To Be Someone (25 page)

Salisbury

June 20, 1988

Dearest Sam,

I can’t believe that I’m here and you don’t want to see me. I can’t begin to understand how ill you feel, but I know how hard it’s been for you to have to go through radiotherapy as well as the chemo.

Your mum says you’re too frightened to see anybody. Oh Sam, if you only knew how heartbroken I am that you’re so afraid. Please, please don’t be scared; we’re all here for you. I hope this doesn’t sound too trite, but I really believe that angels are watching over you, too.

I wish there was something I could do to help you—you know I’d go through this for you, if I could.

I’m in the U.K. for ten days, so I can come down again at any time. We’re opening for Simply Red on their tour. No pressure, of course, but I would love to see you while I’m here, even just for a few minutes.

Listen to the enclosed tape. It’s the soundtrack from
The Big Blue
, and it’s all about struggle and achievement and bliss. I’ve been learning to meditate, and this is the best music to do it to. Listen to it and imagine yourself well again. If it works for you, visualize yourself floating weightless in a warm, clear sea, full of light. Imagine that you’re made of light. Please listen to it over and over again. Even if you don’t have the energy to meditate, I’m sure it will help you to feel more relaxed.

All my love,

   Helena xxx

P.S. I’ve written a song for you; hopefully it’ll be on the next album. It’s called “Over This.” As soon as we’ve recorded it in the studio, I’ll send you a tape. x

BLUEZINE

SUMMER 1988

Hi Fans,

What do you think of the impressive, new-look, glossy BLUEZINE? Do send in your comments for the band.

At the moment they’re still out on the road, but they want to let you all know how much they appreciate you coming out to see them in your hundreds of thousands, and for keeping
Spin Shiny
on the charts for so long.

They were in the U.K. for ten days in June, opening for Simply Red (see page 3 for photograph of Justin and Mick Hucknall meeting Princess Diana), and this fall they’re off on another big world tour–THE BLUE CEILING TOUR. Check out the attached dates, and see page 4 for a fabulous chance to win a pair of tickets to their show in Tokyo; flights, accommodation, and backstage passes included!

Blue Idea has leased a new, top-of-the-line tour bus, which you may have spotted outside a venue–it’s the size of a barn and therefore pretty hard to miss. It even has its own recording studio inside, so not only is the band traveling in way more comfort, they’ve also been whiling away those long hours on the road by recording demoes for their new album! The title will be
Painting the Ceiling
, and it’s scheduled for release in October.

The lucky winners of the competition in the last issue of
Bluezine
were Julie Weatherley and Charlotte-Emma Moore, from Lawrence, KS (both aged sixteen). Well done, guys! They joined the band on the road for a day, and wrote the following note describing their experiences:

We are Blue Idea’s biggest fans in the world, and we couldn’t believe it when we won! The band treated us real good, they even sent a black stretch limousine to meet us at the Chicago airport and take us to the bus! The bus was so neat, it had everything on there. Ovens and showers and beds and recording gear and everything. We had an awesome time, it was the coolest thing that ever happened to us, ever. Everyone in the band was real nice, Justin is a beautiful person, and David gave us some drumsticks, and Joe gave us the shirt he wore in the video for “Conditions of Love”! Helena had real bad hay fever, her eyes were streaming the whole time, so we gave her some shades to wear onstage that night, and she wore them! The concert was unbelievable. It was the second time we’d seen the band (but the first time without our folks being there).

Thank you, Blue Idea, WE LOVE YA!!!

      Love from Charlotte-Emma and Julie xxooxx

The band wants to thank all of you who’ve sent them gifts while they’ve been on the road. They’re promising to write up a letter to send out to all fan club members, but please be patient, there’s a whole bunch of you fans out there!

Finally, here’s a personal note from each of the guys, and what they’ve all been listening to on the road this summer:

JUSTIN: “Hey! Thanks so much for all the soft toys, people, but please stop sending them—I have so many on my bunk in the bus that there’s no room for me to sleep! Seriously, we’re gonna have to start giving a few away to charity soon. Appreciate it, though. Catch you later.” (
Lovesexy
by Prince)

JOE: “Did you hear the one about the guy who visited his doctor, naked except for some Saran Wrap around his waist? He said, ‘Doctor, doctor, am I going crazy?’ and the doctor goes, ‘Yes, I can clearly see your nuts.’ Geddit?” (
Tougher than Leather
by Run DMC)

DAVID: “Oh well, at least Joe didn’t tell you one of his drummer jokes. Thanks for coming out to see us, everyone. We love ya, too.” (
Tracy Chapman
by Tracy Chapman–buy this album, it’s awesome)

HELENA: “Another summer, another tour. The sands of time slip on by, folks, so take my advice and make the most of everything in your life. Tell your family and friends you love ‘em as often as you get the chance.” (Soundtrack to the movie
The Big Blue
)

   Love from us to you,

   Justin, Joe, David, and Helena xxxx

Review in Q Magazine, November 1988

Painting the Ceiling

Blue Idea

Ringside RNG 2075

Presumably there is something about Freehold, New Jersey, that drives the youth of the town to need to escape. Perhaps the high school forces each pupil to study the social insights of the self-appointed “Boss” of blue-collar rock—if so, no wonder this quartet left town on tour when the youngest of their number was just sixteen.

They started out as darlings of the American college scene in 1983, purveyors of bubbly post-post-punk, and since then have gone from strength to strength, learning how to adapt to the times in the way that only those in the highest echelons of the rock world—R.E.M. and U2—have managed.

Despite the rather facile and dated title (
Blancmange
, circa 1982, anyone?), British-born songwriter Helena Nicholls has pulled off the not-inconsiderable feat of creating a complete change of direction, without losing the lively intensity hallmarking Blue Idea’s earlier material. Rumor has it that Nicholls is going through some unspecified “personal difficulties,” but if that’s the case, they’ve certainly taken her writing up to another level. The songs have a much more wistful air to them than the boisterous energy of the band’s three previous albums: The subdued loveliness of “Over This,” for example, forces an unconscious overly emotional response that seems at odds with the adrenaline-filled passion of their hallmark sound; “Take Me Away” manages to be effortlessly breezy and grin-inducing, but with heavy overtones of bleeding-heart vulnerability (
“If you’re easily pleased, you’ll be happy with me”
)
;
and “Pop Artie,” “National Health,” and “Royal Flush” are all vogueishly attractive pop songs, but with a detached and stylish coolness to them.

Vocalist and lead guitarist Justin Becker is still as engaging as ever—surprisingly, this more mellow delivery seems to suit him—while keyboard player Joe Jennings and drummer David Somerstein are able to turn their hands equally expertly to anything from a polka to a punk anthem. Fine songs, fine musicianship. Beautiful artwork by Russell Mills.

There isn’t a weak track on this mature, complex album.
Painting the Ceiling
will turn Blue Idea from interesting intercontinental journeymen into heavyweight contenders.

Auckland

November 27, 1988

Dear Sam,

Thanks for your letter—that’s wonderful news, about Dylan being compatible (would it be churlish of me to suggest that this is about the only time in his life he’s ever been compatible with anyone, apart from that fiancé of his!).

Will I be able to visit you during the transplant? It looks as if we’ll have a few days off after we’ve toured Japan, and I could fly back for a quickie visit then. I did ask your mum this question on the phone the other day, but she thought that you might have to be in isolation, my poor baby. Another six weeks in hospital—God, you must be so fed up with it all. Well, if I’m not allowed to see you this time, I’ll be over for Christmas.

Hang in there. I think it’s fantastic that the doctors are saying you’re now strong enough to go through with the operation. I have a very positive feeling about this. You can do it. This’ll be the end of this whole nightmare; I know it will.

Good old big brother. I was just kidding before—I knew Dylan would come into his own one day. Will he have to take a lot of time off work to donate the bone marrow, or is it a quick in-and-out-of-hospital job? (Does he actually do any work in that pub, anyway? I have this vision of him being “mine host,” drinking the profits, and only getting up from the bar stool for a couple of leisurely games of darts.… Although now, of course, that he’s giving you his bone marrow, I am his number one biggest fan. I’ll even marry him, if it all goes horribly wrong with Fiona. As long as he promises not to give me any more Chinese burns, of course.)