Fringey's top 5 Heroes

Big up yourselves, the occasional swoon, a couple of "we're not worthies" and a general "it's been inspirational" go to...

*The Mighty Boosh - Messers Barrett and Fielding we salute your Zooniverse and your choice of bars - Bradleys right?

*Lauren Lavern - oh she's a lovely lass with even lovelier taste in music. Hurrah for her breakfast banter on XFM.

*Pete 'N' Dud - for their comedy genius, for their darkness, for the love of god just watch/listen to their stuff.

*John Hughes - yes ok he forced Home Alone on an unsuspecting world but before he went horribly wrong Huges gave us Pretty In Pink, The Breakfast Club and Weird Science!

*Gonzo - no not the Zane Lowe sofa show, the long nosed furry blue muppet with a penchant for chickens and firing himself out of cannons.

Fringey's top 5 Villains

Those that must be sent to stand in the corner to think about what they've done include...

* Oasis - we're all up for a bit of rock'n'roll swagger but at least make sure you can back it with some talent you f**ks. Any they had was pissed up the wall years ago.

*Simon "c**t" Powell - for his numerous crimes against music in the past and now El Divo.

*Courtney Love - for continuing to squeeze Kurts corpse for every last dollar

*Ticket Touts - bastards

*Richard Madley - where to begin with this one hmmmm...well how about this link on his CH4 show "And coming up next we talk to Saddam Hussain's niece and learn that when he wasn't garotting people with Piano wire he was actually a real family man and a bit of a rascal". Words fail us...

Fringey top 5 (fringey) websites

Let's Get Linkin' Baby

(Ha ha this picture is so basic - love it)

*Andrew Kendall - he started off so very fringey when he was practically stalking the libertines trying to snatch a picture. Now look at him!

*Playlouder - a music site that's not as scene as Artrocker, or as organised as DiS, but makes us laugh (with them not at).

*We Are Scientists - simply the best band site there is - I dare you to prove Fringey wrong.

*B3TA - they say c**t more than Popbitch, also dancing kittens, fab links and childish rudeness feature quite heavily.

*Fat Pie - dark & delcious, delights from the depraved mind of David Firth- oh how I love Salad Fingers.

Jo Fringey's top 5 gigs

in no particular order and subject to change:

The Libertines - Rhythm Factory - April 2004

Primal Scream - Belfast Limelight - July 1997

The Futureheads - Frog at the Meanfiddler - January 2005

Arcade Fire - Astoria - May 2005

Razorlight (Bloc Party support) - Astoria - August 2004

and the top five that nearly got into the top five were:

Soulwax and LCD Soundsystem - Brixton Academy - April 2005
Hope of the States - Electric Ballroom - Summer 2004
Death From Above 1979 - Meanfiddler - August 2005
Bright Eyes - Astoria - March 2005
Franz Ferdinand - Islington Academy - April 2004

Luce Fringey's top 5 gigs

Hmm well now let me see (subject to change)...

EMF @ UEA 1991 - first proper gig, got guestlisted, got to watch from lighting desk, got free merch. All at the tender age of 13.
Blur @ UEA 1994 - ahh the days when I'd happily go into the mosh pit. Got right to the front and Damon held my hand-sigh.
Bloc Party @ Somerset House - a warm summers eve filled with the Party's musical stylings- just blissful.
Dogs @ 100 Club 2005 - stage invasions the like of which I've never seen and the beginning of my (healthy) obsession with the canine ones.
Art Brut @ ULU 2005 - Mr Argos, the world's greatest front man?

Fringey top 5 band badges

Death from above 1979 - a pink two header - a classic

Soulwax - NY Excuse - simple yet exclusive and pleasingly obscure

Clor - all of them, but the monster head one or the clawed hand are the best

We Are Scientists - it's pink, it's got a cat on it - what more could a girl want? 'Free stickers' you say? Well they were giving them away too- genius

Special Needs - We are SPECIAL! We have NEEDS! Also as they've since changed their name to 'The Needs' if they ever get hugely famous or die a tragic rock star death there's potential ebayage - toot toot!

Fringey top 5 facial fuzz

*Geeky Scientist (bass) - We Are Scientists - tash

*Beardy Scientist (drums) - We Are Scientists - beard (ok so not in this photo he doesn't but he does now-honest)

*Eddie Argos - Art Brut - tash

*Jesse DFA (bass) - Death from Above 1979 - PORN !!! tash

* Freddie Mercury - surely the best tash ever!

Fringey top 5 pubs

* Bradley's Spanish Bar - Unofficial Fringey Headquarters. Cute barmen and a spot on jukebox. But please don't come along to check it out. It's only wee and there isn't room for you!

* The Lock Tavern - excellent live music played by real live DJs, reasonably priced gin and the prettiest boys in town drink there including Mr Alex Zane

* The Endurance - it's in Soho, it's full of media types yet somehow it remains a decent boozer. And it's got a boars head on the wall- bonus.

* Phoenix Artist's Club - Ok, so we've seen Towers of London and Charlie from Busted all having drinks in here, but don't let that put you off!! (Heat reported that Zane Lowe's been spotted in here too- pro or con, you decide? LF).

* The Ten Bells - It's probably haunted by Jack the Ripper, the sofa's are fooked, one of the loos in the ladies is taped shut and if don't get in there quick enough on a Friday you have to stand outside but it's still a good un.

Fringey top 5 bands with the best on stage banter

Art Brut - Eddie papers over the cracks by threatening to replace the band with the rest of the Art Goblins before claiming to have sabotaged all their equipment, then losing his shoes to the audience.

Futureheads - Oh Oh Oh, Oh Oh Oh. Oh Ay Oh, Oh Ay Oh... then slag each other off. Its easy when you're in the same band as your little brother.

Kaiser Chiefs - was too pissed, can't remember, but oh how I laughed.

We Are Scientists - lots of geeky interband insults and piss taking, bless them.

Komakino - not so much banter as one comment: “clap you fucking cool bastards!” - the audience was very arms foldy/chin strokey. Apart from us, off course.

Fringey top 5 hair cuts

*Taxxi - White Rose Movement - not one hair on her head looks natural. excellent.

*Krissie - Kiosk - a bit shaved, a bit mohican? - Fringey wanted to be her when we first saw them play.

*Seb Grainger - DFA 1979 - the shaved mohican circa the Black History Month video

* Robert Smith - The Cure - that ol' lick your finger and stick it in a plug socket works every time

*Noel Fielding - words simply can't do Mr Fielding's beautiful barnets (for there are many) justice, so click HERE for the full experience.

Fringey top 5 best dressed

* Seb Grainger DFA 1979 - He wears his jeans very well indeed.

* Alex Zane - Johnny Borrel take note, this is how it's done.

* Barry Futurehead - it's the way his trousers aren't quite long enough so they show off his lovely white shoes.

* Serge Kasabian - I think it's his penchant for flowing scarves, kaftan-esque shirts and oversized hats that does it (sick aint I: LF).

* Carl Barat - always save the best till last.

Fringey top 5 worst dressed

* Pete Doherty - you cannot accessorise a Dior suit with slippers and a ... umm ... pipe.

* Johnny Borrel - get over yourself and get out of those white, spray on excuses for jeans and into some proper clothes. Although credit where credit's due, that shiner you've been sporting - courtesy of la Doherty - really suits you.

* Singer of The Departure (who?)- Grey tank top over bitch tits. Never a good look.


* Edith Bowman - Well, you can usually see what she's going for. Poor thing.

* Tracy Emin - She truly doesn't care. Best thing about her outfit - when Fringey saw her in Spitalfields the other day - was the pint of full fat milk she was carrying.

Fringey top 5 tunes - October

*We Are Scientists - Great Escape

*Dogs - End of an Era

*Art Brut - Good Weekend

*The Rakes - 22 Grand Job



*Test Icicles - Circle Square Triangle

Fielding's Fantastic Follicles