Dick: the two waves of new(ish) artists I listed, albeit very incompletely: most unforgiveable among the omissions were lots of YFA contenders - notably Damien Barber, Tim Van Eyken and Rob Harbron - was in contrast to the "horrendous downturn of the 80s". I did not say they had realised their potential as they obviously will climb far higher.

What is different is that they can stand alone, if need be and in some cases are. having been incomprehensibly dissed by the old gits from The Swiggin' Pig who hold the equally unfathomable view that anything, even the amateurish dross they spew out, is Good Enough For F*lk. It isn't.

These performers do, of course, acknowledge their sources and influences . What they don't do is put up with shit from "organisers" such as the one who pulled your booking in a tour series at short notice or descend to crass, GEFFish amateurism prevalent in past-sell-by clubs.