racing car Tones t-shirt I’m ashamed to say was wrecked by paint. No surer sign that youth has ended than a band t-shirt splattered with Farrow & Ball… - Then last night, in Yeovil, sitting outside getting some air after the gig, heard a voice say ‘You can get out this way’ and it was a doorman showing Mark the way out. I’ve never wanted to meet any of the band before, was always afraid of making a fool of myself – but that didn’t seem to matter anymore. We called out thank you to Mark and he came over. I said something clichéd and over-earnest and he was lovely, apologised for splitting. I shook his hand. I shook Mark Morriss’ hand!
So many memories and I’ve been so lucky to love a band that I got to see regularly, at close range, instead of paying a fortune to stand miles away from a face on a screen. The flipside of that is that, apart from in the early days, I walked away from every show wondering what on earth it takes for a band to keep having hits. I’ve never understood why The Bluetones don’t fill stadiums. They’re not inaccessible, they’re poster-boy pretty if that’s what matters, they’ve got addictive, hooky, radio-friendly riffs and better lyrics than any other band I’ve known. And if songs on S&M are what the kids want, well they’ve done that years ago and miles better than flippin’ Rihanna! Seriously, I just don’t get it. Is it just impossible to survive a scene?
Bluetones - you said once that you’d rather be loved by hundreds than quite liked by thousands. You really did achieve that, I’m sorry that that wasn’t such a great business model. But it is in no way excessive or insincere to say that you’ve greatly enhanced my life and that the first time I heard Bluetonic, on a crackly tape recording of the Evening Session, was life changing. Though it sounds teenage to say it, you’ve provided a philosophy too, an attitude to live by that’s endured well beyond teenage years. “I know all about magic baby, you see I taught myself and I’ve got tons of the stuff, on my bedroom shelf,” pretty much sums it up for me. And I’ll always have those records on my shelf. But I’m gutted. It doesn’t seem right, not when you’re still able to put out records like A New Athens.
I dearly hope that this hasn’t ended on a sour or jaded note for you because you’ve given fans like me so much. You mattered. You matter. I dearly hope you keep writing or playing in some form or other.
Nothing could have done all this then gone away? Surely?
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Post by philip on Sept 4, 2011 11:00:12 GMT
Wonderful stuff.
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