At their request, I sent them every postcard, scrap and article I’d kept for their research. It was definitely an honor being a part of something semi-historical for what was unquestionably my favorite band in my college years. I embraced my former self, exaggerated my enthusiasm a bit and came up with something geekier that I could live with. ![]() It wasn’t really my style and I felt ridiculous doing it. I’d learned to really hate serious, overwritten pop writing usually done about bands like this (you know who you are). I was a little put out, being pretty happy with what I’d come up with but was also relieved. They’d liked the more personal parts of my story best and wanted me to really focus on that. It was decided that Andy would write a factual, first-hand account and history of the band and that I’d write a fun fan perspective. He was one of those types that….actually knew what he was doing. ![]() Andy Zax had known Roger since college and had recently done an Echo & The Bunnymen boxed set among many other reissue projects. They liked what I’d written but were bringing in a friend of the band to help. They responded after a week or so and the news was both good and bad. I wrote and read and re-wrote and re-read over and over, until I felt I couldn’t make any more changes. With all I knew about the band, I wrote the whole tale off the top of my head. One thing it didn’t require was research. I was running a business full-time, putting out a complicated charity record of my own and juggling my own stabs at music. Immediately, I began worrying about having enough to time to do it right. Without specific instruction, I started to write a serious Jellyfish chronicle but added the appropriate amount of fun for a band that had such a huge sense of humor. Even as a “reformed” fan, I was dying to know. They still hadn’t told me exactly what I’d be writing and weren’t exactly forthcoming with details, so I assumed I’d have to come up with a historical essay on the band and be ready to talk about every track, though they hadn’t told me anything about what would be on it. This was my dream job and I didn’t even have to ask for it! Thanks to my website and the short-lived mailing list I started, I’d become their most visible fan, so it made sense to have me involved somehow, but, reading how horrible the casual writing I did back then is cringeworthy. If I was going to do this, I wanted to be proud of what I wrote. Still, I was honored to be asked and immediately agreed to help. Definitely check out the Billboard article that mentions the costs involved. ![]() They were all in to spend tens of thousands to print up 7000 copies, thanks to a second mortgage on Bruce’s house. Internet mailing lists were supposed to compile those on burnt discs without the band’s involvement. These two guys seemed like nice fellows and I didn’t want to see them go bankrupt putting out a four disc boxed set for a short-lived cult band. This coming from a guy who moved to the Bay Area to actually help run their fanclub, only to have them split up immediately upon arrival. I made some really good friends, saw videos I never thought I’d see and heard a few great live shows but overanalyzing a band that only had two records got old quick, even with records that good. It was fun at first with me being new to the internet. I didn’t even think it was a good idea!Īfter putting up a website about my fond memories of seeing the band way too often in my college years, I endured three solid years of being inundated with the subject. Excuse me?! I didn’t even know there was one in works. Could I give them a call about writing something for the upcoming Jellyfish boxed set? Apparently Roger and Jason thought I’d be great for the job and the producers agreed. ![]() I can’t remember if it was producer Kevin Flaherty or Bruce Brodeen from Not Lame Records, a mail-order power pop store and record label, that first contacted me.
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