Mansun were without a doubt one of the most interesting and unusual group to grow from the Britpop era of the mid 90's. While Oasis sang about being a rock n roll star, and Blur were observing British culture, this four piece from Chester were collaborating with Doctor Who's Tom Baker, sampling 'Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairy' and writing songs about cross dressing clergymen. I'm tempted to say that Mansun were ahead of their time, but they weren't. They weren't even symbolic of their era, more like something that was being beamed in from a parallel universe. They were if you like, of their very own space and time, something I'm sure fellow Doctor Who enthusiast Paul Draper is happy to know. I spent months listening to a taped copy of the debut album 'Attack Of The Grey Lantern', which my mate Steve brought into school one lunchtime for a few of us to listen to. Soon, I bought a proper copy when I could afford one. Even now, I will always associate the word "graceful" with that sweeping intro to the stunning opener 'The Chad Who Loved Me', which soars with majesty before exploding into the heavy, sensational Bond-esque epic that its title suggests.
Fans of the group will be thrilled to know that a Mansun Convention takes place in their hometown of Chester on August 23. Go HERE to read an interview with organiser Andy Lyth. And if you go HERE you can read an exclusive interview that I did with Draper himself...
