Fanclubs?

[Sarc]

Has anyone ever joined one of these and was it worth it?

I'm not talking about the Dennis the menace fanclub, we all know that was worth the asking price just for the furry Gnasher badge.

Furry Gnasher, heheheh I feel like I've been posessed by the ghost of Sid James for that one.

[longgoneloser]

I just joined the Aerosmith one about 2 weeks ago cos I wanted to get decent tickets for their upcoming tour in the USA. I havent received anything yet. Still waiting on the swag. My status shows it's just been approved but not shipped. Bah humbug! I leave in like 4 weeks!

Damo

[vickyp]

I was in the Terrorvision one when I were 15. Did a right good newsletter but that's all the perks I can remember getting.

[spoon_of_grimbo]

i'm a member of the alkaline trio one (the blood pact), but unless you're a HUGE fan, it's not really worth it. that said, you get a t-shirt, and a shitload of free downloads (live sets, demos, b-sides etc.) for about 20quid (and then under a tenner to renew each year). you also get put in draws to meet the band when they play in your area (sod's law i was late renewing my membership when they last toured!).

however, the downside (and i don't know if this happens on other bands' fanclubs...) is that the forum is pretty fucking useless. i mean, on here we have pretty interesting discussions, even when it does reach fanboy-levels, but on the alkaline trio board there's threads like "ZOMG, MATT DID GUEST VOCALS FOR A BAND I DON'T LIKE NOW I DONT KNOW IF I RESPECT HIM ANYMORE" and "WHICH BOARDIE HAS THE BIGGEST CRUSH ON DAN?" it's occasionally worth wading through the shite for something interesting, but generally i stick to the sub-forum that's their equivalent of our Cloakroom.

[blackdeathcrew]

I was a member of the Fear Factory fan club - was really cool....for £10 a year I got loads of free stuff, and got a card that allowed backstage access to any of their uk shows!!! - got to meet the band loads and hang out with them. Was real cool

[Jason_scorching_past]

Wildhearts had a fanclub at one point didn't they? I think it was free and I belonged to it, or I might have jiust made that up.

[Ean]

That it was free, or that you were in it?

[shat noir]

aye they did jason.. it was based in wednesbury if i remember correctly. and it must've been free as i was a penniless student at the time but still managed to get a right few signed pics. think i bought my original smileybones long sleeve top and smileybones metal badge off them (i must've had a grant cheque that week )

[Andy]

Wildhearts had a fanclub at one point didn't they? I think it was free and I belonged to it, or I might have jiust made that up.

Yeah that was in the Mushroom Records days. They sent out 3 (I Think) newsletters and stickers.

[shat noir]

dunno bout jason but the fan club i was referring to was during the early east/west days

[Sarc]

Wildhearts had a fanclub at one point didn't they? I think it was free and I belonged to it, or I might have jiust made that up.

Yeah that was in the Mushroom Records days. They sent out 3 (I Think) newsletters and stickers.

No I think they're on about one from earlier before they signed with Mushroom, in fact I'm certain they are as I'm sure thats how i got the original Fishing For Luckies.

Anyways the reason I asked this question was back in february I joined the Ben Folds fanclub and was told the pack would be sent out withing six to eight weeks and a few weeks after I emailed them to double check my details (they where right) and in the reply I was told that I would get my pack earlier than expected, brilliant says I, so I wait and wait.................and wait...................and.............wait and nothing, I emailed them again to find out what was going on only to get a reply that they're now out of stock of stuff and waiting to get it in to send it out for me so two completely contradictory replies from the same people, the thing that pisses me off the most is I'm having to chase them up to find out whats going on. Surely if you run a business and people have ordered stuff that you happen to run out of while putting the orders together you email or ring them to let them know not leave it weeks for them to wonder whats going on and then only get in touch when they email to find out whats going. I paid about thirty quid for this as apparently you get a remixed cd (about 20 tracks) of some of Fold's stuff, a few stickers and postcards and an exclusive fan only message forum (surely every bands forum is a fan forum? when i signed up it asked for tshirt size to showing that you also got a shirt, two weeks later that changed no shirt is included.

Anyone else think i got taken for a ride?

[idiottoast]

I joined peter and the test tube babies cringe club in 1984 or 85 ,and it was shit.No really it was.All i got was a membership card and a letter about thier next single and album,and a list of merchandise,and that was it .Did`nt put me off them tho,in fact,and i should probably whisper this here,they are my most favourite band ever.

[longgoneloser]

Actually, a gazillion years ago, around the time they released Phaseshifter, I joined the REDD KROSS fanclub. Did anyone else join this? What i got for my like $25 USA was a t-shirt, a poster, some stickers and a badge (button as you call them in the UK). So i thought that was cool. I was told I would received a fanzine called the KROSS KRONICLES 4 times a year. I never heard another thing, never received a zine, never anything. But I still have the t-shirt and stickers and poster. Quit amusing. I love Redd Kross. Such an awesome band.

[Stuart Brackpool]

Actually, a gazillion years ago, around the time they released Phaseshifter, I joined the REDD KROSS fanclub. Did anyone else join this? What i got for my like $25 USA was a t-shirt, a poster, some stickers and a badge (button as you call them in the UK). So i thought that was cool. I was told I would received a fanzine called the KROSS KRONICLES 4 times a year. I never heard another thing, never received a zine, never anything. But I still have the t-shirt and stickers and poster. Quit amusing. I love Redd Kross. Such an awesome band.

I joined that fan club and got all that. Still have the Kross Kid shirt which I wore when they supported Foo Fighters back in '97. A passing girl said it was cool which made me happy. Also got a Mars Bar as their track 'Crazy World' was being used in a Mars ad at the time. Redd Kross are awesome!

[DangerousBeans]

I was in The Levellers fan club for a few years.

Was well worth it as you either got a "free" unreleased DVD or cd eery year.
The 3 Drunk in Public live Acoustic albums were superb.

Need to rejoin again this year for the Letters from the Underground demos cd.