by Silva Payne

Created on: September 26, 2008

I've always been a rock chick. When I was younger I liked pretty much anything with a catchy tune and big guitars, and from the age of around 14 my favourite band was Marillion. They had everything I needed; a full bodied sound with lots of interesting melodies, some fairly good guitar solos, and a front man who was literally larger than life: Fish. I was the typical teen fan, papering my bedroom walls with pictures, posters and magazine articles of the band. I bought all the records I could get my hands on, and became a walking encyclopedia on the band. I could tell you their birthdays, where they were born, who was married, what bands they had been in before etc. Many people say they love a band's music because it speaks to them, often of their life experiences, they can relate to the lyrics. Marillion wasn't like that for me, I've never been an alcoholic Scots man or slept with a prostitute or taken drugs. It was the way the songs were crafted, with Fish's words and the musical arrangements that captivated me.

Though my musical tastes wandered and expended over the next few years, Marillion held a soft spot in my heart, and I guess they always will. However, I only saw them play live once, and as luck would have it, on their last date with Fish as lead singer. I sang myself hoarse, emerged into the cold night air with a big grin on my face, because now I felt I was a true fan.

I was devastated when Fish left the band. I tried to like the new stuff they produced with their new lead singer, but it simply wasn't the same; the feeling had gone. The lyrics became more surreal, there was nothing left that I could latch on to. So I let them go.

Fast forward to late in the year 2001. Sitting at the computer listening to other people's music in an AOL chat room, suddenly a song was played that stopped my world. This song was a reflection of my life at that point, the words really were speaking to me. And it helped that the singer's voice was rather sexy with a gravel-tone and a very memorable hook. Within a couple of plays, the song was in my head and the words on my lips. I had to know more.

A little-known four-piece from a small town in Canada. Hanna to be exact. I found pictures online and some blurb. Then the music channel on the television picked up the song and it turned into one of the biggest selling UK hits of all time. The song was "How You Remind Me" and the band was the one everyone online says they love to hate: Nickelback.

We have come a long way, the guys

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