ISSUE 52 December 8th 2000
		R I D E H E R . . Well, what better way to start this ‘anniversary issue’ than with a story about the ‘Queen of pop’. No, not Marc Almond, but good old ‘Granny at the disco’ Madonna. Last week she performed at the Brixton Academy to an audience of A-list celebrities. (Luke Goss was also there). But, as she bumped and grinded through a 30 minute set like an old Romanian bag woman trying to get out of a wheel chair with arthritis, I was busy roaming around back stage. And boy, does she live like a Queen! Her dressing room had enough fruit to feed a small African village for a year, and it was all decked out in lavish red velvet, covering the entire room. (Elton John asked for his pyjamas to be returned the very next day!) On the other side of the city ‘Pop King’ Paul Young was busy playing to 33 people at Peckham’s day care centre. His dressing room consisted of a three legged table, one half eaten packet of Hob Nobbs, and a broken window. Lord, how the other half live! Christmas is a time for remembering those of us who are less fortunate than ourselves. So, please spare a though for Paul this Christmas morning. He’s a sad F**k wit. BEN