"And I've fallen by the wayside now"

Greetings.

I've just spent the whole weekend being ill. What's that about? Ill at the bloody weekend. Madness.
I'm on the mend now though so fret ye not.

Before I get onto today's subject matter, I'd just like to share some wisdom imparted to me by my 7 year old son; The Boy.
This came totally out of the blue & is not something he & I have ever spoke about before...

"Dad, Americans think they're the best in the world, don't they?"
"Well, some do. They're not though, eh? Who are the best in the world then?" (Fully expecting him to say "we are" or words to that effect).
"Nobody is. All the people in the world are the same. I do like Americans, I just wish they didn't think they were better than everyone else"
My little boy is growing up so fast!

Anyway, is it just me or does anybody find themselves liking Keane just that little bit more today following the revalation that Old Chubbycheeks (Lead singer, Tom Chaplin) has checked into The Priory with drink & drugs problems?
That's more like it!











Surely it is the duty of our so-called rock stars to embrace (You listening Danny McNamara?) the whole sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll ethos.

They do it so we don't have to.*

And, let's be honest here, how many great, great records have been made by drug-assisted/addled (delete as appropriate) stars over the years.
Jim Morrisson, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Marc Bolan, John Entwistle, Kurt Cobain, Freddie Mercury, Elvis, Sid Vicious, etc...
What?
They're all dead now? Ah...

Ok, good point.
Brian Wilson! Dave Gahan! Elton John! David Bowie! Iggy Pop! Pete Doherty!
Ha! Never did them any harm, eh?

Now has much as I'm quite partial to a spot of ColdplayKeaneEmbrace type music, all those sort of bands would surely benefit from a shot in the arm from another headspace, a different perspective. Imagine "X & Y & E" or "A rush of coke to the head" or... actually, forget all that, I've just remembered "Be here now".

Still, let's hope Old Chubbycheeks has some creative input on the next Keane album.

*As a self-confessed imaginary rock star, I try to do my bit.