from Noel's diary in Japan

some pieces

20/3

Well, that gig was rubbish. That's 3 shit gigs in a row for me now - if we're counting the Radio 1 / BBC stuff last week, which I am. This is worrying. No one else seems to be that concerned though, maybe it's just me, eh?

21/3

I see City went through to the last 8 of the UEFA cup. With a whimper. Typical. At least we got there though. Shay Given, I will kiss you on the face if we win it - which is a ludicrous thought. Still..best start thinking of what to do if we actually get in the final. 

Just done a round of interviews in which I was asked to explain what I thought has gone wrong with the global economy!! Apart from the fact that the global conspiracy theorists have seemingly been right all along, we managed to trace back the actual moment the storms clouds started to gather to when Franz Ferdinand won the Mercury Muzak Prize. THINK ABOUT IT. 

24/3

Been in Sapporo for the last couple of days (did I mention that?). It's snowing. SNOWING! Thought we'd left the winter behind in Europe. Apparently not. Seems like we're being haunted by the cold on this tour.

They're more like concert performances over here. You can hear a pin drop between songs. 

Before I get off, tell me what you think of this.. There's been a fan following me around since I got here carrying a sign that says, in fluorescent lettering, NOEL OR DIE! Now given the fact that the Japanese have a certain way with the English, I'm still not quite sure what it means. NOEL OR DIE!??

25/3

That girl was waiting for me at the airport. With the sign. "NOEL OR DIE". What does it mean!? I did try and ask her, sadly all she was interested in was a bloody picture. I then used the tried and tested English method for international communication; I asked her really ..slowly. 

"WHAT ...DOES ...IT ...MEAN?"
She looked at me like The Mighty I looks at me when I'm asking him something. 
"THE SIGN ...WHAT ...DOES ...IT ...MEAN?"
She replied very slowly with two simple words. 
"SIGN? ...YES"
That's got to the bottom of that then, eh? I'm glad I AM Noel though. Wouldn't want to die, or anything. 
We're in Osaka for the next 3 days. What can I tell you about Osaka? Nothing. I bought a guitar here once. 
With that in mind, I think I'll order breakfast and get out and about. 

27/3

The Sign" (I shall now refer to it from now on as "The Sign") was there. Down the front. Bright as a button. NOEL OR DIE.