But did she ever really matter?

Sat, 31 May 2008 21:54:14 GMT

Oooh, who wants to read a super rant? You? Well, read on my friends!

I've just finished reading your statement about the protest organised by fans of My Chemical Romance in London today. This is what your statement said:

"The Daily Mail’s coverage of the 'Emo' movement has been balanced, restrained and above all, in the public interest. Genuine concerns were raised at the inquest earlier this month on 13 year old emo follower Hannah Bond who had been self-harming and then tragically killed herself.

"In common with other newspapers we ran an accurate news story recording the Coroner's remarks and the parents' comments. We also published two other articles, one of which explained the background to the Hannah tragedy in calm and un-sensational language.

"The other was a first person opinion piece by a well-known writer, written from the perspective of a mother concerned for her children. We have also run two prominent page lead letters from an emo music fan and from a fan of My Chemical Romance defending their point of view.

"Our music critic admires the music of the band and publicised the band’s UK tour last year. Since this protest was announced a great deal of misinformation has appeared on the internet, much of which confuses what the Daily Mail has actually published with the comments of website readers and 'blogs' over which we have no control and which have stirred up emotions.

"We note it has been pointed out by others that all this provides wonderful publicity for Warners and their impending release of My Chemical Romance's latest album.

"The Daily Mail is a broad church and is always ready to listen to the views of readers. We do, however, suggest those who want to protest or comment read everything we have published and act on fact not rumour."

You act on fact?

First of all, My Chemical Romance do not have a new album coming out. They have a live compilation coming out, and to suggest that the protest, which came from such a positive and well organised group of kids is a publicity stunt is crass and disrespectful.

Secondly, your coverage has not been balanced and restrained. I am an English student, about to graduate, and I can tell you right now it appears as if you don't know the meaning of the words balanced and restrained. One of your headlines was: "Emo cult warning for parents". This is not balanced, and it is not restrained. In one foul swoop, you've generalised every single teenager in the UK and you've done so based on misinformation and inaccurate myths. This article was published by yourself in August 2006 and had the following lines in it:

"The Emos - short for Emotional - regard themselves as a cool, young sub-set of the Goths.

Although the look is similar, the point of distinction, frightening for schools and parents, is a celebration of self harm."

Emo is not a sub set of Goth, nor has it ever been. Emo music started in the mid 80s in Washington DC, when a new set of bands emerged who championed more melodic songs which featured lyrics about heart break and teenage angst. The "emo" acts at the time did not look like Goths, and while black is a popular colour among fans of bands like My Chemical Romance, they also favour bright colours like pink, blue and red. So that was your first mistake.

"Emo" as a genre of music does not exist anymore. The bands that led the emo movement, such as Rites of Spring, have all disbanded. If, and that's a very improbable if, emo still exists as a genuine form of music, it's so far underground that it is not widely accessible to the wider music audience. So you've got that wrong, too. Are these facts hard to come by? Could you excuse Sarah Sands' ignorance by saying she wasn't a music critic? No - these facts can be found on any number of sites, including Wikipedia. It would have taken Sarah Sands mere moments to know the truth.

You also said:

"Emo bands (Green Day, My Chemical Romance), Emo conversation (sighing, wailing, poetry)."

Green Day and My Chemical Romance are not "emo" acts. As previously explained, they simply do not fit in with the musical criteria to justify this label. If you had bothered to read any recent interview with My Chemical Romance or Green Day, if you'd spoken to their fans, you would know this to be inaccurate. Both bands do not sing about heart break very often - and emo was never concerned with death, let me point that out - nor do they follow an "emo" fashion, or play acoustic guitars. Both My Chemical Romance and Green Day are completely removed from the "emo" genre, and they've only been stuck with that tag through ignorance and misinformation as spearheaded by publications like yourself.

So by claiming My Chemical Romance are emo, you're claiming that they indulge in a "celebration of self harm". This is the crux of your problem, this is what caused so much offence and anger, and this is what led hundreds of teenagers to protest against your newspaper.

Again, a simple internet search would have shown you that My Chemical Romance in no way, shape or form celebrate self harm or condone suicide. If your reporters, like Sarah Sands, are given a brief to write something on a genre they clearly do not understand, then at least go to Wikipedia. Type in "Gerard Way" - he's the frontman of My Chemical Romance, if you didn't know - and click on the Wikiquote link. You'll find the following words of wisdom:

"Nothing is worth hurting yourself over! Nothing is worth taking your life over! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" - said in Brazil, 17/02/08

"If we never play another show again... keep yourself alive" - to a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden 09/05/08

"Suicide is a serious thing. And if you know anyone who is suicidal, you need to get them help. No one should be in pain. Everyone should love themselves. Like I love you all."

"We want you to live. We want to save your lives. You saved ours. We never want to let a single thing hurt any of you. And you should all know...if you support us...you are not a cult. You are a fuckin' ARMY."

"If you guys have been listening to this band and coming to see us for a long time, you know we've always said to you guys that if you get depressed, that you can find somebody to talk to. You can find help if you feel suicidal or anything like that. That's something we've always said. That's something we've been saying on this tour... is that, you know, sometimes the world can be a really ugly place, right? It's not always really pretty, it's ugly, people's feelings get hurt. Sometimes it's terrible, but it's also a really beautiful place, and we all share it together. If you ever feel depressed or hurt in any way, or you find yourself feeling very desperate, you find somebody that you trust, that you can talk to-- be it a teacher, a parent, a best friend, a therapist at school. There's lots of free programs, you guys can find somebody to talk to... but the main thing is no matter what, no matter what happens to you, no matter how desperate you feel, you never resort to violence." - Bamboozle Festival, 2007.

Have I made my point quite clear yet? All these quotations, all the interviews Gerard has ever given - they are all so readily available. You have thousands of fans claiming this band has saved their lives, have turned them away from self harm, suicide and depression - and you not only claim that they celebrate suicide, you then go on to say this is accurate when it has been proven otherwise?

In your article about Hannah Bond, you went on to call My Chemical Romance "an emo suicide cult band". As the previous lengthy section proves, you were very, very wrong. You acted on the misinformed words of others instead of doing your own research. Not only is this a terrible crime in the world of journalism - as a journalist myself, I understand the process - it's down right lazy.

In the article, dated 9th May 2008, you mentioned the following My Chemical Romance lyric:

"One of their songs contains the lyrics: "Although you're dead and gone, believe me your memory will go on.""

You failed to put this lyric in context, and in doing so manipulated an image of the band that people who do not know better would easily accept. What you failed to mention is that the lyric in question, taken from the band's number 1 hit "Welcome To The Black Parade" is a reference to death of Gerard and Mikey Way's grandmother, Elena. The sentimental view of a life after death and the preservation of the deceased's memory as a way of keeping them with us is not dark and dangerous, in fact it's a very mainstream coping mechanism.

But seeing as how you're so clued up on My Chemical Romance lyrics, and you claim to be so balanced, why didn't you refer to their follow up hit, "Famous Last Words"? That includes the lyric: "I am not afraid to keep on living/I am not afraid to walk this world alone". Does this sound like a suicide cult to you? Does that sound like a band that promotes suicide and glamorises self-harm? Of course it doesn't, but you didn't include that lyric because you were either too ignorant to do your research properly, or you knew that adding that balance would take away the sensational aspect of your piece. Balanced, accurate and unsensational? I think not.

"It is a largely teenage trend and is characterised by depression, self-injury and suicide."

As I've outlined above, this line of yours is completely inaccurate, and Gerard Way's own words support that. But once again, you failed to properly research the band you demonised, and mentioned them specifically:

"One of the foremost of these "suicide cult" bands is My Chemical Romance, from New Jersey."

And again, as I've outlined, that is also completely inaccurate.

"The Black Parade is a nickname for the place where Emo fans believe they will go when they die".

This is ludicrous. I've been a My Chemical Romance fan for four years now, before the Black Parade was released and I'm very involved with the fanbase. I myself have written articles about The Black Parade, the misrepresentation of emo and the protest that took place today and I can tell you, as an involved and active My Chemical Romance fan, I have never heard of this image. In the My Chemical Romance fandom, the Black Parade has never been referred to as a "place where emo fans believe they will go when they die." If you had researched the concept behind the album - again, you could have used any readily available interview with Gerard Way, you would have known that the album is based on the concept that when you die, death comes for you in any way the dying person would like. In the case of the Patient, the character the concept features, it comes to him in the form of a Black Parade as his father took him to see a parade when he was little. Therefore, each death is individual and not once did My Chemical Romance ever claim that The Black Parade is where people go when they die.

In the statement you released in defence of your ignorance, you claimed that you were not responsible for the sheer inaccuracy of the blogs posted on your website. I accept this whole heartedly, but every single misinformed quote I have featured in this email featured in articles that YOU published - one by Sarah Sands and one by Andrew Levy - these featured on YOUR website and in YOUR paper, so by publishing them you are publically stating that you believe these pieces to be accurate, informed and balanced.

This email, and the outrage of the My Chemical Romance fans the world over, have proved you wrong. This email has shown that the statement you have released that claimed your pieces were accurate and informed, is a lie. Your articles were not accurate. They were not informed, and they were not balanced. Calling a bunch of well adjusted, well organised and mostly upbeat teenagers a "cult" is not balanced. You should have taken note from the backlash that followed the Sarah Sands article, so that the next time you mentioned My Chemical Romance, it was informed. You clearly did not learn your lesson, which is why hundreds of teenagers took to Hyde Park today.

What happened to Hannah Bond was tragic, and the image of emo that she was shown, and that she herself represented, was inaccurate. She was misinformed, the coroner was misinformed, and her parents were misinformed. They knew before her death that she was self harming, and they dismissed this because she told them it was part of some fashion? That is the danger of misrepresenting My Chemical Romance fans the way you do - if they are self harming, their parents are going to dismiss it just like Hannah Bond's parents dismissed it, with tragic consequences. Self harm is clearly a cry for help, and in this case, her parents did not listen. That is not the fault of a band who go out of their way to show their teenage fans an alternative to self harm and suicide. I understand why her parents feel the need to place the blame somewhere, but they've chosen the wrong scapegoat this time. You've chosen the wrong scapegoat.

Lastly, to claim that the protest that took place today, against your publication, was a publicity stunt is completely disrespectful. I have been researching this protest and have interviewed the girl behind the entire operation, and let me tell you, this has nothing to do with publicity. She, and hundreds of others, were sick and tired of you and other publications misrepresenting the band that saved them. They were sick of being dismissed, they were sick of being ignored, and they were sick of your ignorance. The amount of time and organisation that went into this protest has been awe inspiring. These teenagers - who Sarah Sands claim sit about in a dark room - met with the police to ensure their protestors were safe, they researched peaceful protesting, they updated and maintained a website, they thoroughly read your articles - so don't for a minute claim they didn't - and they ensured the protest went well. This was not a publicity stunt, this was a rallying call for every single teenager you have failed by your ignorance. You have been given many opportunities to present the balanced, accurate side of "emo" that you claim you have always shown. Again, this email has proven that your articles were not balanced, or accurate. You were told these things time and time again. You chose the sensational route to sell papers, and in doing so, you failed teenagers like Hannah Bond.

So do yourself a favour, learn your lesson this time. Because My Chemical Romance fans have proven that they will not stand for your ignorance anymore.

Yours sincerely

Vicki Kinnaird

THE BLACK PARADE IS DEAD! LONG LIVE THE BLACK PARADE!

^^^ Sent to the Daily Mail Editor and Features Editor, tonight :)

Because no group of people has ever inspired me the way MCR, and their fans inspire me. Because no five strangers have reached out to me the way those five men have.

And because ignorance on that level makes me freakin' sick.

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:56:49 GMT

For as long as there have been parents, there have been teenagers. The idea of the teenager is the one unwavering stereotype in all of history. You can just picture it: even back in the prehistoric period, girls were wearing tiger pelts that were way too short ("There's no way you're leaving the cave in that!") and boys were listening to their rock (literally) and roll music at anti social volumes.

And as long as there have been teenagers, there have been trends and fads were some very silly music became unbelievably popular and some serious fashion blunders were made. When leaving our teenage years, we promise ourselves and our peers that we will never discuss those dark times again, unless prompted by our long suffering therapist or a Top Of The Pops 2 rerun.

For lots of teenagers, it's rock music that defines their adolescence. But the punks removed their safety pins from all those interesting places, the glam rockers settled on their sexuality once and for all and even the hair metal fans learned about the business end of a hairbrush.

When it comes to rock music, there's a new genre on the block: it's called emo, and it's coming for your children. The tag itself is simply an abbreviation of the word "emotional". The actual genre of music – because it was a genuine form of music first – is more difficult to pin down. It is claimed that emo started out as a sort of hardcore punk, first appearing on the Washington DC scene in the mid to late 80s. By the mid 1990s, the meaning of the label had changed, and it was used to describe bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, who had a more indie, acoustic sound. This fact is acknowledged by most of the music lovers I interviewed for this piece. Nina, a 19 year old music fan, outlined where the actual label came from: "emo is a subgenre of punk music that was started in the late 80s by bands like Fugazi and The Rites of Spring."

But, like most genres of music, by the late 1990s, emo as it was known, had completely died out. Despite the death of the genre, the emo label persisted. It was picked up by many music journalists who were having difficulties labelling the latest "it" band, to the point where most bands who had a pop influenced style, who sang about anything emotional, even bands who looked a certain way, were unnecessarily forced into the "emo" pidgeon hole. Again, the people I interviewed for this piece blamed the overuse of the label on the music press. When I asked Cristina, a 21 year old avid music fan, if she believed the music press automatically handed bands the emo label, she did not hesitate when giving her one word answer: "absolutely".

Now, this is where it gets confusing: the music behind emo no longer exists, or if it does, it is not in the public eye. A whole wave of bands, including popular acts like My Chemical Romance, Panic At The Disco and Fall Out Boy have been given the emo label when it does not accurately describe their music. So, emo is not a genre of music at all – it's a style, dahhhling.

We've all seen the "emo" kids, or at least most of us have an idea of what they look like. Long fringes, skinny jeans, studded belts, and tee shirts about two sizes too small are all essential items of the emo uniform. Then you throw in the accessories – thick rimmed glasses and make up. Even the boys wear eyeliner, at least (well done to the genuis who came up with the term "guyliner", seriously. The Nobel Prize is in the post.).

There are lots of reasons behind the selection of clothes: most of the musicians misassociated with the emo movement wear black tee shirts, skinny jeans, fitted jackets and make up. Fans of the music want to imitate their heroes, want to dress like everyone else. At that age, fitting in and making friends is incredibly important. In fact, it's not so different when you reach adulthood. Most of the "emo" kids I interviewed for this piece painted a very different picture. One of them, a 16 year old girl called Nicole, is what you would call a stereotypical emo kid. She has a long, side swept fringe. She has thick rimmed glasses, black hair and wears eyeliner almost every day. When not in her school uniform, Nicole can be seen wearing skinny fit jeans, tee shirts and Converse baseball boots. But Nicole tells me that she wears the clothes because she genuinely likes them, because she loves the way they make her look. She admits she is the quintessential "emo" kid – in terms of style anyway – but does not accept that she is a mindless drone.

"I would like to think I was my own person under the clothes and make up I wear. It compliments me because it groups people who don't fit in, so by saying I am emo, it shows that I'm not alone and my peers are like myself."

Nicole, and most of the other people I interviewed, accept that the emo tag is given to them based solely on their image. They also recognise that this is natural, it happens and it has always happened, and in the meantime, they will go on dressing in whatever way they want.

So, what's the problem? A genre of music lived and died, and music journalists seized the tag to label bands they couldn't fit in with any other accepted style. The personal image associated with emo still exists, and is still used by many young people in an attempt to find their way in an image obsessed society.

But in the summer of 2006, the misuse of the emo label took a dangerous turn. My Chemical Romance, the band at the forefront of what was believed to be emo, were planning their return and they were bringing something with them – a concept album, influenced by Queen, Pink Floyd and The Beatles. They called it The Black Parade, and it was the story of a young man, dying from cancer. An emotional subject, of course, but My Chemical Romance managed to twist it into a dark, decadent tale about life after death, acceptance and moving on when everything seems lost. The lead single from the album, Welcome To The Black Parade, was a worldwide hit and earned the band their first UK Number 1. It included the following lyrics: "Defiant to the end we hear the call/to carry on" and "do or die/you'll never make me/because the world will never take my heart/go and try/you'll never break me".

Just over a year later, another song reached number 1 in the UK. It included the lyrics: "My heart's crippled by the vein that I keep on closing/You cut me open/And I keep bleeding". In all honesty, which of these is more worrying? Which is more violent? Which is more positive? Which would worry parents more?

Well, one of the songs was released by a group of young men, dressed all in black with pale faces and dark hair. The other was released by a pretty young girl, the winner of a reality TV show. So of course, the song about surviving, moving on, and being your own person was the song that had parents concerned. My Chemical Romance found themselves in the middle of a tabloid media storm, led by the ever ignorant Daily Mail.

In August 2006, the Daily Mail printed a feature under the ludicrous headline: "Emo Cult Warning for Parents". Sarah Sands referred to the "emo" movement – which, as I've established, is based solely on image and no longer on the music to which is was first associated – as a "dangerous teenage cult" that is "a celebration of self harm". She claims that My Chemical Romance and Greenday are the bands at the forefront of emo. Neither of these bands originated in the late 80s, they're not from the scene that spawned emo, nor do they make a habit of playing songs about heart break with an acoustic guitar. So the article had music fans across the world laughing when according to Sarah Sands, they were crying into their Cheerios and writing awful poetry.

Many My Chemical Romance fans were angered by the article. Sands' insincere concern did nothing to soothe them. She claimed that she was worried because "teenagers are less equipped to manage strong emotions and a cult of suicide could have real and horrible consequences". This in itself, is ridiculous. It was clear to all the fans in the know that Sands had no clue what she was talking about – My Chemical Romance preach a strong, anti suicide message. Front man Gerard Way, who has struggled with depression for most of his life, will spend five minutes of each show telling kids "I don't care who you talk to, your mom, boyfriend, whatever, but p****** away your life on suicide is b***s***!". Oh yes, I can see how that would glorify self harm and suicide. It is all becoming clear!

To most of us, this would be a hilarious attempt by an old fashioned paper to appear to be in the know. But there is a serious side to the Daily Mail's huge blunder – they were claiming that teenagers self harm or suffer depression simply because the music they listen to tells them to do so. In the USA, the Miami Herald also made a glaring mistake. After the tragic events that occurred at the Virginia Tech college, Miami Herald journalist Evelyn McDonnell attended a My Chemical Romance show in order to review it for the paper. It was clear from her review that she hadn't paid attention at all – she claimed that all My Chemical Romance fans were the kind of kids who would shoot out their school, that My Chemical Romance glorified violence and that the show was disturbing. The basis for her claims? My Chemical Romance had a back drop featuring a ring of guns with a word in the middle: "Revenge". Of course, it did not occur to her that this was a reference to the band's previous album. My Chemical Romance fans were furious. Hundreds emailed McDonnell, thousands signed a petition demanding an apology from the paper.

The kids, it seems, are fighting back. The band that supposedly tells them to hurt themselves, to commit acts of violence or to kill themselves are actually having the opposite effect. The story of one fan struck me as a shining example. Laura, a 22 year old My Chemical Romance fan, told me how she suffered from depression since she was 13 years old. Her dad was suffering from an alcohol addiction. When she was 19, her father sadly passed away. Laura had this to say about My Chemical Romance: "I found MCR in early-mid 2004 and through the strenth I found in the music, the band's message and the fan base, I turned my life around. I found strength from what the music gave me, a purpose to change and the idea that I didn't have to suffer by myself." This is a story repeated by most of the My Chemical Romance fans I spoke to.

These stories aren't exactly fitting in with the public's image of emo, are they?

The simple fact of the matter is, some teenagers do self harm. It is a problem that is again acknowledged by the "emo" kids I have interviewed. However, they claim that music has nothing to do with it. The reasons behind self harm – specifically, cutting – are not as simple as the Daily Mail would have you believe. Blaming teen violence, self harm and depression on "emo" is not going to make these issues disappear. It's as if parents and journalists would have you believe that these problems will go away once the trend has inevitably died. In reality, it's more serious than that. The teenagers at the centre of the "emo" storm are being neglected and dismissed by the people who pretend to be so concerned about them. I asked Katie, another 16 year old, if she felt self harming teenagers were being dismissed because of the emo label. Again, her answer comes without hesitation: "Most definitely". She goes on to tell me that her own problems with self harm were dismissed because people thought she was cutting herself simply to fit in with the emo stereotype. Katie hits the nail on the head when she tells me that it was "a cry for help", help she inevitably found in music.

Teenagers have always been stereotyped. They always will be, and their image and the music they listen to will contribute to this. It's only human and no one understands that more than teenagers themselves. The "emo" stereotype is every bit as dangerous as Sarah Sands claimed, but not for the reasons she foolishly listed. Claiming that kids who dress in black and listen to certain bands are suicidal or capable of mass homicide is not only offensive to the kids themselves, but to the bands they claim have helped them through the most difficult times of their life. If someone is self harming, calling them emo and blaming it on a trend is not going to make the problem go away. Being dismissed by their parents and society as a whole is more likely to lead a teenager to self harm in order to gain attention or help. So instead of telling your kids to turn that racket off, instead of claming that when you were young, you listened to real (ahem) music, instead of calling them "em"” or dismissing their individuality, why don't you sit and listen to the lyrics? Why don't you engage them in conversation? I'm sure you'll find what I found – that these kids, who are apparently wallowing in depression, are actually some of the strongest, most inspirational people around. So do it if you dare – look through the fringe, beyond the eyeliner, and you'll find people who are intelligent, funny, warm and friendly. You'll find the good old punk defiance that was once so widely celebrated, and you'll realise one thing: the kids are alright.

Sun, 22 Jul 2007 22:48:32 GMT

My Chem Vs. The World
Category: Music

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

In the above video, the obviously embittered Jonathon Davis, lead singer of rock band KoRn, argues that My Chemical Romance do not have the right to play at Download, a festival held in Donnington, England every year. His argument for this: My Chemical Romance are a "gay ass emo band" and Download is a "rock" festival.

There used to be a time, when I would just scoff, throw a few insults about and be done with it. But that would make me just as bad as Jonathon Davis, and the time for that has passed. Plus, nothing pleases me more than a well thought out argument.

I have, as a My Chemical Romance fan and as a fan of music in general, two problems with Jonathon Davis' statements. Firstly, of course: the misuse of the term "emo", along with, the use of the term "gay" as an offensive term. Secondly: his claim that his band, KoRn, has more right to play a festival like Download.

A little bit of back story, for those who may not be aware.

In October, 2006, My Chemical Romance scored their first number 1 hit with "Welcome to The Black Parade" here in the UK. It was the first alternative rock and roll hit here (by this I mean: from a band you could find on Kerrang or Scuzz) since Evanescence went to Number 1 with their debut single, "Bring Me To Life". The album, "The Black Parade" was released a week later, and entered the album chart at number 2. My Chemical Romance exploded. The Sun, the widest read newspaper here in the UK, featured reports on My Chemical Romance every day in the week running up to the album release. As a band, My Chemical Romance have become one of the biggest rock bands in recent times. This CANNOT be disputed, not by Jonathon Davis and not by anyone - they have the figures to back this claim up. Since then, it seems every rock band has lined up to have a cheap shot. Everyone from former friends, to Marilyn Manson, and now Jonathon Davis have gotten their claws into My Chem. The funny thing is: My Chemical Romance closed Friday night at Download while KoRn played the second stage. Marilyn Manson played a slot smaller than MCR's on the Saturday. Funny, isn't it?

But enough of that. Let's move on to my first point.

"Emo" is a shortened term for "emotional". Everyone knows this. "Emo" music was marked out by its passionate and honest lyrics, it's tendancy to produce sensitive male front men, and often simple melodies. I missed out on the first, the real, wave of "emo" music. "Emo", as a genre of music, is long gone.

Instead, "emo" has become a label, a look, nothing more than a trend. I think we can all agree on this. This in itself is not necessarily a bad thing - following a trend, although an unfortunate choice, is surely something we have all done, and I'm sure at the time we all felt rather included. We can all understand why kids follow trends. However, the term has been picked up by the ignorant and narrow minded people who unfortunately have set up shop in music journalism, and in music itself. "Emo", is a widely misunderstood term.

Let's take it as the real meaning. "Emo" music is "emotional" music as the very basic definition. Jonathon Davis, Marilyn Manson, and all the other musicians who have cocked a thining brow at "emo" acts: when you create music, do you do it with emotion? Does the music you make reflect your emotions, and the emotions of the band? Does it strike an emotional chord in you? Do you want it to strike an emotional chord in others? What do you want from your listeners? Do you want them to empathise with you? To sympathise? Do you want to make them angry? Do you want to make them emotional?

If the answer to these questions is no, then you are all in the wrong business.
If the answer to these questions is yes, then you are every bit an "emo" band: just like My Chemical Romance. That what the word you toss about really means.

But, Jonathon Davis was probably referring to the "emo" trend that we seem to find ourselves in the midst in. This trend also has a few basic, widely recognised characteristics. These misconceptions are probably what Jonathon Davis was thinking about, and using, when he called My Chemical Romance "emo".

The first of these misconceptions:

- That "emo" kids wear make up: the boys and the girls.

This is true. It's popular for "emo" kids (of both sexes) to wear make up, be this eyeliner, eyeshadow, lip gloss, whatever. But, Jonathon Davis, My Chemical Romance aren't the only boys in rock and roll history to wear make up. Everyone from David Bowie to Brian Molko have all worn, and occassionally still do wear, make up in public. Just like My Chemical Romance. And let's not forget, someone you know well: Robert Smith. The singer for The Cure, one of the minds behind the now anthemic "Boys Don't Cry", has performed with you. You respect him, like him, admire his work? He's famous for the make up he wears as much as My Chemical Romance are, you hypocritical fool. Not all boys who wear make up are gay - I know more heterosexual boys who wear eyeliner than homosexual - and not all boys wear make up to fit in with the "emo" trend. Robert Smith and David Bowie were just a few of the well respected rock icons who were wearing make up long before Gerard Way started fooling around with his mother's lipstick.

The second misconception:

- That "emo" kids are all depressed, self harmers.

Yes, members of My Chemical Romance have suffered from depression. They make no secret of it. Talking about their depression has helped thousands of their fans battle their own demons. A noble cause, some might say. Of course, not all kids who self harm do it because they are in pain. Of course, some of them do it to fit in. But at the end of the day, the majority of self harmers do it for what must seem like a valid reason: because they want attention, because they are hurt, because they are lost, because they need help and they are being outright dismissed because of how they look or dress. As a musician who was bullied in high school, as someone who has admittedly suffered depression, Jonathon Davis, you should at least understand if not empathise with these kids. "Emo" as a label is being overused, and it's overuse is dangerous and lazy. You, and other musicians like you, should know that and should not be encouraging these stereotypes. That's not what rock music is about.

The third, and possibly silliest misconception:

- That "emo" kids wear black.

So do Backstreet Boys fans. I rest my case on that one, ladies and gentlemen.

Now to the second part of Jonathon Davis' ludicrous statement: that My Chemical Romance do not belong at the Download festival.

My Chemical Romance have enjoyed both mainstream and underground success since their birth in 2001. I remember when no one knew about My Chemical Romance, and now they are the rock band that everyone seems to know. In terms of publicity, fanbase and sales, they have been one of the most important rock bands of 2006 and 2007. Yes, they polarise opinion and enjoy doing so. But behind all that, they have a very large, and very passionate fan base. They have sold shed loads of records, they've played hundreds of shows and they deserve every little bit of success they now have.

That aside, My Chemical Romance were at Download for the same reasons as KoRn, Marilyn Manson, Linkin Park and Iron Maiden. They were there, simply, because they were asked to be there. The organisers of Download asked them to headline, above KoRn, and above Marilyn Manson because they knew it would cause controversy, but they knew it would also sell tickets. There is a demand for My Chemical Romance that any sensible festival is going to recognise.

I have as much right to call myself a rock fan as anyone I know. I have the right to call myself a rock fan as much as any KoRn fan has the right. I grew up in a house full of punk and glam rock from my dad, and a house full of pop from my mother. I enjoy both rock and pop, openly. I started out listening to bands like Hanson and The Backstreet Boys, but moved onto rock at a very early age - an age that would be sneered at now. I educated myself with everyone from Nirvana and Soundgarden to Linkin Park, KoRn, Slipknot and on to My Chemical Romance, AFI, Taking Back Sunday, Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy. If I like it, I listen to it, whether it's rock or not. Only rock fans, real rock fans, are open minded enough to accept that.

My Chemical Romance come from a musical background as varied as my own - with influences from everyone ranging from Liza Minelli, to Queen, Iron Maiden and The Beatles, to Black Flag and The Misfits. My Chemical Romance come from pop and they come from rock, and at times they fuse both with a daring and such skill that it left me astounded. My Chemical Romance may have had unprecedented mainstream success from a band of their genre, but they are a rock band.

My Chemical Romance are, and this is what probably annoys Jonathon Davis and Marilyn Manson - a band with morals. They are a band who have defended the rights of women, the rights of homosexuals, and the rights of their fans to be who they are worldwide. My Chemical Romance tell their fans to be brave, to stand up for themselves, to be who they want, to do what they want, and to never, ever give in to others simply to conform. My Chemical Romance gave hope to thousands of people, people like me - rock fans, pop fans, kids too young to know the difference - My Chemical Romance gave hope to us all. That's why they've sold millions of records, that's why they have such a huge, passionate following and that's why, Mr Davis, they were asked to headline Download.

Did any of the My Chem haters actually watch their Download footage? Yes, there were bottles - in the beginning. But My Chemical Romance thrived on that, they put on an amazing show and by the end of it, the bottle throwers were either enjoying themselves or willing to at least let the band have their say. The people who went to Donnington, the people who bottled My Chemical Romance at Reading last year, those people gave My Chemical Romance a chance, they gave them their shot, in the end. Their opinions are the opinions that matter, because they are, they always have been, and they always will be, the people behind the music. You are just their puppet, Jonathon Davis.

But it's no surprise that My Chemical Romance are at the top of everyone's hit list. No doubt it must be tough to have been in a band for as long as Jonathon Davis, or to have played for as long as Marilyn Manson, only to be overshadowed now in 2007 by a band who only formed in 2001. It must be quite gutting. But real fighters, real genuine musicians, wouldn't let that bother them. This may be My Chem's fifteen minutes of fame, but somehow I think it'll last longer than that. That's something the Donnington spectators realised, and sooner or later, musicians like Jonathon Davis and Marilyn Manson are going to have to do the same.

It's time they realise that the audiences, the game, and the players themselves, are changing. Rock music used to be about acceptance - where every misfit, where every outsider could find a place, a friend, a band that suited him or her and truly flourish. With his narrow mindedness, Jonathon Davis has shown himself to be nothing but a bitter, scared man. My Chemical Romance have rock music on the ropes, they're fighting to the death and let me tell you, with fans like us behind them, they've got a good chance of winning. My Chemical Romance are here to stay, and while they're here they're changing it up, they're having a great time and they're revitalising rock music while they do it. Attack them because it'll get you publicity, because it'll get you column inches, but what is sadder, Jonathon Davis and Marilyn Manson - the fact that a band like My Chemical Romance have overtaken you - or the fact that you have been reduced to attacking them to get attention these days?

You either join the Parade or you get off the Parade route, because there's no stopping us.

Draven Valentine
x

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 13:21:58 GMT

Haha.
I love it when I get random texts.
Especially when the text is: "Vicki and Cam sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!"
How cute is that, seriously?
No one answers their phone anymore :( Like woah.

Minstrels, aye?

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 22:26:56 GMT

So, once again, Virginia Tech is one of the main stories here in the UK press. It's terrible...tragic, horrible. It's really horrifying, and my heart goes out to anyone suffering because of the incredibly selfish act of a twisted young man.

Of course, here the press is pointing fingers. Saying that the right to bear arms in the US is what caused all this. We don't have anything like here in the UK, gun crime isn't that bad. I think actually in Scotland, knife crime is worse now. I don't really know what right our journalists have to comment on the situation, to be quite honest. They're not American (most of them), have never lived there. So I don't know...

But obviously we have our opinions.
Of course, common sense tells you that if the right to bear arms suddenly vanished, gun crime would go down. But it's not that simple - hundreds of millions (I'm assuming?) of US citizens carry guns every day. Not all of them go on a murdering rampage, you know?

The UK press is having a great time tearing the boy's stories to shreds, saying he was a deviant and mentally ill. Obviously he was, but they are basing these claims on the fact that he wrote a play in which a teenage boy kills his stepfather whom he claims sexually abused him.

Francis is worried because I have a similar story line coming up. Scarily similar actually. A few of you already know that it comes out that one of my new characters was sexually abused by a Catholic priest. He then tracks the priest down, and he has a gun. I haven't decided if he shoots him or not, but the implication of violence, the threat, is there.

So does this make me a crazed gun weilding killer? Of course not. Kirsty (fellow creative writing student) and I were discussing this today - you do not have to be crazy to write about mental illness. You do not have to be a murderer to write about murder. You don't have to be a junkie to write about heroin addiction, you don't have to be anorexic to write about an eating disorder. I am not crazy, I am not violent and I am not unhinged. And yet I can come up with a storyline remarkably similar to that of a crazed killer.

I think the press needs a new standpoint.
They also threw in that the murderer listened to Nirvana regularly.
A few years ago, we had a murder here. A young "Goth" boy murdered his young girlfriend. It was blamed on Marilyn Manson. A high school shoot out has been blamed on Linkin Park. Who don't even swear on their CDs.

It's the whole thing I'm trying to put across with my story Passions - adults are so quick to blame something completely irrelevant. Not all Marilyn Manson fans, or Linkin Park fans, are mass murderers! Maybe, just maybe, society (and this is societies all over the world) need to take a good hard look at their kids, at themselves, and at their prejudices.

There is no doubt the Virginia Tech murderer was mentally ill. He was violent, he was cowardly, and if there is a Hell, I hope he burns in it. But no one is born mentally unstable, no one is born evil, and no one is born to be a killer. Something happens, something goes wrong and people don't get the help they need. There's such a stigma attached to mental health that is completely out of sorts with this open minded world we're supposed to be living in.

All I know is...a lot of good, young people are dead, that needn't be. I don't know how to prevent murder, I don't know how to brink someone back from the brink. I just hope we - all of us - can learn something from this.

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:25:18 GMT

Ah. Last night!

Last night I went to see Lostprophets with Taking Back Sunday and Aiden at the SECC.
I am so, so sore today. Down my neck, across my shoulders and my right arm. It's all that jumping about, I swear. My throat is also sore, and my voice scratchy, but of course it was well worth it!

So Maccie-D came to my house at half three (just to see my dog) and we waited for my little sister to get home. She got home at ten to four and by ten past we were at Garrowhill trainstation waiting for the train into town.

We got into town, grabbed some food and ran onto a train at Central. We got to the SECC just after five and met up with Kelman. He had been there for hours cuz he was interviewing the Prophets for punktastic. I think. Anyway.

So we hung out with Kelman in the queue and I signed some random girl's belt. She seemed nice. Kirsty and her friend Kayleigh arrived and we just generally had a laugh. We discovered just how elastic Kelman's hair is (it's weird) and just mucked around. It was fun :)

Doors were supposed to open at half six but I think they opened late. We went in and I bought a gooooooorgeous white TBS zipper. Maccie-D bought one as well and my little sister bought a TBS tee shirt (we go to a Lostprophets show...and all buy TBS merch).

We lost Kirsty and Kayleigh but me, Kelman, Maccie-D and Nicole managed to stay together.

And then Aiden came on.
Now. Usually, I respect bands even if I don't like them. It must be tough to do what they have to do, to perform in front of thousands of strangers etc. And if they're selling records, then I assume that there must be something there that I just don't get.

With Aiden?
I'm right. They out and out suck. Wil Francis' voice needs a lot of work. On record it sounds ok (not amazing but not awful) but live? He struggled to be heard over the music - and it wasn't a sound problem because TBS and LostProphets sounded great - his voice was often whiny and very nasel. Simply put - he can't sing live. He needs lessons.

Add to that the fact that Aiden's songs aren't exactly great either. Kelman cleverly pointed out that their new song has a riff that sounds almost like a carbon copy of AFI's "Leaving Song Pt 2" - let's add to that the fact that in the new video Wil is wearing all white with black breeches - and you get the impression that Aiden are too lazy to come up with anything original. Their songs are repeptive in language, theme and delivery. Quite simply, Aiden were boring.

Now, Taking Back Sunday :D

First off, they had a gorgeous stage set up. I hope pictures are floating around somewhere, because it was a really cool back drop. One of the first things the mighty Adlaz did was mock Wil Francis. Not directly, of course. But during his set, Wil kept calling the crowd "Muthafuckas" (oh yes) and when Adlaz came out, he said something along the lines of: "I won't call you all motherfuckers, cuz I'm classier than that" or something to that effect. It made me laugh.

Taking Back Sunday BLEW Aiden off the stage. They made Aiden look like a bunch of high school kids performing at the annual talent show, I swear. They performed (can't remember the order):

- What's It Feel Like to be A Ghost
- Error Operator
- My Blue Heaven
- Up Against (Blackout)
- Twenty Twenty Surgery
- Where You Want To Be
- Liar
- A Decade Under the Influence
- You're So Last Summer
- Cute Without The E
- Makedamnsure

And they really were amazing. Adlaz is super camp, and super cute. He's growing his hair, it's lovely. Fred was there this time too! So that was good, because he didn't play Taste of Chaos here with TBS last year. And I swear to god, the Adlaz drawl is amazing. Makes me weak at the knees haha.

So yeah, Maccie-D, Nicole and I really enjoyed TBS' set. It was great seeing them again. We agreed that we preferred their set to the Lost Prophets', but mostly because TBS are higher up on the favourite bands list than LP, who did play an amazing show.

The Lost Prophets also had an amazing stage set up. We headed out towards the back for their set, mostly because we needed a drink after screaming ourselves hoarse during TBS. Their stage set up was also amazing! The lights were great. I can't remember too much of their set though...I remember Ian wearing some zipper a dude threw on stage (it looked like a H&M article haha). "Rooftops", "Fake Sound of Progress", "Burn Burn" and "4Am Forever" all sounded fantastic. Sound wise, the Prophets were on great form. They were really entertaining too. Last night was the first night of the tour, and they filmed the whole show. Ian said that they wanted to open the tour here because they felt that Scottish people and Welsh people would get on - both our nations are of Celtic descent haha - and he said that we'd be more forgiving if they messed up.

They performed "Can't Stop, Gotta date with hate" and I swear to God, the chorus to it is almost identical to All American Rejects' "I'm Waiting". Maccie-D and I have been saying that since "Liberation Transmission" came out! Haha, cuz AAR got their album out first haha. Anyway, we sang the chorus to "I'm Waiting" over "Can't Stop..." and couldn't stop laughing.

So, towards the end of the show, Richard came over and told us that Kelman might have broken his arm in a pit :| We found Kelman minutes later wandering around with his left arm folded up as if he was wearing a sling (he wasn't - silly boy hadn't gone to the first aid tent :P) and he was still dancing like a spazz. It was cute haha. So Nicole and I rushed over to see if he was ok.

And Maccie-D rushed over minutes later and rugby tackled him! Nicole and I were both screaming: "Maccie-D, NO!" as he was running towards Kelman (it was so dramatic!) because Maccie-D hadn't heard what Richard had said and hadn't noticed the way Kelman was holding his arm.

Kelman was in some serious pain haha. We tried to keep an eye on him and the one time we weren't watching him, he ends up back in the crowd :| But after the show, we went with him to get his coat and walked him out to the car park. He got a taxi to the hospital and his arm isn't broken, but he's trapped a nerve and he was in a lot of pain :( Poor jake.

Nicole, Maccie-D and I waited a half hour for Mr Maccie-D to come get us (Big Suz was working, sob!) and didn't get home till midnight. My dad wasn't happy cuz my little sister has school today, and no doubt he'll be annoyed with me later haha. Ach well. It's not as if I wanted to stand around for half an hour in the cold, all sore, waiting for a lift. Yeesh.

Oh! and my rewards from Uk Undercurrent came today! They sent me promo version of a ton of FBR singles! You know, the editions that magazines and radio stations get? Yeah :) They sent me promo versions of "We've Got A Big Mess on Our Hands" by TAI, "Build God, Then We'll Tak" by P!ATD, "New Friend Request" by GCH, "Wine Red" by The Hush Sound, and "The Church of Hot Addiction" by Cobra Starship. So I am WELL chuffed! Haha.

Also, got my short story and reportage piece typed up. They are my last assignments of the year :( Only exams now! I'm stoked. Nothing to be done now until after GIAN. Haha. YAS!

The only thing that could have made yesterday better would have been having Cat there!

Hope you're all well.

xxx

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 08:32:00 GMT

I miss: Craig, Jamie, ~~Francis~~, Linkin Park, The Easter Holidays, ...my childhood :(

Haha.
Gosh I'm in a stupid mood.

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 22:49:35 GMT

Oh my wow

I met Hanson this fine evening, with a lovely girl and the sun in the sky and it was amazing!

SQUEE.

(AFI dvd came. Javeyxcore)

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:56:27 GMT

Kirsty and I say HELLO!

Also: Can't believe I missed Hanson. You're all bitches.

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:36:46 GMT

What to do if Fictionpress won't let you post:

- post on your writing journal! dravenvalentine

- realise that Francine looks like Jake Gyllenhaal! (but only in one picture)

- watch everything MCR related on your Sky plus planner!

- read old MCR articles! That you only have scans of! Because you're not hardcore!

- abuse everyday punctuation!

- slowly lose your mind!

- go to bed!

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 09:40:22 GMT

Tomorrow I am going to buy a black velvet covered notebook and start my new story Little Black Hearts. Ooft :) I'm really returning to where I started with this story and let me tell you: I did not start with Matt Harris :P

I'll still be writing and posting Passions though, so it'll be fun.
I just devoured my breakfast. I was starving! And my next break isn't until quarter to two. I know. Just not right.

I wonder if they'll put a panini on for me today...

Anyway, must dash!
x

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 17:41:55 GMT

No one's online to talk to me and it's really quite sad.
I am a bit upset at fictionpress because other people have managed to upload and I still can't. It's just not right.

Awh :)

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 14:55:51 GMT

Ooft, text conversations with Francis are amazing. Even if it takes him ages to reply :| Silly technophobe! Here's how the most recent one went:

Me: I don't tip my head back
Francis: Shut up. Yes you do.
Me: You're weird
Francis: You're weird
Me: How am I weird?
Francis: You fancy Grandpa Gerard
Me: He's not a Grandpa! He's only 30
Francis: Yeah, yeah :P Still way older than my lovely self. Haha, way older.
Me: You can tell you're new to MCR fandom. We all got over Way puns a long time ago
Francis: No way! Haha.

He's so easily amused :) I think also? slightly drunk. Haha.

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 13:06:00 GMT

It's always nice to start a lunch break with a text from Francis.
Especially when it is as weird and wonderful as the one he just sent me :| Haha. And I quote:

"You know what I love about you? When you're drinking from a bottle, you tip your head right back".

Well...weird, yes. But it's nice to know he notices the little things.

I am currently devouring a plain cheese panini. It was quite funny because they had to put one on just for me (I'm difficult) and this is how it happened:

Me: Plain cheese panini please
Woman: I'd have to put one on for you
Me: That's fine
Woman: You'd have to wait for it
Me: That's fine
Woman: Would you like one of the toasted cheese croissants? They're just plain cheese
Me: plain cheese panini please.

There is no way I was having a croissant for lunch. That's something only Chris Kelman does (speaking of: Who misses Starbucks?)

So I'm more than half way through my shift already (hip hip hooray) but still mortally wounded that my first break wasn't until 12. That's just cruel. Anyone know if fictionpress is working yet? I don't want to have to send Chapter 8 of Passions to each individual person who has me on author alert, but god damn it, I WILL! Let it be known I do not let people down haha.

I am going to put money in my phone and text the TAI phone. Yes I know it is lame (but at least I'm not posting this in the TAI comm :P) but I dunno. I would text the Linkin Park phone but just the idea that they'd catch the smallest glance at anything to do with me makes me insecure. So TAI it is. Cat and I were discussing possible text options. My favourite was: "Boys - Treckett: Discuss" because let's face it...we all want to know :P Or! "William, get Travis! A scary librarian is eating my friend and only a display of fuzzy Treckett love will save her!"

I bet all the Strathy librarians would be nicer if they got a display of Treckett.
My break is over in 11 minutes :( SOB! SOB! SOOOOOOOB!
How can this be?
Time flies.
I was going to update my writing journal but...I don't know if I have the energy. My last break finishes at four which is pretty ridiculous seeing as how I finish at five but ohhhhhhhhhh well, not complaining.

How are you all on this glorious and beautiful Saturday?

(PS, Cat: Treckett > Peterick. Clearly)

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 07:41:46 GMT

Fine friends of mine, do you know what I decided this morning while sitting on the train listening to Head Automatica?

I decided that standing by Francis was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.
I lost friends over it, you know?
But
It also happens to be the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

This summer is going to own!

x

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:00:51 GMT

I am so close to unfriending the TAI community. SERIOUSLY. Those kids are so immature. And annoying!

Cassadaga is beautiful though.

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:02:58 GMT

OK so I actually type up the new chapter of passions
and fictionpress isn't working :|

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:05:29 GMT

Got my dog this morning :D
CHICO! He's a legend haha. Took him for a nice long walk. Met some nice women walking their dogs and they gave him a biscuit :D He's such a sweetheart, and a quick learner too. I adore him haha! He makes me smile. I think we've done a good thing, adopting a dog rather than going for a new puppy.

:D

x

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 15:02:36 GMT

Work tonight? Aye.
Gutted.

I want to stay home and dance to Gym Class Heroes all night. Alas, it is not to be.
Went to see TMNT today. It's so awesome. So, so, so, awesome.

:D

x

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:00:41 GMT

Happy Birthday Hero Boy :D

x

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:52:34 GMT

"Shoot Down The Stars"

'81 was the year shit hit the fan in a major way
I sat there for an inspiring artist
Almost 20 years after the fact I'm still on my hustle
Diggin' graves for an inspiring artist
Pushing daises up
And never compromise the arts and make a crowd clap
Shit on since the first show
But we turned feces to fertilizer
So when you diss it's just food for the flowers to grow
Sold 15 plus out of backpacks, no trunks
Too young to drive
But live hip hop
And the kids are upstate kids that thought rap was past tense, hence the last name
Got name for playing basements and such and making songs that our friends loved
And when the fish bowl got too small to hold the goldfish
We filled our gills with water and ripped that mother fucker like

So take a step back
And a breath in
Let it out now
Put your chin up
You can do it tiger
You a man now
And in your dream it's time to do the best you can now

We bring ourselves down
And build ourselves up in disappointment
How fragile we are
So fragile we are, we just don't show it
We'll shake up this town
And shoot down the stars for our enjoyment
So sexy we are
So sexy we are, we just don't know it

This is what you wanted right?
How many nights were spent pouring out your guts dummy?
How many punishments endured for fucking up in school?
How many teachers proved wrong by writing songs instead?
My point exactly
But you knew you had a spark, did you?
Something producin' to the dreams your pop's dreams lent you
Stay focused when nothing seemed to make sense
Stealing verses with that Cassius Clay confidence
Sometimes you stubborn as shit, that's the McCoy in you
You learn to be a man without losing the boy in you
Just do your thing man

So take a step back
And a breath in
Let it out now
Put your chin up
You can do it tiger
You a man now
And in your dream it's time to do the best you can now

So take a step back
And a breath in
Let it out now
Put your chin up
You can do it tiger
You a man now
And in your dream it's time to do the best you can now

We bring ourselves down
And build ourselves up in disappointment
How fragile we are
So fragile we are, we just don't show it
We'll shake up this town
And shoot down the stars for our enjoyment
So sexy we are
So sexy we are, we just don't know it

We break ourselves down
And build ourselves up in disappointment
How fragile we are
So fragile we are, we just don't show it
We shake up this town
And shoot down the stars for our enjoyment
So sexy we are
So sexy we are, we just don't know it

So take a step back
And a breath in
Let it out now
Put your chin up
You can do it tiger
You a man now
And in your dream it's time to do the best you can now

We bring ourselves down
And build ourselves up in disappointment
How fragile we are
So fragile we are, we just don't show it
We'll shake up this town
And shoot down the stars for our enjoyment
So sexy we are
So sexy we are, we just don't know it

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 11:21:39 GMT

Four hours into my shift already :)
Yay :)

Which means: only four hours of my shift to go :)
It's really quiet today, due to it being the Easter weekend. Quiet = boring. I would so love to get a little bit of sneaky writing done but I'm sitting right by my team manager so I don't think that'd be a good idea.

I am most most most most definitely posting the next chapter of Passions tomorrow, I promise.

I keep going over the big main event in my head, making sure it works, visualising, that kind of thing. Planning dialogue. I think a few of you may already know (or have some sort of idea) what's going to happen and I think I may actually kind of like it that way.

Apparently it's really warm outside. I can't be bothered going outside by myself haha. Also, the sun hurts my eyes a little. It's not that I'm some crazy recluse wannabe vampire type person, it's just the sun reflects off my glasses and makes my eyes sore. Geeeeeeeeeeek.

I am so stoked about being off tomorrow. Just getting to hang out, and chill, and enjoy the nice weather and the vast amounts of chocolate. I think my uncle and grandad will be going to church. Of course I won't be :P There have been so many jokes about me catching fire as I entered that I'm starting to believe that maybe they're true :P

My grandad and uncle are elders in our local church. I didn't go to their ceremony when they got made official elders either haha. My mum didn't think it was appropriate :)

People seem to think I have a problem with religion (coughCatholicismcough) but I really, truly don't. I find religion beautiful and fascinating, it's just not for me. I like churches though. They're pretty. I passed a really nice one on the bus today.

Anyway, I'm going to check cinema times.
Lots of love.
x

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 08:43:05 GMT

I hope Joseph Ardolino-Lee likes caterpillars.

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 06:44:44 GMT

Placebo have signed up to Projekt Revolution. Linkin Park, MCR, TBS AND Placebo on the one tour? That's just not fair. Stupid...America.

(I don't think America is stupid)

Susie texted this morning, which is great :)
I got to watch the sunrise today! Granted, through the slightly grubby windows of a bus. But still got to watch it! Haha. Was up at six am, out the house by twenty past, on the bus by 6:47 and here in Airdrie at 7:17. But I don't start till eight so...I hate that the trains are off. I could have slept in till half past six if they were on! Stupid...trains.

(I don't think trains are stupid)

But the bus ride was actually kind of soothing. I like getting the bus sometimes, just chilling with some music on. Today the IPod threw out a nice mix of AFI and Dashboard Confessional. Very nice.

My grandad is having a barbecue today apparently :|
Although, I think it will be a gorgeous day! It was weird, while I was walking to get my bus, I could clearly see the moon on one side of the sky and the sunrise on the other. There was a nice mist over the burn (little river). It was really beautiful and calm. Till I danced my way down singing "The Missing Frame" haha.

I feel really upbeat today :D I've been feeling really upbeat a lot lately, has anyone noticed?

Going out tomorrow, I think. With Nicole, to the cinema or something. I want to see TMNT haha. Don't think she's up for it though.

Is the cinema even open tomorrow?
Gosh, I don't know.
I wish my shift was over haha.
Upbeat I may be, but nothing quite prepares you for an eight hour shift on JD Williams. Had a horrible coffee when I first came in. Made my tummy feel nice and warm. And slightly sick, too.

Tra la la.
Wonder when my breaks are...
First break is at half nine :D Breakfast!
Then my next break isn't till...12 :| yeesh. That's a long, long wait haha. Ach, not really. Lunch at 12 then :D Last break at 2!

I wish it was two.
Haha.
Update on next break? I think so.

x

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 21:26:38 GMT

Geezus.
Haha.
Why did I open an entry with "geezus", you ask?
Hmm.
I'm not sure.

How are we all?
The sunshine has gone on a holiday! It was fairly cloudy on this side of the Atlantic today. Kind of cloudy indeed. Not cold or anything, or windy. Just not as bright as it has been this past week. I went into town with Maccie-D and Clare (Clare is coming to GIAN instead of Nikki) and we just generally goofed around. Craig was a no show, so it was just the three of us.

It was great fun! Clare is really nice, and super easy to talk to. I like that I'm meeting all these great new people. I felt real comfortable with Clare, which is a bonus because we're sharing a room in London. Anyway, she's fantastic. She has a really eclectic music taste, and loves Nightmare Before Christmas. We went poster shopping (I couldn't resist picking something up for Kelman) and just generally had a giggle.

The stupid trains are off, and I'm stuck on an 8am - 4pm tomorrow. Which means that I have to get the bus (the 262, to be exact) into Airdrie instead of my nice, quick 12 minute train ride. It takes 34 minutes on the bus, apparently. And I have to catch the 6:47, which will get me in at 7:17. Yup. A whole forty odd minutes before I'm due to start and why? Because the buses that come after that would make me late. It's just not right!

I won't even be able to grab breakfast, because the kitchen doesn't open till 9 or so. I hope they have Nutri-Grains in the vending machine haha.

I looked EVERYWHERE for the AFI dvd today. Got a leaflet on Wednesday saying "I Heard A Voice" was definitely out now in UK stores (took long enough) so off I went on my merry way. Checked both of the HMVs in the city centre, the Virgin Megastore and the smaller Virgin. Checked Avalanche and Music Zone. Nothing. HMV are stocking it, but it was out of stock. They offered to get it ordered in, but it takes 10 days. If I order it on the HMV website, max delivery time is five days. Guess who won? Haha. Also, I used my discount on the HMV site so I got it for £11.69 including delivery. Not bad.

Ahaha, I think Kels is going to laugh when he sees what I got him. I hope :P
I am still addicted to the new Linkin Park song. This is worse than my Blaqk Audio addiction :|

Me: Do you think I could get a duck?
McLean: No.

I want a duckling.