ISMO The world`s only FREE weekly music magazine Issue 18 30th November 1998 CONTENTS: THE GOSSIPPING HEN: The Clash, Roger Daltrey, Sinead O`Connor, Mariah Carey FEATURE: The Nab Twins AGAIN sort of er..Radical man NEWS: Rock music DOES sound louder as you get older; Britain`s new figurehead (we mean it maaan), Obituary,Priest tops Charts in Brazil, C&W silliness. BOOKSHELF: Prince Charles and Gerry Adams... Are the ISMO team being intentionally obtuse agein or is there a proper rationale behind this seemingly incongrous pairing? MISSING LINKS: David Bowie TWITCHY THE TRAMP: becomes a guru to the rich and famous RECORD REVIEWS: R Kelly, Vonda Shepherd, Alishas Attic, Alan Jackson EDITED AND COMPILED by Mr Slutto, Siggsworthy Craggs & Atilla the Hen With contributions from The Sexiest lady in Cyberspace over in the US of A To subscribe/unsubscribe, go to ISMO website (http://www.members.tripod.com/~ismomag/) and follow the on-screen instructions APOLOGIES: There are a number of apologies this week. Because of circumstances beyond our control (Siggsy is a fanny rat and Slutto is on a course learning to do stuff) this issue of yer favourite e-zine is being shoved together mostly by your favourite chicken...... Secondly, because of even more circumstances beyond our control we ain`t been able to shove up last week`s stuff on the web site. Blame the computer - that`s what everyone else does! Hopefully that situation will be rectified this week, but if things go as badly as they HAVE been doing, don`t count on it. Thirdly, we managed to balls up the compy last week. Even so, three people have won. However the details of the URL for The Nab Twins Web Site are below and we have repeated the question. Because of our ineptness there ain`t a featured artist this week and we are giving that slot once again to the stupendous Nab Twins (Hooray) (The magazine is sent out in E-TEXT but if you want an htm version go to the web site) THE GOSSIPING HEN EACH WEEK ATILLA - OUR INTREPID CAPON - REVEALS THE RESULTS OF A FEW DAYS SPENT HANGING AROUND IN BARS WITH CELEBRITIES, LISTENING AT WINDOWS, AND BLAGGING DRINKS OFF P.R. MEN * Roger Daltrey is working on a screenplay for a movie about Keith Moon. There`s not much you can say about that except that it would probably have been better written if it had been done by Townshend, but ol` Big Nose probably thinks that the project is bordering on the tasteless. The ISMO journey is still out on that one.. * We`ve heard rumours that a CLASH box set comprising all six studio albums, the soundtrack to their ill concieved movie `Rude Boy`, all the singles and B sides plus some unreleased stuff is imminent. If this is true then it will be one bitch of a package and something that for once everyone in the ISMO offices will actually agree on. If not, it is a great idea. Someone at CBS take note! * What is the point of Mariah Carey putting out a Greatest Hits CD? OK she`s had eleven top ten hits but they all sound exactly the same and can you name ANY of them? * Ever since that unfortunate incident when she burned a piccie of The Pope on TV Sinead O`Connor has been Public Enemy #1 amongst much of the religious community. The recent news stories about a bunch of weird fundies in Sheffield (the same lot who were celebrating `Rave Masses` a few years ago) were apparently carrying out a Samhain festival with no mention of Christianity, to the sound of Sinead O`Connor singing a song that my ex wife used to like and that I always found annoying. Now, if they had celebrated a Gnostic Mass (together with gratuitous nudity and stuff) to the sound of old baldy singing "The Foggy Dew" with THE CHIEFTANS (undoubtedly her finest moment on record) then that would have made a news story that I for one, although I can`t speak for the others in the ISMO posse) would REALLY like to hear... * OK guys, you`ve had four bits of mindless gossip and I haven`t mentioned IAN BROWN once (he`s been moved to Strangeways by the way which can`t do him any harm amongst the Morrisey loving community). I have the rest of the mag to put together so ciao guys PS Despite what has been claimed in certain sections of the online community, Twitchy`s Ditch is written by TWITCHY and SIGGSY and not by yours truly. This issue, for example there is a rather grubby bit of paper pinned to the door of the office which contains the literary gem that I must type out later.... MISSING LINKS: Lots of people have written about it, lots have people have noted the fact that it exists, but as far as we can see no-one has actually been there. So what do you get from www.davidbowie.com? The Opening Page: "Finally!! The portals are open - BowieNet is up and running. I welcome all you web travellers to the first community driven Internet site that focuses on music, film, literature, painting and more, where you can interact with all the members of our adventurous new project, knowing that this is an on-growing builder, added to constantly, and that you will definitely be entertained (sometimes unwittingly). The purpose of BowieNet is interactivity and community - plain and clear - everybody has a voice. We have terrific partners so the services and hopefully your experiences at BowieNet will reflect everyone's commitment to excellence. So - let's go - mouse rules, okay!" The message is signed by the Man himself. The package offers all sorts of things, none of which we could get to work during our admittedly brief sojourn, so beginning to realise why other journos had done little more than we, and buggered off again we went in search of pastures new... So we tried the unofficial sites: David Bowie Fan Page - Teenage Wildlife An interactive fan page dedicated to rock-god David Bowie. Features online voting, lyric contests, searching, advertisements, chat, and an online music. URL: www.etete.com/Bowie/ Yeah right! However, despite the hyperbole - I`m sure the old bugger would dislike the Rock God appelation - this is a pretty good site packed with trivia, lyrics and other stuff. However this particular chicken has been a Bowie Fan since about 1971, and although it was greatly disappointing the one time I saw him live, I`m still somewhat of a fan and it seemed that we should look further... URL: www.rockmine.music.co.uk/DavBowie.html has bootleg lists, live show chronicles and a discography but there was damn all to explain why I for one had been a fan for nearly thirty years... The Internet has done a lot to supercede the old fanzines and is now the obvious medium where blind fandom can rule supreme. After ages hunting we found The David Bowie Web Ring at URL: www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stage/9696/bowieweb.html which seemed to provide what we were looking for. Its owner writes: "Hello! Thank you for taking the time to visit the David Bowie Web- Ring. The intention of the David Bowie Web-Ring is to represent the collection of home pages and music sites that bring Bowie related information and entertainment to the web. The David Bowie Web-Ring is run and maintained by Reinhold Kleber. Enjoy!" The list includes the following sites: •The Crystal Labyrinth: My web site is dedicated to Labyrinth and Sailor Moon!!! •BowieHeadz: BowieHeadz is my first attempt at a Website. I don't have a computer so I am limited to access. Because of this it may not be as up-to-date as other Bowie sites. This is a way to get my personal opinion on Bowie-related stuff heard. Please be kind. •The Man Who Fell To Earth: Small web area dedicated to the film "The Man Who Fell To Earth". •Teenage Wildlife An interactive Bowie fan page, providing lyrics, news, online CD ordering, guestbook, voting and more! •BowieArt.com The BowieArt Web is the online hub of the rapidly growing community surrounding Mr. Bowie's art work. A number of lithographic prints on display here are for sale. Visit BowieArt.Com often as we add functionality and host special events. •DAVID BOWIE - LITTLE WONDERWORLD This UK multi award-winning website contains everything and anything you ever wanted to know about the inimitable David Bowie. Featuring 'What's Going On?' news, huge photo gallery, Bowie's artwork, massive press archives, Bowie's Mirabelle diary, in concert listings, funtime, anoraks trivia, BowieSearcher, BowieDirectory plus much more. •LabyNymph's Shrine To David Bowie David Bowie pics, many, many facts, links, and more. •Scary Monsters The David Bowie Fun site. Do you think David´s in need of another change? This is the place! Site also features the Bowie ICQ-list, chat, message board and a voting booth for the Internet charts •Tiara with a view David Bowie 2 clips from each album. •The Ziggy Stardust Companion This site is dedicated to David Bowie's 1972 rock masterpiece "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars". Regularly updated the site provides detailed information and pictures on this album and the Ziggy Stardust era (1971-1973) •Mookid's Bowie postcards send a David Bowie greeting card with music, pictures, links! More than 80 pictures to choose from. •David Bowie Personal Page A page to celebrate the greatest rock star of all time. Survey on his life. Our Bowie's CD collection. •Q: Bowie A sketch I did of Bowie from an old Musician Magazine cover. •Simone's Bowie Wallpaper Page A site containing Bowie wallpapers for Windows which I have made. There are quite a few, and it's easy to set them as your Windows background. •The Labyrinth Supernatural Sci-Fi Page: We are building an extensive archive of pictures, sounds, and the like. We also plan on creating a minions' armada of users. •Repetition Repetition is a page dedicated to the analysis of the life and work of David Bowie in the form of fan essays. •David Bowie Pinups A page dedicated to rock legend David Bowie. Features Bowie pinups, articles, reviews, books, CDs and albums, and Bowie pictures. •David Bowie Webpage Graphics, Icons, And Avatars David Bowie webpage graphic sets, Bowie desktop icons, and Bowie avatars for virtual places chat. •I Love "Labyrinth"! My site is a tribute to "Labyrinth," the 1986 movie that has been Bowie's most successful film appearance to date. While not devoted entirely to DB, my Labyrinth pages do have DB pics and info. on the album, and I shall be adding sounds and a Bowie section asap. •Raiding The Divine Archive: Several pages dedicated to the music which inspires my songwriting and guitar playing. In conclusion, it seems that although www.davidbowie.com is a brave and good idea, the true essence of rock and roll comes from the fans, and it doesn`t matter how clever or interactive an official site is - even when it is as complex and undeniably groovy a concept as www.davidbowie.com it still has to take second place, in many ways, to the heartfelt tributes of starry eyed fans. On the other hand, I prefer to listen to the CDs and get on with my life, but that is another story...... WEIRD SCENES INSIDE THE GOLDMINE Peculiar music/art news from around the world SO THAT EXPLAINS IT!!!!!!!! Rock 'gets louder the older you are' OLDER people complain about rock music because it actually seems louder to them than young adults, a scientist told a conference yesterday. In a study comparing the perception of noise levels of rock music Prof Donald Fucci of Ohio University found that 51 to 58-year-olds rated rock music much higher on a loudness scale than 18 to 21-year-olds. "As we get older, our tolerance for loudness is lower," said Prof Fucci, lead author of the study on 20 people. Participants listened to the rock song Heartbreaker by Led Zeppelin for 10 seconds at different intensities. At each intensity, the older subjects gave the music higher loudness ratings than the younger subjects. In even older subjects, another factor becomes important because they develop a common hearing loss condition, called presbycusis, in which perception of high frequencies diminishes, and low frequencies - such as those produced by bass and drums - are magnified, Prof Fucci said. "With rock music, they are still hearing the low frequencies, and the beat and rhythm knocks their heads off." Prof Fucci told the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, that emotion also plays a role in auditory perception. In previous studies, Prof Fucci found that if people dislike a certain type of music, they perceive it as being uncomfortably loud. All the participants in the study, both young and old, said they disliked the rock music. Prof Fucci said that he suspects, however, that the older subjects were more annoyed by the music. EDITORIAL NOTE: my father once said to me that the difference between his generation and that of my Grandfather was that my Grand-dad used tp say to him that "England was GOING to pot". My father was no longer able to put it into the future tense. Christ knows what he would have thought of this next news item which we stole unashamedly from The Electronic Telegraph ISSUE 1283 Sunday 29 November 1998 Tomb Raider is hired to revamp Britain's image by Tom Baldwin, Political Editor LARA CROFT, the much-admired heroine of Tomb Raider, the world's most popular computer game, is stepping out of virtual reality and into real life this week when she is co-opted by the Government as Britain's new Ambassador for Scientific Excellence. The Department of Trade and Industry has secured the agreement of EDIOS, which has sold almost 10 million copies of Tomb Raider games - originally conceived by Derby-based Core Design - to reproduce Lara's image in leaflets and posters, in addition to displaying it on exhibition stands at international trade fairs. She will be the figurehead for the Government's technology export drive. In a speech in London tomorrow, Lord Sainsbury, the science and industry minister, will say that he wants her to help to convince the rest of the world that Britain is still at the "cutting edge of technology". Scientific and technology cultural attaches at British embassies will be told to use her image to raise awareness of inventions such as Thrust, the first supersonic car, and the Psion organiser. Lord Sainsbury will say that for too long export promotion initiatives have "cemented" the idea that the country's best days are behind it, by harking back to inventions such as the steam engine. His speech, emphasising innovation, industry and a knowledge-driven economy, will provide clues as to the content of the DTI's forthcoming Competitiveness white paper. The minister will say that the Government no longer intends intervening to save failing industries but will seek to give back-up to areas where British talent is already succeeding and competing in world markets. An aide said yesterday: "Tony Blair said recently that stability was sexy - but stability is no match for Lara." Dressed in little more than a tight T-shirt or wetsuit, Lara wipes out anything that stands in her way with Uzi sub-machine-guns, rocket launchers or karate. A possible problem for the Government is that Lara is usually in the import rather than export business, travelling to Egypt, Peru or the Pacific Islands to collect - or steal - ancient artefacts. The "cyberbabe's" government mission will be a departure for Lara, whose adventures - soon to be made into a Hollywood film - have not yet included international diplomacy. OBITUARY LOS ANGELES (AP) — In 1970, the news was filled with anti-war demonstrations and black power. On the nation's TV screens, Flip Wilson put on a wig and a minidress and became Geraldine, who screeched: "What you see is what you get!'' He wasn't a spokesman for race issues, but Wilson broke racial barriers, becoming the first black host of a top television variety show. Wilson died Wednesday of liver cancer at his Malibu home with his daughter, Michelle, by his side, said Angie Hill, the comedian's assistant. He was 64. Wilson had undergone surgery Oct. 2 at St. John's Hospital and Health Center in Santa Monica for a malignant tumor that was close to his liver. The man who gave the world Geraldine and the catch phrase "the devil made me do it!'' crossed all lines with his comedy, said the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who said he had known the comedian since the 1970s. "Flip was a breakthrough artist for African-Americans,'' Jackson said Thursday in a telephone interview. "He led with a brand of comedy that was clean and decent and not vulgar. To the end, he was a man I held in high esteem — as a comedian and as a person.'' Silver Saundors Friedman, owner of The Original New York Improvisation, a comedy club, said, "If you look at the history, there were no black comedians at all back then and the fact that he made it to prime time and stayed there quite a while — this is inspiring to people who may have been 12, 13 or 14 years old back then.'' Wilson was host of "The Flip Wilson Show'' on NBC from 1970-74. He dressed in drag to play the wisecracking Geraldine. She was perhaps his most popular character because she did not "put down'' women, Wilson once said. "She's smart, she's trustful, she's loyal, she's sassy,'' he said. While other black performers played down their ethnicity, Wilson reveled in characters such as the Rev. Leroy, pastor of the "The Church of What's Happening Now.'' Wilson said he was based on a preacher he listened to as a child. "Nobody ever sent him a postcard objecting to any of his humor,'' comedian Steve Allen told KCBS-TV in Los Angeles. "There was no vulgarity, there was no sleaze, there were no shock jokes. It was just funny.'' While television even today is criticized for having too few minorities in front of and behind the camera, Wilson did not complain. "It would be ridiculous for me to say anything negative regarding blacks having an equal opportunity on TV,'' he said in 1971. "After all, I was number one in the ratings four times last year and twice this season. What could be more damn equal than that? If they get any more equal, I don't want it.'' Clerow Wilson was born into poverty on Dec. 8, 1933, in Jersey City, N.J., and raised in foster homes, quitting school at 16. He served four years in the Air Force, earning the nickname "Flip'' for his irreverent humor when he began entertaining troops. Discharged in 1954, Wilson spent more than a decade working at odd jobs and developing a comedy act in small clubs. When Hollywood began to seek out black entertainers in the 1960s, his career took an upward turn. Wilson made his TV debut on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' in 1965, which led to frequent appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show'' and "Laugh-In'' and on comedy series such as "Love, American Style.'' A variety special in which he starred led to his own series, which earned him an Emmy for performing and one for writing in 1971. It took competition from a new drama, "The Waltons,'' to knock Wilson's show down in the ratings and off the air in 1974. The comedian was divorced about the time his show ended and he won custody of his children. He reappeared a decade later with two short-lived series: the 1984 quiz show "People Are Funny,'' for which he was host, and the 1985 CBS sitcom "Charlie & Company,'' which co-starred singer Gladys Knight. Out of the limelight in 1993, Wilson said in an interview that he was enjoying recreational and spiritual passions ranging from hot-air ballooning and long ocean cruises to studying the works of philosopher Kahlil Gibran, author of "The Prophet.'' Besides his daughter Michelle, he is survived by sons Kevin and David, and daughters Stacey and Tamara. PRIEST TOPS CHARTS IN BRAZIL A CATHOLIC priest who has captured the nation with his aerobics-inspired church services has topped Brazil's charts with a religious record, threatening to outsell a group famed for its sexy samba dancers. Father Marcelo Rossi (31) has become an instant media celebrity thanks to his upbeat and informal services, which regularly attract crowds of more than 15,000 worshippers to a church in the industrial capital Sao Paulo. FORWARDED TO US FROM THE SEXIEST LADY IN CYBERSPACE 1. Get Your Biscuits In The Oven And Your Buns In Bed 2. Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth 'Cause I'm Kissing You Goodbye 3. Her Teeth Was Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure 4. How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away? 5. I Can't Get Over You, So Why Don't You Get Under Me? 6. I Don't Know Whether To Kill Myself Or Go Bowling 7. I Got In At 2 With a 10, And Woke Up At 10 With a 2 8. I Just Bought A Car From A Guy That Stole My Girl, But The Car Don't Run, So I Figure We Got An Even Deal 9. I Keep Forgettin' I Forgot About You 10. I Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well 11. I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim's Gettin' Better 12. I Wouldn't Take Her To A Dog Fight, Cause I'm Afraid She'd Win 13. I'll Marry You Tomorrow But Let's Honeymoon Tonite 14. I'm So Miserable Without You, It's Like Having You Here 15. I've Got Tears in My Ears From Lying On My Back In My Bed As I Cry Over You 16. If I Can't Be Number One In Your Life, Then Number Two On You 17. If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd Be Out By Now 18. Mama Get A Hammer (There's A Fly On Papa's Head) 19. My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, And I Don't Love Jesus 20. My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend, and I Sure Do Miss Him 21. Please Bypass this Heart 22. She Got The Ring and I Got The Finger 23. You're the Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly PRICK UP YOUR EARS (THE ISMO FEATURE) "THE NAB TWINS ARE BACK. YEAH UH THAT`S WHAT I CALL A RONSTER ETC....." IMPORTANT NOTICE: as pointed out by Greg Taylor from The Rottentrolls press office we ballsed up the URL for their web site, which for non UK readers is essential if you want to enter the competition and win a copy of the 2CD set by `The Nab Twins` The Web site URL is http://welcome.to/rottentrolls and the competition question is, again, "name the ancient martial art practiced by Cdr Harris" Sorry to all of you (and to Greg, Yockenthwaite et al) that we are a bunch of berks yo-o! THE COMPETITION Three people have answered already but there are still three sets to win........... NOTE: PREVIOUS FEATURES CAN STILL BE SEEN ON OUR WEBSITE: http://www.members.tripod.com/~ismomag/ THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UNLISTENABLE (CD REVIEWS) ***** Fuck-off Brilliant **** Pretty damn Good *** Average but no Cigar, Mr President ** Could do better * Shite R Kelly R (Jive 01241 416252) ** A Double Album? Twenty nine songs? Who does he think he is-Prince? Sadly, the answer is yes. The difference is that Prince is good! I wish they`d called this album after the genre of music he claims to play - R-Soul. Atilla the Hen Vonda Shepard “Songs from Ally McBeal” (SONY 491124 2) ** You can tell that it's that time of the night in the ISMO offices can`t you? Slutto is out drinking and shagging. Craggs can`t type. So guess who is left to review this perfectly crafted and incredibly expensive slice of vacuous nonsense? And guess who can`t think of anything positive to say about it? I`m 40 next birthday and I`m supposed to like this sort of drivel and I don`t and I can`t think of anything else to say about it. So there. PS I thought the TV show sucked as well. Atilla the Hen Alan Jackson “High Mileage” (Arista 07822 19877 2) * (I wish we could give minus numbers) “Well god damm Eu-gine just you lookie over yonder twixt those ole hickory stumps an tell your ole pappy who you see a comin.Put some possum vitals in the pot ,brake out the moonshine an tell good ole Mom to bake an apple pie”. Just what kind of VERMIN actually listens to this sort of country & western? The sooner this kind of brainless, red neck, inbred, good ole boy, inoffensive, middle of the road, stomach turning, mind numbing cack is consighned to the history books the better. Siggsworthy Craggs Somehow I don`t think that he liked it. Actually its not THAT bad merely boring.......Atilla the Hen Alishas Attic Illumina (Mercury 558 991-2) *** Strange album this, there are no memorable songs on it but it still manages to be likeable and entertaining. The sisters have lovely voicies and produce interesting lyrics but the tunes are all to alike to hold real interest for very long. I know these talented girls can do much better. This is an album best listened to as background music, perhaps whilst trying to seduce somone in a purple and black draped room filled with insence and vital oils. Siggsworthy Craggs What he means is that he thought the album was dull but he really fancies both the gurls and ge doesn`t want to blow his chances of actualy interviewing them. Atilla the Hen TWITCHYS DITCH Musings on life and music from Twitchy the tramp in his tawdry little ditch. Many `Pop` stars are beginning to turn to me for religious guidance, much as The Beatles did to The Maharishi whats-his-name in the late 1960`s. By some strange quirk of fashion it is now believed that tramps hold the answers to all life`s great questions, and that scabby arsed, old disease vectors like myself can unlock the great mysteries of the universe. Well, this is true to a certain extent. If the answers that you require are to questions like "What is the best way to serve raw Bilge Rat?" or "What are the best pubs to sneak into in search of Brown Ale dregs?" Then I`m yer man! STING came to seek me out and partake of the ancient wisdom of Society`s residuum. He told me that after his experiences with that Brazilian Indian Shaman he now wanted words of wisdom from a shaman of the urban jungle. i.e. me! I told STING that "In order to understand life we must first plaster ourselves in slurry and caper around shopping centres like imbeciles". After this induction he was ready to move onto a higher level of consciousness. As Mexican Indians use a certain type of cactus juice "to speak with the Gods", we `Tramp-doctors` use Methylated spirits or Babycham (much the same) to fuel our journeys "to the other worlds". After five bottles of `meths` both STING and I were able to "fly" and "talk with our spirit ancestors". Just like in the rain forest I was able to find STING a `spirit guide` to accompany him on his "Spirit Journeys". "Squirmy the Tapeworm" now travells everywhere wioth STING and is his "little voice within". As I told the former POLICE frontman: "Pox and Filth are the end Of all that nature doth intend" BOOKSHELF A new Feature which may or may not run each week depending on whether we get sent anything interesting to read and more importantly whether we have time to read it..... "Charles - Victim or Villain" by Penny Junor (Harper Collins Hb £16.99) "Man of War/man of Peace - the unauthorised biography of Gerry Adams" (PAN Pb £7.99) We live in a society obsessed by anniversaries. last year was the 50th anniversary of the so-called Roswell Incident when something allegedly crash landed on a ranch in New Mexico. This is not the time or the place to attempt to discuss what, but merely to note that an entire industry built up around the events and much of the publishing schedule in the UK last year was based around these events that may or may not have happened. This year, two remarkable men are celebrating their 50th birthdays. Charles Windsor, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Wales, and heir to the Throne of The United Kingdom of Britain, and Northern Ireland, and also of many of The Crown`s dominion`s overseas, and Gerard Adams, president od SinnFein and alleged member of the IRA`s Army Council since the late 1970s. Both men have been through remarkable changes in their careers. When Charles was three years old his Mother became Queen of nearly a third of the globe - over the last twenty or so years: Charles Windsor - the shy bloke who likes dogs, painting and running his organic farm, but who has been thrust into the horrible position of being centre stage for the media of the world, and even more poignantly has been the Queen`s representative at a succession of ceremonies during which the Empire on which the Sun will never set, has been whittled down to just over a dozen small islands which may be of strategic importance but are certainly not jewels in the Crown. On the other hand, Adams, a quiet studious man, who is a good Roman Catholic, and is by inclination a poet and a scholar has been involved, to a certain extent at least in the upper echelons of the IRA since at least 1969 when `The Troubles` became the focus for world media. Charles has been painted as a cold, heartless, unfeeling man who callously ignored his pretty young wife, driving her towards breakdown, divorce and eventual death. Others have described him as a saint. Gerry has been painted on the one side as a callous mass murderer, and on the other (to quote UK-C4s `Babylon Five`) as Ireland`s last best hope for Peace. None of these portraits even verge upon the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The true state of affairs is immeasurably more complicated than the public sees, and it is a mark of these two remarkable books that they allow us a glimmer of insight into the lives of two remarkable men. I think that you, like me, will end up liking both of them, a little bit more than you did before you started to read about them. Atilla the Hen. COMING SOON...... Prince, Prince, Prince, a bit more Prince, Portishead, and when we can get it together a letters page (write to us), a comic book section, and much more...... 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