Flawless British melomania

I was born in 1981. The very same year in Saô Paulo, Queen was setting a new world record: 130 000 spectators at a single concert. The next year, ‘The Wall’ was on the screens for the first time and got everyone stunned – lyrics and artwork they’ll remember all their lives. 1983: ‘Every Breath You Take’, The Police marked some points. At the same period, The Who separated, leaving behind worldwide widowers. 1985: time for The Clash to say goodbye, name one person who can’t name one of their songs. The same year, Queen beat their own record: 325 000 at a concert, again in Brazil (Rio). At the same time, The Cure got ‘Close To Me’ to the top of the charts. 1986: ‘It’s A Kind Of Magic’, no comment. 1989: to everyone’s surprise, The Who gt back together for a new album. November 1989: global mourning: Freddie Mercury dies of HIV, admitting finally on his deathbed the true nature of the disease.

In 1994, I was 13, driving my bicycle around Provence, when I heard from the first time of a great show: the MTV Unplugged Led Zeppelin appearance. One year later, they entered the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and Museum. 1998 France’s World Title infootball for some, ‘A Stranger Among Us’ for some others: a documetary on the life of Nick Drake made by the BBC and welcomed by most of the critiques as a unique view of this songwriter and wonderful singer.

2000. New century, new millenium. Brand new artists coming out of the British Isles. The Streets, hip-hop revelation, gets his first LP out: ‘Has It Come To This’. Raw lyrics, cacthy rythms and cockney accent: loved it, still does today, 4 albums later. 2002: I’m studying English Litterature and Civilisation here in Bordeaux and learn of the death of Joe Strummer, singer of The Clash. 2002-2003, after 42 years of existence, The Rolling Stones go around the globe for their ‘Stones Licks Tour’. 2005: at the London Live 8, Pink Floyd get back together for a series of concerts. Last album of The Rolling Stones: ‘A Bigger Bang’. 2006: I’m in Laos with my girl when I hear about the death of Syd Barrett (bass player and songwriter of Pink Floyd. 2007: this time I’m in Namibia amidst lions and elephants when The Police get back together. 2008: at the Beijing Olympics, Jimmy Page plays at the closing ceremony. 2009: 39 years after their separation, their complete discography gets out in a brand new remastered set. The fans and critiques are unanimous.

How come such small islands as the UK can provide world music with so many great artists?