dnews 23
does it rock? yea baby, yea!

**** Q U O T E ****
"They call him the Sand Spider."
"Why?"
"Probably because it sounds scary."
~ True Lies

**** Contents ****
Postcard From The Edge
Hang On To You
What Next For d:?
Pepsi Chart
Why the 5?
Brio Magazine
Amazon.com Interview
d:end?

**** Postcard From The Edge ****
Last time we wrote we were banging on about 'It's OK' and all that; fired up
with the excitement that accompanies a fresh single and all the
possibilities travelling with it. True to form the track took the d:vibe
out, reaching new listeners in strange and welcome corners. There was more
TV than ever before and the number 18 placing helped further cement
d:reputation as a band able to deliver. It also cemented your reputation as
fans capable of giving support where others failed to reach. You did it
again and, as ever, we're eternally grateful. A big thanks goes out to all
of you who turned up for a fine afternoon amongst the racks at the in-store
HMV and Virgin PAs. These were the last UK live and in the flesh appearances
for a while. Before you start to worry though, console yourself with the
news that we'll be taking to the road over here again this year, as well as
pitching our tents at this year's Stoneleigh and Soul Survivor gigs. Oh yes,
there's also a special treat coming your way this summer, just in time for
the soundtrack selection and the wound-down windows.

But let's get down to business. We need your help. You might be aware that
Stu G, Stew and Jon are planning on running in this year's Flora London
Marathon on 16 April. They've been preparing for months; never leaving the
house without their gym bags, dreaming of their training schedules and
worrying about their blisters. Rumour has it they're on course for
completing the race in a decent time, although with 30,000 others it's bound
to be crowded.

As the training schedule begins to bite and the big day looms, Stu, Stew and
Jon have found another source of abundant motivation. Many of you will have
heard of the work being done by Hope 10-10 and its Hope HIV projects - a new
initiative to get us all raising money to help work with orphaned children
living with AIDS in South Africa. The three chaps heard about it at Soul
Survivor last summer and as the marathon training took shape, so too did an
idea about how they could help out. So now we're pleased to announce that
they'll be running to contribute to a specific project to build a 38-bedded
education, health centre and training centre for toddlers infected and
affected by HIV in Soweto, South Africa. Each pound raised can make a
difference, but the boys are setting their sights hign, fully believing that
together we reach the goal.

Here's the deal: if you want to support the boys in their attempt to raise
money for this great project then please feel free to send a donation -
please make cheques payable to HOPE HIV and send them to HOPE HIV c/o
Furious? Records, PO Box 40, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 0UQ. If you're
feeling a little more energetic you can sponsor d:lads per mile, or get
other people to sponsor them too.

Once it's over and the boys are nursing their aching calves, you'll be able
to find out exactly how well they did by checking out www.delirious.co.uk.
But it's not all over then. We'll be auctioning the three Delirious?/Hope
HIV designer running vests to the highest bidder. The band will personally
visit the youth ot community group they judge to have given maximum support.
They'll be working this out by looking at how much money was rasied; which
group had the most creative ideas and what the average amount raised per
person in the group was.

~ from the latest mailshot from Furious? Records. Used with permission.
~ want to get involved? You can sponsor d: by sending a cheque to Furious?
from all over the globe, or by e-mailing info@furiousrecords.co.uk with the
subject HOPE HIV SPONSORSHIP with details of any donation you might like to
make. We at Spurious? are getting involved and I've even roped my Head of
6th Form and History teacher - the inestimable Giles "i'm not interested in
the past" Marshall - into donating a few quid.

~ The fun doesn't end there, for you - the innocent dnews reading public -
can also get involved by sponsoring *us* to perform various forfeits, such
as Scooby revealing his real name to the highest bidder, and me listening to
the abominably awful See The Star as many times as possible in one week, or
any other task you'd care to come up with (within reason). We'll keep you
posted on this one if you keep us posted too.

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**** Hang On To You ****
With a deft bit of surfing by some Spurious? members, we can proudly present
to you the largest exclusive in the history of dnews. Martin Smith, lead
singer with delirious? and responsible for much of the band's lyrics and
music, has penned a new song called "Hang On To You" which Luna Halo have
performed on their album "Shimmer". Here's what the Sparrow website had to
say about the release:

Luna Halo's music falls somewhere between the sounds of moody British rock,
eighties revival, and epic pop. It's likely to strike you as something
familiar that you've never quite heard before. In 1998 Nathan Barlowe
(vocals, guitar) and Jonny MacIntosh (guitar) left the band Reality Check
and ventured out to form Luna Halo, together with Brad Minor (bass). Songs
include Superman - "I can't be your Superman but I know the one who can",
Carry Me - "God, I'm giving this burden to you. I need you. I can't do this
on my own. Only You can carry me through", Hang On to You - a Martin Smith
song, a straightforward, heartfelt cry to God.

But not happy with mediocre content, dnews ploughed the fields of copyright,
furrowed through the CIA's attempts to silence us and came up with the
lyrics to "Hang On To You" and a bit of the story surrounding the song.

And I'll hang on to you
Cause You're stronger
And you keep me from falling
And you brighten the world
With your beauty
Keep me closer
I'm calling
Looking out like a child
Holding tight when it gets wild

And I'll hang on to you
Nothing in this world will see me through
Only you
I'll hang on to you
Every day I live I give to you

And your Love it is true
I feel stronger
And I'm Happy to know You
Cause you shine like the Sun
And You're brighter
Than the darkness that's falling
Nothing in this world
Could ever take your place
Happiness is found
In your warm embrace
How I Love Your face
When the darkest days are falling
Keep me closer I am calling

Apparently, Luna Halo - who are signed to the same US record label as
delirious?, Sparrow - asked Sparrow to ask Martin if he'd consider penning a
song for their album. Martin obviously agreed, and the end product is a
compelling and uplifting ballad.

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**** What Next For d:? ****
I posed the question in dnews # 21, "What next for d:?" and the response was
singularly pathetic, except for Gareth's reply. But, then again, because
he's got the name Gareth it means he rocks, so that's to be expected:

I would love it if Delirious? did a Uni tour, especially if they came to
Swansea. Come to swansea, play in DiVa's bar!!!! We had Dodgy the other
month and I was standing there thinking `it would be so cool if d: played
here!' I know so many people who would come. I talk about d: so much that
many people are definitely intrigued!.

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**** Pepsi Chart ****
Daniel asks, "I was just wondering why delirious? never appear in the Pepsi
Chart. Radio 1 obviously aren't interested, but where I'm from (Manchester)
most people listen to Key 103 and Galaxy 102 which are local stations, and
they use the Pepsi Chart. This might be a really stupid thing to ask, as I
don't pretend to know much about mainstream music."

~ Spurious? says: the Pepsi Chart, as exponated by Capital FM, is generated
by sales and airplay, although it would be more accurate to say AIRPLAY (and
sales). As such only the Radio 1 chart is a true representative of what the
single-buying public want for the Pepsi Chart is blatantly distorted by
record companies who buy their singles into the charts.

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**** Why The 5? ****
As most of us are probably aware, delirious? occasionally spell their name
with a '5'. Why? That's for you to answer!

~ I think the 5 was used cos it is the number of hairs on Stu G's head
~ it's the munber of bassists they had b4 Jon joined
~ it's the number of strings Stu snaps during every set!

~ Thanks to David, again the only person who responded.

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*** Brio Magazine Interview ****
~ from Brio Magazine (a US girlie mag)
~ Delirious? - For Jesus and the World
~ by Marty McCormack

They’ve been a hit in England for seven years, getting their start at
Cutting Edge youth worship events and eventually expanding to national
British radio. Those of us on the west side of the Atlantic had our first
taste of Delirious? in 1997 with their album Cutting Edge. Following the
success of that venture, Delirious? gave us King of Fools. Now, breaking the
worship-music mold, the band’s latest release, Mezzamorphis, gives Tim Jupp,
Stuart Garrard (Stu G.), Martin Smith, Stewart (Stew) Smith and Jon Thatcher
an opportunity to evangelize the world.

"We’re still that little worship band we were seven years ago," singer
Martin Smith says. "When we’re in private, we talk about the very same
things that motivated us back then."

Guitarist Stu G. adds, "As we developed, we wanted to write about our faith
in songs that worked on a musical level for nonChristians and on a musical
and spiritual level for Christians.

"At the Cutting Edge events, we were telling kids not to hold their faith
inside the four walls of the church, but to take it outside and share it
with the world. It would’ve been hypocritical for us not to do the same."

To learn more about the heart of Delirious?, we talked trans-Atlantically
with bass player Jon Thatcher. As you read our conversation, don’t forget to
add a British accent to all his comments!

Brio: What’s going on with Christianity in England right now?
Jon: It’s quite hard to comment on something when you’re in the middle of
it. People look at England and say revival is going on. But when you’re in
the middle of it, it’s hard to actually put your finger on what’s happening.
God is moving here. The youth in our town and church are hungry for more.
They’re searching for more. They’re asking deep questions, and they want the
answers of God. The passion has increased. People aren’t ashamed of what
they believe.

B: What part has Delirious? played in encouraging teens to walk closer with
God?
J: Our first monthly youth event was in Littlehampton, on the south coast of
England. It was in a local school for about 70 people. We were totally blown
away that all those people came to praise God. As things moved along, one of
our last events was on the beach. There were 10,000 people praising God in
the open air! It was aimed at the youth, but since it was outdoors, everyone
wanted to see what the buzz was about. God totally blessed that event!

B: What’s the mission of your band?
We want to impact the secular music scene. We’re not trying to cross over or
sell out; we’re trying to be ourselves in that environment. We’re not
ashamed of what we sing about, and we don’t want to water that down.

B: Is there Christian radio in England?
J: That’s one of the big differences between England and America - there’s
no substantial Christian radio in the UK. There’s a couple local Christian
stations, but they’re aimed at the older generation.

B: So what station plays your music?
J: In England, there’s one main radio station: Radio One. If you get played
on that, other stations will play you. Radio One has played some of our
singles.

B: Have you been received well by secular music listeners?
J: Yeah, we’ve had four top-20 singles, and we’ve played lots of TV shows in
England. It’s still early, and we’re not exactly where we want to be. We’re
always going to be striving for more.

B: What are your goals?
J: Our dream as a band is to make good music that relates to people, and
music that people will catch on to and get the heart of. We want to be out
there with the rest of the world. You know, so you can turn on your radio
and hear Delirious? back-to-back with U2.

B: What’s God been teaching you lately?
J: He’s always teaching us, and we’re always learning. That’s reflected on
Mezzamorphis, which is basically about change. We’re always longing to love
God more, and to be better musicians, better people and better husbands.

B: Delirious? - An Even Closer Look!
B: Jon, what do you do for fun?
J: We’re all very good friends, so when work is over we still hang out.
Stuart, the guitarist, and I run together when we’re touring. It’s a great
way to see the towns and get out in the culture. Stewart, the drummer, is a
cyclist. He always tries to get his bike on the tour bus. Martin, the lead
singer, likes to play cricket, an English sport with some resemblance to
American baseball.

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**** Amazon.com ****
~ Delirious with Devotion by Michael Lyttle

Contemporary Christian/indie rock band Delirious have found a faithful
following for their music, but this is one band where the music may be
secondary to the message. In the States, they've got a devoted following
in the significant Christian market; with no such niche here, they've more
than made do on the strength of their songs alone. Amazon writer Michael
Lyttle spoke with the band's keyboardist, Tim Jupp, on the eve of the
release of the eminently hummable Mezzamorphis.

Amazon.com: Mezzamorphis is a big departure for Delirious, don't you
think?

Tim Jupp: It's not so much of a departure, just another step along the
way, really. In some ways I guess it is a little bit of a departure, but
hopefully it still embraces a lot of what we have done before.

Amazon.com: It sounds to me like the group experimented more in the
studio on Mezzamorphis.

Jupp: Yes we did. We had a lot more time, I think, which is one of the
main things we have really been trying to get. In fact, last year we
[took] 10 or 11 trips to America, albeit some of them quite brief.
Production-wise, I think it is a little bit more out there, with
deliberate intention in terms of trying to get the record out into the
mainstream. Musically, for it to stand up in that kind of arena, that
obviously demanded a bit more time spent on it. Hopefully, it has paid
off.

Amazon.com: I hear bits of hip-hop and electronica sprinkled in. Is
this more a reflection of the group's listening interests or of the
producer's doing?

Jupp: It is definitely of the producer's doing, but the producer was
us. We did it entirely ourselves, and have done all the records [that
way]. We had someone in to help us in the early days; he is an additional
member of the team, really. Some of us come from that background--working
in studios and making records for other people. Back here in England, we
are starting to get some really great mainstream reviews of it. Everybody
is so encouraging in the Christian [music arena], which is really great.
But sometimes if you're not insane you wonder, "Is it really as good as
you would hope it is? Is it going to stand up against what other people
hear on the radio?"

Amazon.com: The music press can be extremely cynical and critical. How
do they treat you, considering you're a Christian band?

Jupp: There are very different reactions. With the radio we have really
struggled. Unlike the States, there is no Christian radio, just one or two
small stations. To break out in the church thing you have to go that way,
and they are very cynical. We are definitely struggling to win their
support. But we are actually picking up masses of press, because there is
a story behind the band. There is a bit of mystery about us, like, "How
come these guys are doing this--they are selling all of these records,
they are filling these venues, yet we don't know about them." We have run
our own label, we have produced the records ourselves. We are selling out
big venues all around the country where all the other big bands play.

Amazon.com: I played the new record for my brother-in-law, who had
never heard of Delirious, and the first thing he said was, "Gosh, they
sound like Radiohead!"

Jupp: We would take that as a really big compliment.

Amazon.com: I know that in your earlier music the praise-and-worship
element was strong; is that hard to maintain sometimes?

Jupp: It is a question that we get asked all the time. I think a lot of
it comes down to an understanding of what we are about and who we are and
what the music is about--even an understanding of how we define and look
at what praise and worship is. In America, from our perspective, artists
seem to be placed into boxes more often--you have a praise-and-worship box
and a contemporary box. And for us the worship part of our music is a
heart thing, an attitude thing, a life thing. We would like to think that
these are still worship songs. On the other hand, these are not the sort
of songs that everybody is going to put on their overhead-projector screens
on Sunday morning so that you can sing along to them in church. We need to
understand that worship is a lifestyle, not a music style.

Amazon.com: The Christian community can be pretty vicious toward its
own people. They get judgmental, accusing bands of going contemporary and
losing the message.

Jupp: Lyrically, our music is still really in your face about the truth
about our faith.

Amazon.com: In the States, there's a big Christian following that
supports you. Is there a British Christian scene?

Jupp: There really is not much of a scene at all, not Christianwise.
Mainly Christian audiences attend our shows, but now that there is a lot
of mainstream exposure, the audiences are tending to be more mixed. We
played at Glastonbury on the main stage for something like 80,000 people
and it was quite an exciting day for us--to get out there, [with] Lenny
Kravitz on the same day!

~ Michael Lyttle lives in Austin, Texas, and has written about
contemporary Christian music for 15 years. His initial exposure to
Christian music came at a young age, listening and singing to Norman
Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" on his transistor radio.

~ from amazon.com, thanks to Andrew Marriott

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**** d:end? ****
This is a first for dnews, for this edition was written entirely from my
school during a free period (I have a test next lesson). And this is a
serious point, for I have only a few scant weeks until my exams start. As
such, I'm going to have to back off from dnews production, meaning that the
issues will become more and more infrequent, even halting, over the next
three months. After that, I'm back on a three-month holiday with plenty of
time for Spurious? and plenty of ideas for the site. It'll be an exciting
time.

Looking closely at the "Postcard From The Edge" article will have revealed
that delirious? have "a special treat coming this summer" - could this be
the much anticipated new album? A new single? The possibilities stretch
before us in a complicated plethora of options, each one as exciting as the
last.

[signed in purple pens]

Adam, Adrian, Mike, Scooby

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