DESCRIPTION:
In the early to mid 1980's, the ex - All The Madmen records band Flowers In The Dustbin, were a firm favorite of mine and I would go out and witness performances whenever I possibly could.

The All The Madmen 12" single 'Freaks Run Wild' released in 1984 was an absolute classic.

A little over a year later Conflicts record label Mortarhate released the 'Nails Of The Heart' 7" single which also included 'The Reason Why', my favorite Flowers In The Dustbin song.

A year or so after that release, 'Like My Crazy Colours' was released on Cold Harbour records.

Coming up a close second to 'The Reason Why', 'Lick My Crazy Colours' was for a while played back to back on the stereo, both records played many times in one session.

Some of Gerard's lyrics seemed to hit the spot every time for someone like me with my awkwardly shy sensibilities at that age, desperately trying to figure out a way to change my world and the outside world for the better.

"People look but they just don't see
Seem like they're listening but never seem to hear
Insomnia, pain, won't stop whirling
Love is a currency, you still use sterling
But some children never grow up
And see the world and see it fucked
And lyrics might be eloquent
But they stop at the skin
Whilst my heart cries tears
For the love wasted within
Like me when I ignored you on the bus
And you even sat next to me on the tube
And the mutual strangers never connect
And people even talk but nothing gets said
I'm reaching for your heart but your skin's like lead

The whole world goes to work
But nothing is produced
In the out tray lovers remain
Simply seduced
Valium is your only friend
And the world's got lots of money/love but none to lend
At school standing away from the rest
Crying in the concrete playground cos you're not the best

And the streets so dirty you don't want to walk on them anymore
In fields of green lie naked and don't feel so sore
The sun is shining and your cheeks feel warm
And nature will stand when the concrete's been torn down
Torn down to the ground
Tear it down
Burn it down

…the most beautiful people in the world"

(The Reason Why)

"The windswept horizon of hot summer paradise
You realise the truth, you find where your freedom lies
The taste of love on a dear friends lips
Feel your vision blur as you give in, so willingly

Is there any tea in the pot?
Is there some left in it for me?
I'm the madman that you forgot
Is there any pot in the tea?
Will you lick my crazy colours?
Cos I'll lick your wounds baby

The old ones complained and they said they were wiser than us
But us we're just having a party to last for the rest of our lives
They wised it and sized it and they analysed it through and through
But us we just did it, we had nothing better to do, so willingly

Is there any tea in the pot?
Is there some left in it for me?
I'm the madman that you forgot
Is there any pot in the tea?
Will you lick my crazy colours?
Cos I'd die for you baby

Oh Mr Clean with your nicotine-stained brain
Businesswoman Julie, never felt the beauty, never picked a tulip, just kept fixing Pepsi
But in your business-suits of navy blue
Do you really think your children take any notice of you? Not willingly

Is there any tea in the pot?
Is there some left in it for me?
Is there something you forgot when you gave in so willingly
Will you lick my crazy colours?
Cos I'd die for you baby"

(Lick My Crazy Colours)

This 7" single released on Cold Harbour Records was to be the last offering from Flowers In The Dustbin.

This cassette was given to me around the time it was recorded for Cold Storage Records, and has four of the tracks that were meant to be released as a full length album.

The album never saw the light of day, although I was sent a cassette of the mixes by Gerard a couple of years later.

I still have that cassette of the album so will upload that at some point.

Accompanying the audio on this YouTube post of these four Flowers In The Dustbin songs which includes 'Lick My Crazy Colours', I have included a couple of my many personal letters from Gerard, with his full permission.

I wrote to Gerard over the years, and it was Gerard (and Andy Martin from The Apostles) that gave me the impetus to concentrate on a far better writing style to the scrawls I would normally put onto paper!

Gerard's words written were (are) full of beauty and the writing style is also aesthetically beautiful. These letters that I received from Gerard could be framed as a work of art!

One letter from Gerard explains his mindset, and the ending of Flowers In The Dustbin to me prior to others knowing.

There is then a generic Flowers In The Dustbin letter to followers that was sent out a little while later to explain the split.

Finally Gerard's letter to me after he had moved to Brighton, that came with the cassette of the album that he sent me, expressing a far more positive mindset for the weeks and months ahead.