Grant Nicholas on Feeder - The Singles, track by track:
By Paul Elliott, courtesy of JD Sports (http://www.jdsports.co.uk)
We began working on this song when Jon was alive. Wed jammed it. I had the music, the melody, but I didnt have any lyrics. After what happened, that inspired me to finish the song. I wanted us to come back with a rock song, something that had an impact, but I also wanted it to have emotional depth. And it was important to me to keep that song because wed started it with Jon.
Its kind of ironic that this was such a big hit for us because I was going to give it away to an American band who needed a single. I just wasnt into the song it was too personal. It sounds pretty wacky and throwaway but it was written when I was going through a bad time, separating from somebody. So why is it called Buck Rogers? I wanted this spacey kind of sound mixed in with heavy guitars. We had a conversation about Buck Rogers one night and it just stuck!
We were trying to do something different with the Pushing The Senses album. Shatter was one of the rockier songs we left off it because we didnt want to mess with the overall feel of the album. We used Shatter for a b-side and it was in this Russian film Nightwatch a cult horror movie. Our fans heard it, loved it, and wanted it to be the next single, so they petitioned for it through our website. Sometimes its difficult picking the right singles, and we value what the fans think.
Its one of the best songs Ive done, but we nearly didnt do it. I wrote it right at the end of making Comfort In Sound, and our producer Gil Norton said he wasnt sure we really needed another mid tempo song. But when we played it, we all thought, that it definitely had got something. Lyrically its quite dark but its still an uplifting song. This was the single that really made the album a success. Its the kind of song Id like us to be remembered for.
Id never want Feeder to become predictable, and it felt right to do something with a strong pop sensibility. When I was a little kid I loved pop music, and growing up, I listened to a lot of 70s rock and punk, and new wave bands like The Cars, and all that stuff had strong melodies. This song is really catchy but quite heavy as well, its got a real energy to it: shouty, almost yobby. Its an urban love song. Its about when youre trying to meet girls in your youth and all you end up doing is going into town and getting drunk.
I always thought this song could be a hit, but we only released it as a single after it got picked for Sonys Gran Turismo game and we had loads of interest in it. By then the song was a couple of years old and it had already been out as a b-side, but it became our biggest single ever! It paid for my greenhouse! Well, it would have done if Id got one And the video was the most popular weve ever done. Its fans singing the song, like theyre on Youve Been Framed. It could have been terrible but its something that people can really relate to..
High
That was the turning point for the band, a big song for us. Its a really youthful song. I had a John Lennon thing going on in my head when I wrote it. The first time I played it to my girlfriend, she started crying. I was like, Its not that bad! Theres a kind of frailty in the song. I was never into that macho rock thing. For me, that was the other side of what we were and what I am as a writer. High was played at Jons funeral. His parents chose it because it was one of his favourite songs. It was a nice moment.
Its a song that summed up, how I was dealing with Jons death. But I also felt it was how a lot of people feel about music, how it helps them get over whatever is in their lives at a certain time. You do find something in music, emotionally. I listen to sad songs when Im in a sad mood. Everyone does. Thats why I love music. What I do, what we do, what any band does, it does affect people. I get letters from people saying that a Feeder song really helped them, and I feel the same about songs I hear by other people. The first time I listened back to Comfort In Sound, I was crying my eyes out. I think I had a kind of weird nervous breakdown making that record without even realising it, but I was so driven to do something. I feel pretty lucky to have music to fall back on.
For me, this is Just The Way Im Feeling part two. Thats why I kept the word feeling in the title. I try to do this a lot. I always liked the way some of the Beatles songs seemed like a continuation of previous songs. I felt I needed another song to finish what I was saying with Just The Way Im Feeling. It has the same emotion, the same dynamics. I always worry that when I talk about lyrics that people will go, Oh, its about Jon again. I get a bit paranoid about it. Feeling A Moment is about Jon, but its like the next chapter how you try to recover. The lyrics say, Im just like you a way of saying that everybodys dealing with something, Im not alone. It was making the song more universal, more open.
Its a new song thats classically Feeder, in the same area as Come Back Around. Right now Im feeling very inspired, I have a lot of ideas, and I was thinking about the new songs from a live point of view. Thats very important in terms of rock songs. Weve played this live and it really works, its such a simple, direct song. Songs like this are a very important part of what we are as a band. Its about someone who puts up with you even though you mess things up sometimes. Weve all been there.
We recorded this on acoustic guitars with a live vocal and thats whats on there we bunged everything else on afterwards. Again, sonically, theres a link to the past this, in my head, is High part two. A few people were shocked because it was the first single from Pushing The Senses and it wasnt a heavy song, but I felt it was important that people didnt feel they were buying a heavy record. It was something new and different.
If I had to say, hand on heart, whats the best song Ive ever written, this is it. I always wanted to do the big string arrangement, and this song had that atmosphere for it. I put my head on the block with this I said I wanted a 23-piece orchestra, that it had to be this massive thing. Hearing it the first time with the strings on it was unbelievable. It blew me away one of the best moments of my life. The song is about moving forward, about being positive. It was written at a point when I realised I didnt have to feel guilty about moving forward without Jon. We had some great times together, and hes there with me in those memories. I feel him around. I dont want him to go away.
Im really rubbish on piano but I did write this song on a little Rhodes piano in my living room. I wanted to test myself. It does piss me off that if you play piano people say Coldplay. I think Coldplay are a fantastic band, but what about all the other bands who did it before, like Queen or The Beatles? The melody is almost like a little nursery rhyme but it really works with the lyrics, which are about how we all need someone to be with. Sometimes its hard to let people know you feel. Thats not very rock n roll is it? Actually, it is! Most rock n roll songs are love songs anyway.
This has a bit of an REM feel about it. Im not saying I was trying to rip them off well, maybe I was! The riff has a real bounce but its not over-heavy. I love to really push the pedal right down sometimes, but I dont want to do really heavy music unless I really mean it. Its funny we did a version of Everybody Hurts for the War Child charity, and when we toured with REM I really wanted to give a copy of it to Michael Stipe, but I worried that he might think it was rubbish! Weve done loads of stuff with War Child, and I feel even more strongly about it now I am a dad.
Its a bit of an anthem, this one. I havent gone mad or born again Christian or anything, but I like the feeling of unity in the chorus. . I want people to feel like part of the song. Its a very hopeful song, And its got more guitar solos on than any other Feeder song, It has almost a gospel feel to the chorus
This is a silly, fun, love song. Its meant to be humourous the video is like a Carry On film! I love The Police and they had some really silly videos. I just felt we needed a little humour in our music. You can possibly take yourselves too seriously and this song broke the ice. The whole thing is very tongue in cheek: 18-30s goes rock. Maybe subconsciously I was thinking, I need a holiday!
Another humorous song, inspired by our first tour of America. We were drinking all sorts of stuff on the bus, even medicines to help get some sleep. The lyrics are all flashbacks. Its a song that brings back a lot of great memories, and we still end up playing it now.
Turn
Theres a real 80s new wave thing about this. The Pumpkins did that on 1979, kind of like New Order. And we captured that. Maybe it was a little too early for a song like that now, it would fit right in with all the new wave influenced stuff.
Its weird, but I sound a bit cockney on this. I was a bit knackered when I recorded the vocal too many gigs. I was really belting it out. I thought the song needed that real emotion. Its out of tune, half of it, but we went for that hand-held mike thing, and it really brought out that performance in me. I just felt the whole delivery needed to be right upfront. Its got a bit of attitude to it. That got us on to Top Of The Pops for the first time. I was so nervous I could hardly think straight.
Its a nice way to finish the album, because this is the song that got us a record deal. We were always a heavy band but we had that acoustic element from day one. We did a gig in London in a club, and I played this song with an acoustic guitar borrowed from the support band. I just walked on solo after our set and played it and that clinched it for us getting a deal. I felt it was important to have this on the album because even though its an old song, it kind of points the way towards what weve done in the last few years.
06.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Roundhouse in London in aid of War Child
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07.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Roundhouse in London in aid of War Child
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09.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Coronet in London in aid of War Child
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15.12.06 Hanukkah!
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23.12.06 Christmas Eve's Eve
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24.12.06 Christmas Eve
-------------------------------------25.12.06 Christmas Day
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26.12.06 Boxing Day
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31.12.06 New Years' Eve
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01.01.07 New Years' Day
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Bloody Ages Away: Feeder to release their 6th Studio Album
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06.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Roundhouse in London in aid of War Child
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07.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Roundhouse in London in aid of War Child
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09.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Coronet in London in aid of War Child
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15.12.06 Hanukkah!
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23.12.06 Christmas Eve's Eve
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24.12.06 Christmas Eve
-------------------------------------25.12.06 Christmas Day
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26.12.06 Boxing Day
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31.12.06 New Years' Eve
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01.01.07 New Years' Day
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Bloody Ages Away: Feeder to release their 6th Studio Album
-------------------------------------
06.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Roundhouse in London in aid of War Child
-------------------------------------
07.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Roundhouse in London in aid of War Child
-------------------------------------
09.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Coronet in London in aid of War Child
-------------------------------------
15.12.06 Hanukkah!
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23.12.06 Christmas Eve's Eve
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24.12.06 Christmas Eve
-------------------------------------25.12.06 Christmas Day
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26.12.06 Boxing Day
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31.12.06 New Years' Eve
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01.01.07 New Years' Day
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Bloody Ages Away: Feeder to release their 6th Studio Album
-------------------------------------
06.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Roundhouse in London in aid of War Child
-------------------------------------
07.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Roundhouse in London in aid of War Child
-------------------------------------
09.11.06 Feeder to perform at the Coronet in London in aid of War Child
-------------------------------------
15.12.06 Hanukkah!
-------------------------------------
23.12.06 Christmas Eve's Eve
-------------------------------------
24.12.06 Christmas Eve
-------------------------------------25.12.06 Christmas Day
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26.12.06 Boxing Day
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31.12.06 New Years' Eve
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01.01.07 New Years' Day
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Bloody Ages Away: Feeder to release their 6th Studio Album
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This week’s video : NME video of the lads preparing to go on stage at the Reading Festival. Good times.
Student Shows
05.06.09 Hertfordshire
06.06.09 Hull
10.06.09 Swansea
13.06.09 Reading
18.06.09 Nottingham Trent
25.06.09 Warwick
Festivals
01.08.09 Hevy Music Festival, Folkestone
02.08.09 Sonisphere Festival, Knebworth
I just feel that Grant's voice has changed after Pushing the Senses.
Silent Cry he had a different voice. He sounds completely different then how he sounded on High and Satelite News and other greats. If he brings back his old voice, whatever they put out will be golden. The voice he's using now makes him sound old.
To those who love Feeder check the jacket (feeder army jacket) I have just posted on e-bay. It is an unique piece of clothing any fan of feeder would love to have!!! I'm going to travel around the world so I need the money...
Go check out the awesome new record by ManOrMouse?
Featuring Dean and Mark from Feeder
www.myspace.com/manormouse1
Thanks
Digital Mouse
Feed me, for I am hungry...
Hey. If you're looking for some rare Feeder items then you might be interested in my eBay items...
Well said "annoyed". 7 sleepers is not a classic by any stretch of the imagination but for feeder fans its music gold! Still loving it after listening solid for a week now :-)
Keep your brutal flawed opinions off here, this is a FAN SITE.
I am a Feeder Fan since 1998 ( sweet 16)
and i like the sound of SWIM, POLYTHENE and YWTS, but not SEVEN SLEEPERS! That´s my meaning.
how on earh can you say that about "Seven Sleepers"?!, there is no pleaseing anyone.
Jon lee is a legend unlike yourself.
Seven Sleepers E.P.
is the worst record ever!!! This is not the typical Feeder sound i like. Grants voice is not the same like on evry record in the past!
I hope Feeder go back to the roots with the next record.
Jon Lee forever! cheers.
7 Sleepers is awesome rock! If you are a true feeder fan then you will LOVE the sound that Grant delivers on these new tracks! Im so addicted to these tracks its unreal...
Listen, download, enjoy.
http://20thcenturytrip.blogspot.com/
Cheers!
Ich hoffe, dass ich bald die "seven sleepers" cd bekomme, da gabs ja einige Probleme!
Die neuen Stücke sollten endlich wieder mal so klingen wie auf "yesterday went to soon",
dass beste Feeder Album! Gruà an alle Deutschland und hoffentlich kommen Feeder mal wieder nach Berlin.
cheers Henry.
Why is there an RSS link for the comments but not for the news ??
Ja es gibt tatsächlich ein paar Feeder Fans in Deutschland, die sich so sehr eine Tour wünschen und auch mal ein richtiges Label, damit auch Feeder mal in Deutschland ein bisschen bekannter wird
Schön dass man auch mal an die deutschen Fans denkt. Ich besuche FFS tatsächlich min. einmal am Tag. Gibts nicht mal endlich Termine für Feeder-Gigs in Germany?
Sorry, Feeder sale here:
http://feederfansite.proboards20.com/index.cgi?board=FEEDER&action=display&thread=3879
Hey all! If you wanna buy some rare, rare Feeder stuff, I'm selling all my Feeder collection (well almost). Two colours, written songs, promos, imports, T-shirts, Feeder Central, the works! Check it out:
http://feederfansite.proboards20.com/index.cgi?board=FEEDER&action=display&thread=3879
ã©ãã©ã
There are some great pictures from the Feeder gig at the University of East Anglia on Mon 1st december, 2008..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/image_galleries/feeder_uea_20081202_gallery.shtml
I remember Mark saying on the Feederweb webchat in 2004, when I was one of the competition winners to meet him on the same day, that he likes BLT as one of his faves :).
Am so relieved everybody is alright :), was a real shocker when I read the headline.
:O thankfully no-one was hurt in the shocking Feeder tour bus fire! - I'd be happy to make up a food parcel for them now all their catering has been destroyed... wonder what kind of sandwiches they like? ;)
*mod mode*
for people trying to access the message boards & finding its either very slow or just not loading at all..... proboards central is having some problems and they're working on getting it sorted. dunno how long will be before back to normal. (ok own up, who started a fire this time? :P)
updates can be seen at http://support.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=support
my FFS Members exclusive Tracing Lines/Silent Cry digipak arrived today.. what can i say, as ever MW you have surpassed yourself! artwork is amazing! *bows in respect* ta mate
Can't wait to see Feeder in november, would have prefered to see them at the historic Astoria but personally Brixton Academy is my favourite venue! Iv been looking at this site for years... thought it was about time to actually say something... Wooooo!...
Helloooo
my luvvies! i hate long breaks at college so i thought i'd say high...erm i mean hi! :P
xxx
FIGHTSTAR SUPPORTING FEEDER IS MY DREAM GIG BUT I CAN'T MAKE ANY DATES COS I'LL BE IN SOUTHAMPTON :(
no bad words about fightstar they are a ledge band and you will see that when they tour with feeder!
I re-activated my Feeder blog. It has some live music. Check it out!
Thanks
http://20thcenturytrip.blogspot.com/
I am loving the mocked up TL / SC single cover, pure genius!
Hello, Feeder rock!
time for fan power once more guys, lets flex our muscles and remind them why we're the best group of fans around, we did it for Shatter, now add your voice to the campaign to get a physical Tracing Lines/Silent Cry release AND a new track!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/feeder/
'Tracing Lines' release date has been moved from 11th August to 25th August. More to wait! :(
A good thing is that you can download 'Somewhere to Call Your Own' by digital download.
I wonder if the next single will come out on a physical copy as well as a digital one...I hope it does...
New single is on the Feederweb:
http://www.feederweb.com/releases.php
What the f. The Forum just went down.
oh go on stace, listen to it on the bus... just don't sit next to me while you're doing so!
That is possibly my favourite review...of anything...ever.
I'm never gonna be able to listen to Miss You without laughing away to myself ever again. Maybe i should avoid listening to it on the bus then...hmmmn.
and FFS does it again, brilliant review
(and thank god, someone else agrees that Songs From The Crypt was a much better title idea!)
I'm curious for that review too... I hope FFS will write a good one.
Will we be seeing a Silent Cry review soon?
Nice banner ;D
You're forgiven xD
Feeder! Feeder! Feeder! Feeeeeeeder!
sorry guys, mad moment :P
Bloody hell, I hate it when a decent album like Feeder's doesn't get well known. I guess give it another month or two, it will probably get more popularity when an advert pops on TV or something.
Agree... Feeder need to come to Australia. If small little indie artists can make it over here, why can't feeder?!
What happened to the lyrics page? Is it being updated?
I love Feeder's new album :]
what i hate is that i live in Australia and they havent toured here since 2000 i think its time for another visit its been so long and its time to come back around again.
what marcus said its so true...plus they deserve more then what they got now but hey at least there selling records and got a good fan-base too
thanks Rach :)
Yeah Suey, it really annoys me, EVERY TIME Coldplay put out an album there's this big media fanfare, but when it's Feeder it's all hush-hush in comparison :-(.
Nothings funny about a mean review when it's band you like. Why is it when Feeder get bad reviews the writer really, REALLY rips into them?!, it don't happen to other bands. Pathetic and childish, that's what it is.
er... yes. Leo's post was so good he had to post it twice.
Chloe, I love yer tour diaries. Ace reading!
I just listened to the album for the first time there now and i blew off a load in my underpants
I just listened to the album for the first time there now and i blew off a load in my underpants
Feeder photos from Proud Galleries online now at ThrashHits.com
cheers
Raz
it´s a good record, but since Jon Lee was gone, the band has lost the typical "feeder-sound". YESTERDAY WENT TO SOON" is the best record...cheers from germany.
got the Deluxe version and have been listening to it ever since monday! Great album :)
just bought We are the People off iTunes. i love these guys =)
I've just got the new CD, oh... it's marvellous!
It's so great to hold a new Feeder record in my hands! These are the beautiful moments of life! Cheers!
*shouts* :D
I like this album, lots!
Silent Cry in my hands baby! The three years were worth the wait.
Got my deluxe version through the door today :D
Must say though, the bonus tracks aren't really anything special...oh well, so happy to have the CD in my hands.
Whats with the xmas decorations at the top of the page? ;)
ooooo its all pretty! ta for putting my diary up dude :)
Ooo a new look...very swish!
Love the new look! Looking forward to the reviews...
DJ Rodney Bingenheimer on KROQ in Los Angeles played "Into the Blue" on his show. That was pretty cool to hear.
calling out for days is quality! haven't heard the other bside though cos my parents record player is bust :(
Miss You was on Euro 2008 yesterday. There must be a Feeder fan at the BBC!
summer of sport coming up though, euros, olympics and wimbledon.. bound to be some feeder music in the background there ;)
Thats a shame, cheers Nance
Not sure there will be a TV ad. The Singles had one because of the EMI collaboration...
Yeeeehhhh.
We're back on
I meant TV advertising, It's just that I am sick of seeing the ad for the new Coldplay album,
How awesome was Bristol! Who's The Enemy, MPD, YWTS, Insomnia, High, All My Life crowd takeover (!) and a chance to see the guys outside before/after the gig. My best Feeder gig so far :)
sue - what sort of advertising do you mean? street teaming has officially started, brighton seemed to be covered in silent cry posters already...
Any ffs'sers that have myspace feel free to add me - www.myspace.com/staceywatkins - :o)
I don't think there's been a "fire". I reckon Pro Boards haven't paid their credit card bills and have had all their servers repossessed.
When are we going to see some advertising for the new single or album.
Hell yeah, I dont start my new job till the 23rd I'm there :D
If anyone's bored, I just put the recent Kerrang interview with Grant on the Scrapbook :) Well it will kill five minutes anyway...
Hello Fellow Shout Boxers!
A Hate crime? lol
been trying to work out the time-scale from the proboards support forum but most of it is greek to me! sounds like ffs server (20) is one of the worst hit - they have all the data but no power or something (so we won't have lost any posts, though once the forum is back we might have some missing temporaily). from what i can make out they will have power for our server back either tonight or tomorrow night (doesn't help its all in american time :p)
i got that info from here: http://support.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=networkdiscussion&action=display&thread=245186
if anyone can figure it out more clearly please do!
So glad they did a small london gig! got 2 tickets! WOOO! is the FFS "Fire" not put out yet?
maybe ffs doesn't actually exist and we all dream it!
"this product is out of stock" - camden gig sold out it seems.
I love the way FFS has put the words fire and hosting facilitiy in quotation marks... like it's fake or something ;)
check the email... it says something about must be in the venue for 9 :D
Bought 2 tickets for the Galleries, but it'd be nice to know what time I need to be there!
Hmmmn i'm probably gonna be in Leeds....not that i have the money anyway, even itf it is cheap. Oh well.
Glad people like the announcement ... sounds like a good little gig! :-) We'll already be on the Isle of Wight at the time :-(
well done , Chloe , have a great time . By the way i was in Camden earlier on this year with my hubby , i enjoyed it muchly .
i know some of the people in the London area were a bit disappointed with the recent mini tour venues , so hope this makes it up a little bit for you ( you lucky Londoners ) good luck everyone , hope you get tickets . Also the producing of receipt and i.d should stop people buying them just to sell on e-bay .
2 tickets bought - woop woop! perfect way to dispell the post feeder gig blues. just remind me not to look at my bank statement when it arrives....! who else is there? drinks in camden first??
Special annoucement from feederweb!!!
http://www.feederweb.com/microsites/Feeder/news.html
you ffs londeners grab em'! 6 quid!! feeder!!! its just crazy, enjoy :P
fweb 5pm announcement, mini gig @ camden proud galleries next week, £6. 400 tickets, see fweb for link...
Enter to win tickets to see Feeder at iTunes Live in July; http://www.ituneslive.co.uk/feeder/ (iTunes account required)
hehe that'd impress mr nicholas wouldn't it? ;)
You should go out under the cover of darkness and stickerize every lamp post in Crouch End ;)
what, clangers? where???
chloe is back from oxfam crouch end which now has a little pile of silent cry stickers :D i also attempted to stealth sticker some lamp-posts but this was thwarted slightly by 2 pcso's following me down the street....! oops!
It is a fantastic surname....it'd be even more fantastic if it was Clanger :D
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Agrees with matt!