Over the last few weeks a growing band of forum members have become increasingly excited over the prospect of being sent to Coventry. (In English slang this is a term which is used when you don't wish to talk to someone) So why the excitement, one simple word DM.

Since Albarst first mentioned his birthday party, the idea of getting Black Celebration (UK DM tribute band) to play and Darkside to DJ. It was a simple idea but could he pull it off. Did he have enough friends, who would go and would anyone apart from his closest want to attend, but pull it off he did in spectular style!



Along the months of planning some of our closest friends had to drop out, due to engagements elsewhere but still a loyal band of forum members growing by the weeks agreed that, meeting each other and listening to DM was a very good night out.

From all over the UK they came from Scotland, Wales and England. The London contingent set off at 1pm on Saturday to join the growing masses at Coventry. Train cancellations and Bank Holiday traffic could not stop the flood heading towards Coventry. Did they know what was about to hit them? I think not.

Nichi, Dopplegahaner, MJ, Tommypotts & his wife,Crowman, Darkside, Violet, Little Miss Mercy & Mr.Mercy, Martin Zippy (in new outfit) and I. Began the ritual of any good meet up a drink. Many of us had prepared for this occassion by finally removing our DM T-Shirts and coming more suitably dressed and shocking each other in the process.

Then with rumbling stomachs we left the hotel to eat. This is when it became apparent that Coventry was not prepared for us. A Scot in a Kilt, 2 goths, Nichi and 3 people very smartly dressed started to walk past run down council estates and cars who kept beeping at us (we hope for Nichi and I, rather than dopple ;) ). In the local chippie you would have thought we had three heads, rumblings could be heard of , 'do you think its true about Scots in kilts' but none of the customers were brave enough to ask the gorgeous Scot concerned.

Eating our food, trying not to make comments about MJs Saveloy we left for the party. Off to The Spencer club. Upon entering Nichi and Crowman got evicted (she hadn't said anything yet, no food I think the reason was).

We met Al who was suitably hyper, after hugs all round I went to see a very stressed looking DJ, Darkside had been let down at very short notice by the DJ deck, he now had a CD player and two personal CD players all attached by wires, a watch in his hand and numerous CDs on a table. Darkside achieved what most other DJs could fail on he played every song we'd asked for, no gaps his only problem was if anyone got too near the table the wires fell out of the CD player, so the sound would fail, but he carried on. He played The Mission for me and well a promise is a promise I went on the dancefloor but my skills could never beat that of dopplegahner and Al head butting and dancing to heavy metal which was a site to behold. Especially as Al is bald. This reporter tried her hardest for a photo to prove what Dopple had under his kilt but failed. Loads of dancing and drinking with other forum members joining our table, truckerted, Ellefire and Chauffeur and Daveposer (righ t now swoon, girls) plus more whose names I forget as I was drinking.



Nichi had a birthday cake which had a photo of Dave Gahan on which she had taken at the gig,where she first met Al. It was an edible photo so the fights for DG crotch area of the cake meant it was decided to leave it for the following day.Al blew out his candles to us singing happy birthday the party really began.
At 9.30pm the band came on and did her gig including songs like;
Higherluv
Policy of Truth
Master and servant
Strangelove
Lie to me
Sea of sin
I feel you
Dirty Sticky Floors
Everything counts
and of course
NLMDA

The dancefloor was packed and no one left except this reporter keeping promises to those less fortunate by phoning forum members and letting them listen to their fave songs. Although nobody could get hold of Oggie so I guess she had the entire concert on her answer phone as everyone tried ringing her. This reporter also has to apoligise for the tears when the band played personal jesus, not for me crying but to the bloke who nearly lost his teeth entering the hall as this person ran out. The gig was amazing and I have to say they are the nearest you can get to DM. The vocals by both guys who do Dave and Martin are amazing and this reporter has to confess to being a very big fan of the BC Martin.

Then the DM music returned with Darksides DJing although the fact he omitted to play Dirt for me, when Daveposer actually volunteered to be my victim (although he did say he was only following what he had seen in the forum novel, so it was lucky Ultragirl was absent ;) ).



Then it was time for daveposer to reveal all.You guys know me and Soze kicked in with force that had a very terrrified daveposer trying to escape but even calling to his mate, did not save him and after being physically dragged outside, screaming, he showed me. But what I hear you cry? His new tattoo on his back (now its not finished but girls you will love it, the unveiling ceremony is on July 17th so get down to the London meet and take a peek, he has promised to take his waistcoat off)

Now Crowmans legendary move, going down on his knees and laying down flat,then coming back up without hands had not been seen (think its from Rush). My aim is to teach daveposer some new moves but he pulled out so I said..I'd do it. forgetting that it is impossible to achieve in a dress and then you need to open you legs and I apoligise if Daveposer saw my underwear.But I got down but couldn't get up without my hands but hey I did it.

Then we were all evicted (not due to me) but as it was closing time so off to a pub for a lock in, or in our case a lock out as we were all left in the beer garden. The group of reprobates included MJ, Albarst, Crowman, Nichi, Dopple, Tommypotts and his wife, Daveposer & mate, 2 of Als friends and I. Fighting for drinks then seats the talk started sensible and then went off to a place where it was just very, very rude. Daveposers mate nearly ended up in a bush after the seat went over, Al was a bush and all the alcohol everyone had consumed meant that toilets were required contiously. But soon came the unveiling of what is under a Scots kilt and I have photographic evidence, I think it was very cold by then ;) That is one photo that will not make its way onto the forums ' who is board' more like ' what is that'. Then Al showed us what was under a Coventry guys trousers.







At 3.30am the landlord of the pub had had enough of the forum and demanded that we leave, the only ones left by this time were MJ, Tommypotts, Crowman, Nichi, Dopple, Albarst and I. Where was the hotel?, as feet were aching, us girls needed the loo and a bush is not the answer lads, no matter how many times you suggest it. Al has lived in Coventry for years so we believed him when he said its down here..even though he was more drunk that all of us put together. Tommypotts kept saying your going the wrong way, did we listen NO after walking for what seemed like miles we decided to listen to Tommy and had to walk all the way back saying, ' why didn't you tell us' poor guy tried. Lost MJ, had to walk past a huge gang of kids (twice) with hopes that the four guys Nichi and I were with would come to rescue us if they attacked, but this was doubtful. To find the hotel was nearly behind the pub we had been in.

But disaster, the gates were closed and we could not get in, signs asking guest to use the phone provided were useless, as 1. We couldn't find it 2. when we did due to alcohol it was like taking an exam. Finally MJ worked it out and we all got in. Feeling tired, unlike Al who wanted to party. Dopple decided to use his secret weapon for stopping everyone and after a gust of wind stopped everyone from using the lift, did it again and had five drunk friends running up 3 flights of stairs to bed.



From what we hear albarst and crowman partied till the early hours whilst the rest of us were in bed snoring our heads off. Now I did not check that out , thats a little journalistic licence for effect.

Congratulations to Al for pulling off the best party, To darkside for everything and the band. Also thanks to everyone who came and as Al would say 'I love you guys'