Was NMA an "immediate" band for you?

[Gonzo]

Was NMA an immediate band, simple answer is no. the 1st time i saw NMA live was when they were supporting X Mal Deutschland at the Hammersmith Palais 84. they were really powerful more so than X Mal, sorry fancied the lead singer to bits - got no where. Ha Ha. Me mate nicky and john had a few singles and nicky went and bought the vengance album and done me a tape copy. i didnt want a tape copy so bought my own - knockout to say the least. followed them in my own way since. wonderful memories of concerts whether NMA or Raw Melody Men. fell out of love circa 98 with strange brotherhood but 98 werent a great year personally. got back around 2000 mark so much so that me kids have seen them and had me daughter on me shoulders at the Vauban Brest 2006 she was 4. looking forward to the upcoming gigs and thank you for some wonderful and cherished memories. keep on recording, keep on touring, keep on making us all smile and laugh.

[Master Ray]

Excellent post, Gonzo, really enjoyed reading it, welcome to The Forum!  Post often!

[Unruh]

I had been a huge fan of a Scottish band called the Skids (Their guitarist later formed Big Country). The Skids had this unashamed and non-ironic epic grandeur to their music. The only song I heard that could match them was, obviously enough, Green and Gray. I'm sure I thought any band capable of the panoramic abilities of the Skids could do anything.

[eastmidswhizzkid]

yes and no. i'd  heard the songs no rest and vengeance and liked them, but didnt seek out anything else by the band until i heard "brave new world". when i did i had to have it and bought the 12" (with free live 12") from a 2nd hand shop. the 3 tracks on that record  are still probably my favourite release by the band.  shortly after i met a girl who i was to be with for 8 or 9 years who was a massive NMA fan and had all their records so i was immersed in them from thereon.
BUT...it wasnt until i saw them live for the first time that i adopted them as "my" band rather than "hers". it was at the 1989 Reading Festival and i was utterly blown away by them. in fact i have NEVER not been blown away by the band live. there are only a few bands ive seen as often as NMA but  theyve all played at least one stinker of a show (even motorhead but that was the venue's sound policy.) i will admit that the first time i went to see them play after Rob left i was certain that it would be crap as i personally rate Rob Heaton as one of the greatest drummers ever and almost undoubtedly  irreplaceable, but Mr Dean  won me over almost immediately.

[Anna Woman von NRW]

. it was at the 1989 Reading Festival and i was utterly blown away by them.

Me too 

i was utterly blown away by them. in fact i have NEVER not been blown away by the band live.

This is truth 

[Master Ray]

. it was at the 1989 Reading Festival and i was utterly blown away by them.

Me too 

i was utterly blown away by them. in fact i have NEVER not been blown away by the band live.

This is truth 

Truth, indeed.  I lost track of how many times I've seen the lads live a long time ago, but my gig-buddy Dan, who I usually see NMA with, keeps all his tickets and counted them recently... if you include JSAF gigs and the very few I went to without him, I've seen them over 80 times...

...and I NEVER attended a gig that didn't make me buzz like a wasp in a bottle!   

The mark of a truly great band...

[kabe]

i'm 47 now, and first encountered nma way back in 1985 (i think) with no rest, in my village library in peterculter in aberdeenshire.  songs that immediately got me, from memory even now, were grandmother's footsteps and my country.  they had such an impact on me that i had to tape them.  and i kept going back to that tape of the album.  and over, and over.  and - importantly - the artwork struck such a chord in me at the same time.

and a few? years later, i was in 1UP record shop in aberdeen, skimming through the 2nd hand discs, and there was the 12" of brave new world.  jules' artwork there just meant, no matter what, i was going to buy it.

'nuff said.

[King_D]

Ohhhh, YES !!! I was with my cousin, in his car, in 90, two cassettes : NMA "T&C" et a Mish bootleg.
The next week, I went to a record store look for albums for both bands (meanwhile he gave me some cassettes).
They're still by my side.

[Master Ray]

Aw, cassettes...  I 'member cassettes!

Little South Park reference there, just in case anyone is watching the new season... 

[ManxPat]

Sonically yes

[Gary Tompsett]

Immediate. Great Expectations on John Peel. To be repeated about 8 years later when Here Comes the War came on the radio while I was driving. I had to pull in to calm down!

[VanessaM]

Yes, I was introduced to the ghost of Cain by a friend and that was it for me. I love all the music which is unusual I know. People often tell me that there are other bands but no one else is like nma. My long suffering hubby is more of a program rock fan but always comes to gigs with me. Long live nma.

[Master Ray]

Welcome, VanessaM!  Please post often with more thoughts about NMA... or anything else at all!

[ManxPat]

Yes I'd say so.

[Simon73]

It has never been an immediate band anyway. It took me 2 or 3 listens especially in the 90s to fully appreciate an album. When <i was younger I remember when I had a new NMA album I used to listen 2 songs each day max...............I did not want the surprise and the pleasure to go to fast. and then at every listen the album was growing on me................and it is still like this now at 45.