Dear Justhipper,

My name is Alison and I want to start a James website except I only have a few pictures from magazines and only a couple of bootlegs to trade and stuff. I was thinking about ripping a few reviews off from other people and some items from your site and your pictures, so I can look like more of a fan. Is this an okay way to become a VIP in the James community and do you think people will catch me? Alison

Dear Alison,

You conniving little c***! How dare you pilfer all my hard work and my effort. You spent all your life sitting on your fat bum listening to "Sit Down" and pretending to be a fan and now you want to reap the rewards of all my efforts! If you do I will hire a lawyer and see that you are paying me compensation for the rest of your pathetic, short life.

 

Dear Justhipper,

Can you settle and argument between me and my best friend? See, he says that he’s the bigger James fan because he got into them when Whiplash  came out and I only heard of them when my brother bought the Best Of.  But since then they’ve become my favourite band and I’ve even seen them three times and been right at the front all three times whereas my friend has only seen them once and was in the seated section. So which of us loves them more? The Bigger Fan

Dear Bigger Fan,

What sad excuses for James fans. Neither of you can possibly be a real fan because you only heard of them after they stopped being underground and trendy. In fact, if I catch either of you at another gig claiming that you are real fans I will bitchslap you both til you bleed.

 

Dear Justhipper,

I am so excited. I have been looking at James websites and my wife thinks that I may be the biggest fan! I’ve been into the band since 1983, I even know Paul Gilbertson. I own every record they’ve ever done, I’ve got loads of early bootlegs, and I’ve been to over 50 gigs in the last 18 years. Surely there’s nobody still around who’s as devoted as me!? Number 1 Fan

Dear Number 1,

You must be taking the piss, right? You don’t do a fanzine or a website. You haven’t been following full tours. And I’m assuming that Tim has never mentioned you during a gig. How can you be the biggest fan? Ok, you’re a bigger fan than most of the morons that send me letters, but you don’t win the prize. Sorry. You’ll just have to try harder. Tim Booth would be embarassed to know you’re out there if this is all the effort you can muster.

If you want to know if you’re a real fan, send your letters to: justhipper@upherself.com. Letters should include number of gigs and on-stage mentions you have received in SUBJECT line : be no more than 100 words in length and must include a full name and address.

 





Next feature....