Newsletter - December 1988

Hello Everyone!

Today is Sunday 11th December, and I'm sitting in the front room with Bob's drum roadie lying next to me, still asleep and oblivious to my being here. (Just trying to give you an insight into the terrible working conditions we have to endure!) Bob, Dick and John havn't yet awakened, and so I find myself sitting here, at 11am with a mug of tea, a pen and paper, and nothing more than a de-grabed roadie to keep me company in this somewhat tranquil hour. The scene is set

First on the agenda is the fact that tomorrow we fly out to New York City to meet record producers, and also to 'check out' the American market at the request of Mr. branson and his mob. I'll tell you how it went in the next issue, and any questions will be answered if you send them to Maggie.

The new album is, at present, 85% written, and I'm pleased to inform you all that everyone is extremely happy with the results, although musically it is a slightly different direction from previous albums, the reason being that we have explored musical avenues we previously ignored. Enough said!

As the year draws to a close, I would like to take everyone back with me and have a look at what 1988 meant to It Bites:
I suppose the first thing I should say is that 1988 was a very tense, stressful yet productive year, with major upheavals, dissapointments and eventually ending with a feeling of great achievement, coupled with the satisfaction of knowing that we pulled through everything that the 'powers that be' threw at us.
1998 saw KISS LIKE JUDAS and MIDNIGHT fail to make the Top 40
1988 saw the ONCE AROUND THE WORLD tour prove to the music business that you didn't need a Top 40 single to have a successful tour.
1988 saw the British Robert Plant support slot increase our popularity and gain respect from a quarter previously ignorant to our music.
It saw the American Robert Plant support slot cancelled with a weeks notice.
It saw us have major chart album success in Japan
It saw successful European festivals
It saw the British Brian Adams support slot cancelled with 2 days notice.
It saw personal relationships come and go
It saw Bob play his first drum clinics
It saw Dick guest on Tony Bank's solo album
It saw the Tapboard developed, made and then played.
It saw us walk from our old managment team
It saw us find our new management team
It saw Maggie devote all her attention to the Appreciation Society with great personal sacrifice.
It saw great musical advances.
It saw teh American Public take notice of our offerings, and last but not least it saw teh Appreciation Society grow from about a hundred members to about 700, with not a single hit record in sight.

So there you have it, the ups and downs of 1988, not to mention the hundreds of other moments and events that I've failed to remember, be they good or bad.

I would now like to take this opportunity to thank Maggie for doing a brilliant job, single handed, and sacificing her own private life, her time and probably her future in Buzzard rearing if the Appreciation Society grows any more. Cheers, Mag, we appreicate it! (Excuse the pun!)

I would also like to pay my sincerest thanks to all you people out there, who keep us going with the gifts, cards, encouragement and endless support. It is a pleasure to have you all with us.

I will finish my letter on a sentimental note by saying that of all the things I mentioned about 1988 in my list, all of you people were an active part of all the good things that took place, whilst being totally innocent of any setbacks or dissapointments that we encountered during that time, and for this I pay you my respects. It's nice to know who your friends are!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Francis Dunnery.

P.S Send any injured buzzards or harpy eagles to maggie and she'll put them out of their misery!

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