Mr. Abusing aka Mr. Agreeable

[ghost of miles]

When I was an indie-rock kiddie (back in the days of my troubled youth, dear readers), I used to read Melody Maker on a weekly basis. Around 1989 they began to carry a column by Mr. Abusing, later re-named Mr. Agreeable. Probably more amusing if you're familiar with British/indie rock circa 1990. The format was simple: a one or two-sentence music news report, followed by Mr. Abusing's profanity-laced response, as in:

June 9, 1990

It seems that, after a year’s sabbatical, The Bangles have decided to quit.

And they made all that fuss about the f**king Berlin Wall! Like anyone gave a f**k about that - ach, so now Fritz from Dresden can meet his cousin Hansi from Stuttgart and discover zer joys of mauve tanktops and zer fabulous f**king albums by Opal! Bollocks to that - this is the real f**king good news! Strike up the Ode to F**king Joy! Glad to be alive in these f**king times!

Sounds a bit like Achtung Dr. Freud on a mean cocaine binge, doesn't it?

The history of Mr. Agreeable

[ghost of miles]

I even enjoyed it when he ragged on bands that I liked:

March 31, 1990

Perennial avant gardesters Sonic Youth are back with a new album, intriguingly titled Goo.

Arthouse c**ts! “Goo” my mottled f**king arse! Any chance of a f**king tune this time round? Not something that sounds like someone shaving a f**king cat with a lawnmower?

Edited June 9, 2005 by ghost of miles