i was not able t see FNM when they came to my town in 1997 cos i was 6 months too young, so this is my chance to get to see them. and if it wasnt for this tour it would never have happened. i had resigned myself to the fact i would never get to see them live……

I’ve been sceptical too and agree that it is ultimately a sell-out cash grab. And so the usual arguments apply (no point repeating them here). BUT, having said that, appart from the fact it is a sell-out move and they’ll be no new material etc I think they have gone about it very well indeed. They’ve dealt with press very well, kept it very roots level, little touches like these posters are all very cool. I don’t think fans have been lured into any rip-offs, just the standard merch which people want any way. The shows have been great, the set list is mostly as they would want it (I know they hate playing epic and a couple other older hits, but they’ve obviously kept those in) and there’s been a few nice surprises along the way. I think for FNM to put on the performances I’ve seen in 2009, in todays musical and cultural climate, has been a great achievement – to pick up where they left off that well. Still – the whole thing is still tainted if you have sceptical eyes, some don’t, but I don’t blame those who do. THe big plus is that I have seen my all-time favourite band live (never saw them before ’98 when I was only 15) so can’t complain too much!

It’s just taking the piss out of your old fans and that’s not even getting into Patton’s decade long insistence he wouldn’t have anything to do with a FNM reunion. Then again it’s not like Patton has much credibility anymore these days what with this and crap like Peeping Tom & Crudo.

I much prefer remembering FNM the first time around when they were a real band and not bloated , boring sellouts. Patton should’ve stuck with Fantomas, they were a great band.