Our Friebds In The North East

We have now exited the hotel and begun a brisk stroll around sites that may one day feature Kenickie Rock Heritage Plaques. Right on cue, we pass their old school - and a fan, who has just bought their single in Our Price, asks them to sign the sleeve. They all oblige and thank him for buying it. He is about 12, and he looks very scared indeed. He poses for a photo, and they maul him as he grins sheepishly. The 'Nickie take to this ame thing very well, it appears.
"I suppose we do," says Emmy-Kate, "but the funny thing is, we've never been desperate for any of it."
"We were never gagging to be pop stars," adds Lauren. "It's nice, it's fine, but that doesn't mean that the only thing in my life is to sing in a fucking band."
"Any adoration is obviously good," Marie counters.
"I think it would be very easy to get too up yoursel," ponders Emy-Kate, as thoughtful as ever. "When we were on Top Of The Pops I was saying, have you got a spare pass for my boyfriend? Then I realised he was on the guestlist, so I said, 'Forget it.' The man said 'Noooo! What is it? I'll sort it out! Your boyfriend will be in your dressing room in five minutes!!"
"Even if you're in a different town," giggles Lauren, "they'll just bring your boyfriend over."

TODAY, FOR ALL ITS AIR OF LOW-RENT frivolity, is infuesd with sadness. This is a sort of farewell to the North East, as the band are shortly relocating to London. They'll be residing in a Beatles-esque communal house, paid for by EMI. It's crushingly expensive to commute down to London three times a week, apparently. The move is inevitable.
The last photos they jump around for are on a sandy beach, a few miles out of Sunderland's center. Small dogs courageously attempt to eat sticks, and Kenickie spend their time writing words in the sand. Lauren looks wistful for a moment as she looks out onto the sea.
"I'm going to miss it up here, you know." Her hair flaps about and she looks like Meryl Streep on the jetty in the French Lieutenant's Woman. "It's not going to be the same anymore."

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