SPARKS

[fatherjack]

Is there any chance of you looking after the people who have travelled back and forth to Isllington N1 for the last 19 (tomorrow 20) concerts?

I can appreciate that a full house (or overfull in the instance of Plaigarism) is a good thing however the TRUE fans who turned up and enjoyed the "lesser known" albums are being literally bullied backwards on the big nights ("Oh I love this one......).

Thank you for the "exclusive" CD (check ebay...), and my poster however it has cost me an enormous amount of money to get there and back each night, not regarding the initial golden ticket price, it has cost me 4-5 times more.

I have loved every night (I even listen to Interior Design again!) but having been twice nearly mugged,hours of LT delays and non-fans shoving past because "I like this one" I think it would be a good thing to acknowledge TRUE loyalty (or madness.....)somehow.

See you in N1 tomorrow and W12 on Friday.

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I would rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy

[MarkRae]

[powpowpow]

this is literally the most ungrateful post i have ever read on these forums

being mugged and london transport problems are everyday occurrences in london, what the hell does it have to do with sparks?

also, gigs are gigs are gigs - there are going to be pushy idiots at every single one. i've had people push past me countless times. at the end of the day you just fight your ground. how are they to know how special you are?
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medic! medic! medic! medic!

[binaryRooster]

While i am genuinely sorry that you were nearly mugged twice and suffered transport problems, i feel that a quick letter to Boris Johnson may be more appropriate than complaining here.
What i do object to is this ridiculous branding of fans that you use. How can you call one person who bought a ticket to see a gig a "TRUE" fan and another a "non-fan"?? Being pushed at gigs is aggravating but i don't see how you feel you can catergorise these people as being an inferior Sparks fan to you because of it.
Because of the financial aspect, i'm only going to see four of the 21 gigs - does that mean i enjoyed them any less than you?? Does the fact you have more money than me mean you love the music more?? The only resolution to your request i can think of is to put a "golden circle" at the front of the stage for these chosen people (once we've deemed whose worthy to actually go in it. Maybe the ability to quote old b side lyrics and produce gig tickets from the 70's??) and when stuff like that happens in small venues, we may as well give up on live music.
Sorry about the tone, but i've seen a couple of astounding gigs and i'm sure i'm going to see a couple more. What this band has achieved in playing all their albums with such love and enthusiasm, blew me away. What more do you actually want them to give you than that??? This is actually reminded me of when Hancock wanted a badge for being a blood donor...
i really hope you enjoy tomorrow and friday without any distractions.

[Charlie Bucket]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YevYBsShxNs

[sjadey]

Das ist nicht zu fassen!

This thread went from the ridiculous to the sublime Mahnamahna!
If you live in London, how can it have cost you 5 x 350 quid to travel to and from Islington or are you staying over at the Ritz? Some people have travelled from Australia to see these shows and they're not complaining! Lots of people couldn't make mid-week shows due to work. Presumably anyone who sees all 21 shows, either lives within commuting distance or has taken a month off work!

As for being pushed to the back, are you a man or a mouse? You can move can't you? As people vacate a spot to go to the bar/toilet, move into the gap. Move to allow people to pass behind instead of in front of you. If somebody moves forward past you, pretend you're with them and follow them. Standard crowd tactics really.

It's really got nothing to do with Sparks. They have put on this amazing extravaganza for us and we should be grateful just for that. I think it must warrant an entry into the Guinness Book of Records.
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Gonna hang myself from my family tree.

[Deano]

I am not going to give a harsh response to this thread.There are some above mine and rightfully so.What i will say is-unless my ears are playing me up i hear Russell on a nightly basis thank the ones that are turning out for the less well known albums.He says it with a warm sincerity also.There you go you see.You got mugged or you did'nt,there's no nearly.On with the show.

[MarkRae]

[veryoldfan]

What a bizzare request.

I would quite like it if Russell gave me a foot massage after every gig whilst Ron served me cocktails and read me poetry but, back in the real world.......

I am lucky in that this experience has only cost me, in financial terms, the cost of the golden ticket as I commute to London for work anyway. The only additional cost to me has been physical (I am totally knackered and have the sore throat etc etc ). Tho' I suppose it may cost me my job if my boss ever finds out how little work I've done over this last month!

As a confirmed misanthropist I feel it is my duty to tell you that people are, on the whole, b@st@rds. I'm sure we've all encountered plenty of rude, selfish and plain stupid behaviour at the gigs, I know I have, but that is hardly the fault of the band it's just the nature of the human race.

Although I'm not sure I go along with the idea that R&R are primarily doing this "for the fans" - personally I think they are doing it to get as much exposure/publicity as possible and why not, they deserve it - we are undoubtedly benefitting. I wouldn't have missed this experience for anything and I am so glad that I've been fortunate enough to be there every night (OK, every night except one. I tried). It's the best £350 I've ever spent and I don't feel in any way hard done by. I can look after myself, I don't think it is Ron and Russell's job.

[MarkRae]

[You've Got Mael]

ROFL, Charlie! That video pretty much sums it up!
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Interviewer: Does your long hair make you a girl?
Frank Zappa: Does your wooden leg make you a table?

[T.N.K.]

[Noisy Boy]

[binaryRooster]

Perhaps we can get them to come to Islington next time??

Over the (many) years, i've experienced much gig brutality: people landing on my head diving off the stage, people just hitting the folks who were lucky enough to be standing next to them and cans and bottles flying through the air like a modern take on the battle of Agincourt. In light of this, i've always found the Sparks crowd a joy to be with!
It's also nice to not feel like i'd just come to pick my kids up from the school disco which was what it was like when i saw Crystal Castles recently :P

[DeeDee]

Who on earth are you fatherjack?

I have sobbed daily for the last four weeks for not being able to be there. I had my trip planned in January but for various 'reasons' my dream could not be fulfilled.

However had I realised back then how these 'reasons' would be subsequently thrown back in my face and become inconsequential then I would have been at every concert and there would not be one word of complaint from me.

I don't know how you can measure a 'TRUE' fan - I am sure some geek could come up with a mathematical equation.

Be grateful that you had the opportunity to be there - and I too believe I have heard Russell express his thanks EVERY NIGHT to everyone attending.

Get a grip fatherjack ... or get a therapist!
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I'm Not .... Getting dressed today!

[MarkRae]

[unprinted]

About the only complaint I have is that some fans are a bit tall :) Apart from that, even the crowded nights have been a delight to be at - even in the middle of the crowd, there's been no problems with people crashing around...

[You've Got Mael]

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Interviewer: Does your long hair make you a girl?
Frank Zappa: Does your wooden leg make you a table?

[Alex Robertson]

I'm still nearly reeling from the fact that someone was nearly mugged...not once but twice(...which is actually nearly three times....)I am very nearly shocked to my very core...or something that is nearly my core.
All things considered...being in the audience is nearly on stage...so we should all be nearly grateful...
.....in case anyone disagrees...this post was nearly funny!!!

[sparksfanlm]