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In the early to mid-1980's, Flowers In The Dustbin, were one of my favourite bands and I would go out and witness performances whenever I possibly could.

The All The Madmen Records 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 favourite 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' both being played back to back on the stereo many times in one listening session!

Some of Gerard's lyrics seemed to hit the spot for me, with my awkwardly shy sensibilities, desperately trying to figure out a way to change my personal world, and also the outside world for the better!

THE REASON WHY

"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"

LICK MY CRAZY COLOURS

"The windswept horizon of hot summer paradise
You realise the truth, you find where your freedom lies
The taste of love on a dear friend’s 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"

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

The album that was recorded never saw the light of day, although Gerard sent a cassette of the mixes to me a year or so later.

I still have that cassette of the album, and here it is on this YouTube post, right after the 7" single...

Accompanying the audio on this YouTube post, I have included a scan of a couple of letters from Gerard..

During the 1980's, I wrote to Gerard, and it was Gerard (and also Andy Martin from The Apostles) that gave me the inspiration to concentrate more and take a little more time to present a far better writing style on paper. Far better than the scrawls I would normally put onto paper before pushing myself! I was never that great at school, and messy handwriting seemed to go with the territory.

Gerard's words written on his letters were (and still are) full of beauty and the writing style is of course aesthetically beautiful.The letters that I received from Gerard in the 1980’s could all be framed as a work of art!

One letter from Gerard that I have included on this YouTube post is a generic Flowers In The Dustbin letter to followers that was sent out to explain the split-up of the band.

Another letter I received after Gerard had moved to Brighton. This letter came with the cassette of the album that is uploaded this evening, and expressed some positives for the weeks and months ahead with his new band; The First Of May.