dnews 20
does it rock? yea baby, yea!

**** Q U O T E ****
Bloke In Crowd: "Too good for Radio One!"
Crowd: <cheers>
Martin: "You lot, eh? You lot."

**** Contents ****
No. Of Units Sold
Message From Jon
Fire! Fire!
Acoustic Sessions
dotmusic.com Chart Review
OK! Magazine Review
London Today Transcript
Re: [dnews] 17
US Merchandise
MTV Vote
Top 50 Albums (from Holland)
HMV Review
Australia Review
d:end?

**** No. Of Units Sold ****
According to Tony Patoto, the delirious? manager, "It's OK" sold 16,933
units in the first week alone.

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**** Message From Jon ****
Thank You:

You've done it again, the d:boys are back in the top twenty, fresh from a
frenzied week of HMV/Vigin megastore dates seasoned with a selection of TV
and radio shows.

Sunday afternoon revealed the fourth top 20 chart placing for delirious?
with the new single, "its okay" firmly rooted at 18 in the official UK
charts. So, many thanks to all of you out there in cyberspace who have
supported the cause by turning out to the in-store mini gigs/signings,
purchasing the singles and just spreading the word.

One of the highlights of our week was at the HMV show in Birmingham when a
dedicated D:fan tried to get a reaction from the crowd with the use of a few
D:phrases, he started off shouting "taking it where ever it goes" to no
reaction, so he tried the next one, "I want to go deeper," no reaction,
finally he takes it upon his own shoulders and makes one up of his own,"too
good for radio one" at which the entire store gave a cheer and it gave us a
smile that lasted an entire week.

For all those out there that aren't up to speed with the delirious? chat
history here is a brief oversight.

01: White Ribbon Day released Feb. 97 highest chart placing> 41
02: Deeper released May 97 highest chart placing> 20
03: King of Fools [album] released June 97 highest chart placing> 13
04: Promise released July 97 highest chart placing> 20
05: Deeper Ep released Nov 97 highest chart placing> 36
06: Mezzamorphis [album] released April 99 highest chart placing> 25
07: See the Star released March 99 highest chart placing> 16
08: ITS OK released 21 Feb 2000 highest chart placing> 18
09:So that's the story so far.....but whats to come is even better.....

We are just entering a new phase of recording with the bit between our
teeth, the new songs are flowing, the adrenaline is pumping and we are
itching for you to hear the new sounds from the Furious? HQ. There is no
release date, yet, but you will be the first to know....

The D:journey is well under way but you are the fuel that powers this
machine, without you we would still be in the garage. So thanks again.

Jon the Bassist

~ taken from d:vine, www.delirious.co.uk (29.02.2000)

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**** Fire! Fire! ****
Newsflash> 01.03.2000
Stop Press>
The fire is spreading:

News is just in that the Delirious track, 'Come Like you Promise' will be
appearing on the long running British Drama 'London's Burning'. Two minutes
of the live track that appeared on the B side of 'Deeper' and also on 'live
and in the can' will be sounded on the ITV show on April the 9th. So if you
can tune in and check it out. The Invasion has begun, the fire is spreading.

~also from d:vine

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**** Acoustic Sessions ****
Spurious? are currently looking into putting mp3 and/or Real Audio
recordings of the acoustic sessions on Radio 2 and X-FM on the website, and
are only waiting for permission from the two radio stations. The Radio 2
session consists of "It's OK" fading into "I Could Sing Of Your Love
Forever" while the X-FM recording consists of "Deeper", "Metamorphis" and
"It's OK."

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**** dotmusic.com Chart Review ****
Another band whose presence in the chart is always a welcome sight are
Delirious? who are the living proof that it is perfectly possible for a
Christian act to find mainstream success, even if most of the time the
spiritual element of their music remains a small, subtle part. It's OK takes
a leaf out of the Radiohead book of understated angst and ranks as one of
their most appealing singles to date and although it is less of a factor
here than it has been in America, the track also doubles as the theme to the
US TV series Get Real. Above all you have to admire their consistency, their
first release since See The Star made Number 16 almost exactly a year ago,
It's OK is their fourth Top 20 hit in a row.

~ 27 February 2000, by James Masterton, from www.dotmusic.com
~ Spurious? thanks to: Dave Wood, John Moore and other chaps and chapesses
who sent that in.

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**** OK! Magazine Review *****
After a recent UK sell-out tour Christian rockers Delirious? release a new
single from their acclaimed Mezzamorphis album. The band make no secret of
the fact that they're evangelical christians but forget the sandals and
tambourines, Delirious? are blurring the boundaries between pop, indie and
rock and Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey thinks they are a godsend.
OK! star rating: 3 out of 5.

~ from OK! Magazine (how ironic!), 25 February 2000, by Marie Keating
~ Spurious? extends thanks to Dave Wood for this (taken from his revamped
website)

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**** London Today Transcript ****
Now then, let's stay with music and to a band who've sold shed loads of
records, had top twenty albums and have completed a sell out UK tour. But
the chances are you've never even heard of them. Delirious? are a five man
rock band. The trouble is they're also Christians and like that other
Christian rocker, Sir Cliff, they just can't get any radio air play. I'll
be talking to the band in a moment, but first here's a taste of their
single, Its OK.

~ Natasha: And they're all here and I have a photograph with all your names
on, but I'm afraid I think we'd better do a quick introduction. I know that
you're Tim anyway.
~ Tim: That's right, yeah.
~ Martin: Hello, I'm Martin.
~ Stu G: I'm Stu G.
~ Jon: I'm Jon.
~ Stew: And I'm Stew.
~ Natasha: Another Stew - I knew there were two. What's this all about, are
you never on the radio then?
~ Martin: Well we are a little bit on the radio, but not as much as we would
like. We have this big hot potato right now with Radio 1 about not playing
our stuff, but we're keeping going. We're not sure if it's because of our
faith or whether it's because it's not the right song, but I'm sure they're
a nice lot over there.
~ Natasha: You're making an appeal.
~ Martin: Yeah. We'll get there in the end.
~ Natasha: Could it be that they just don't like your music? I mean, you
know, I think it's great, but could it be that they just don't like it?
~ Stu G: Yeah, I think it's quite possible and I think people programme
their programmes for stuff that they think people are gonna like.
~ Natasha: So have you got a very strong religious message to your music
then? Do you think that's part of the turn off? I mean, how can you be so
sure?
~ Tim: Well, I think obviously we're singing about the things we believe in
but also we're just trying to be a great band playing music which stands up
against everybody else. Maybe that's an issue, maybe it's not. We need to
meet them to find out.
~ Natasha: Now then Jon, I mean, Cliff Richard's, you know sort of
publicised his problem as well with his, you know, songs not being played on
the radio. What do you make of his music?
~ Jon: Um, I think for a certain audience it's very good, and obviously it
went to number one, so lots of people like it and I think that's good on
him.
~ Natasha: Stew, er - another Stew! In America it's pretty cool to be
religious. I mean, look at Lauren Hill for instance, you know, Whitney
Houston. Is it just that in England it's perceived to be naff do you think,
or is it a problem across the world?
~ Stew: I think people have a pre-conceived idea about Christianity and
about the church and, you know, I think, you know, what we're trying to do
is write great music and get the songs out there and if anyone comes to see
us at a gig, you know, they'll see that we're, you know, as lively and as
enthusiastic in terms of our music and our abilities as anyone else, and
that's really what we want to do: Just get the music out there. Get it in
front of people and let them be the judge of that really.
~ Natasha: And how long have you all been together then?
~ Martin: We've been together about seven years in one way... We actually
started running a youth event called Cutting Edge. At the start we had
about seventy kids and that went to about thirteen hundred every month. And
that was really the early days and then we started writing and demo-ing and
here we are today on programmes like this with you.
~ Natasha: Well it's great and it's very nice to meet you. And let's hope
to hear you on the radio again and again and again and then finally at
number one. I'm gonna get you to sign that photograph for me.

~ Spurious? would like to extend huge thanks to James Salter for
transcribing that, because it saved me the trouble so I could get on with my
coursework!

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**** Re: [dnews] 17 ****
~ Looking at the response to [dnews] 17 and thinking about it myself, I
don't think Delirious need to worry. If they look to God for their direction
and go whichever way he leads them (which I'm sure is what they are doing)
then God's plan for them will be fulfilled. It's impossible to know exactly
what God has in store - but when you trust God, in my experience, things
work out right because God's plans are the right plans. ~ (name lost by
inefficient Adam)

~ Hi! I know I'm a bit late, but I disagree with what Rachel said. I do go
to Delirious gigs for the music. The fact that I can have a great time
worshipping God at the same is massive bonus, but I wouldn't just go to see
any christian band and I doubt that many Christians would. Thanks, your
site's great! ~ Love, Jenny <><

~ Hey guys! Cool reviews but I was curious to what Sam Osborne was talking
about that Stu G sometimes feels led by God to do stuff. What might he be
referring to and when has Martin sang in tongues? Have I missed something?
I've seen them do 3 great concerts with the presense of God all around and
never caught that. ~ Becky

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**** US Merchandise ****
~ Do you know of any way we American fans can get Sparrow to release some of
the singles? Thanks, Emily, an American Delirious? enthusiast

~ There used to a petition, but for some reason it shut down. Until another
starts up, all I can suggest is e-mailing Sparrow Records to complain. Only
be polite, or don't tell them we sent you.

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**** MTV Vote ****
~ I'd just thought that I'd drop you a line. Delirious have been on MTV's
show 'Brand New' quite a few times this week. On the episode on Monday 11am
the presenter 'Zane' asked for the viewers views on if an artists religious
beliefs should affect their media status. He was wondering why it was Ok for
people like Lauren Hill to praise the Lord in their songs but it's not ok
for Delirious and Dc talk to. He's asked for the viewers views on this
subject.

~ Spurious? can report that the results stormed in and 80% of viewers voted
that the religious beliefs did not affect the music. Thanks to Jonathan
Burney for the vote, and Gordon "Goatee" Sweeney for the result.

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***** Top 50 Albums (from Holland) ****
Dutch Mega Gospel Album Top 50 Charts of 1999.

1) michael w. smith, this is your time.
2) rebecca st. james, pray.
3) delirious, mezzamorphis
4) delirious, king of fools
5) rebecca st. james, God.

~ Spurious? says: thanks to Brandon Klassen for this snippet.

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**** Australia Review ****
Toowoomba QLD, 29th Jan, 2000

My family and I left early for the 2 1/2hour drive to Toowoomba - their only
Queensland gig. I've read about them, seen them on the video, checked out
the gig reviews and played their music non stop, but what are the boys from
Littlehampton really like?

The venue had terraced seating at the back for 1,000 and space for 3,000
standing in the front. As the gig got going this became a seething mass of
moshing bodies. From memory the set list was very similar to the
pre-Christmas UK gigs although we didn't get to hear the new song Show Me
Heaven. Martin ventured out into the crowd during Follow which freaked-out
the security people lining the baracade. (So I'm told by someone who was
down on the floor in front of the stage.) Australian fans lifted Martin up
onto their shoulders just like they did in the UK. I thought Martin's
joining the crowd was a nice touch of NOT "we will follow you delirious" but
"all together we will follow God".

They slowed down a bit as Martin intorduced the band. (Including himself!)
Someone down on the floor yelled "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" and was answered
with the second half of the chant "Oi, Oi, Oi". Later on Martin started the
chant off again with "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie". He made the comment that
Australia beats the UK at rugby and cricket and then turned to the band and
asked if there was anything the UK did better. "Winter," said Stu G. Ok,
we'll give you that one!

I was impressed with the amount of energy they put into the gig considering
they must have been very tired after such a long flight. I guess this was
why we had a 'subdued' Thatcher, no jumping off his amp, just the head bob
thing. Martin had a rather alarming hair cut I thought. A
semi-mohawk/pebbles flintstone type thing. Alarming! Also would someone
please ask Stewart to grow back the curls!

During History Maker Martin handed the vocals over to the crowd. He squatted
down on stage looking into the crowd obviously delighted that they knew the
words. He made the comment that it was great for them to travel all that
way and find that here in Australia we were singing History Maker. It seemed
to have touched his heart. He asked if we were going to make it happen,
stop muckin about, cut the faffing and get real. From a man who sings "I
can't preach but I can sing" I thought that was a powerful message.

Delirious stayed after the gig to sign whatever was put in front of them,
shake hands and chat. Thankfully all 4,000 didn't want an autograph. I
guess I imagined them to be mighty giants but was taken aback to find five
rather small, very sun deprived, normal guys who had traveled half way
around the world to give us a taste of d:, all because they love God and
believe that this is what He wants them to do. Amazing.


~ Spurious? says: thanks to Diane Griffiths

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**** d:end? ****
As we enter the post-It's OK period, we look to the future. What surpises
are there to come for us on the journey that we're going on? What's the next
stop on the d:train? What will happen tomorrow? "Tomorrow...can I begin
again? Stick with you to the end?"

cheers.

Adam, Adrian, Mike, Scooby

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