I think my first memory of Simon Price - cultural and intellectual figure that he is - was in Channel Four's documentary about the disappearance of Richey Edwards circa 1996 (?).

He got interviewed, and had 'Enola/Alone' written on his face. Of course, at that point, I didn't recognise him as 'Simon Price'.

He was just some f*ckin' gadge on the telly talking about a band I was getting increasingly interested in.

It wasn't until much later that I linked that gadge to the person I occasionally talked to in the Archives of Pain chat room, circa 1999/2000.

I mean . . . me and Frances (<3) actually went to his first ever London Stay Beautiful Club Night in January 2001.

He let us in for half price, and I remember thinking what a good bloke he was. Although perhaps the people he actually knew and liked got in for free.

Then various people, who i'd conversed with in the chat room, came up and said hello to me. I'd been a bit of a twat to some of them, so you can't really say fairer.

I gather he now lectures on music journalism at Brighton Institute of Modern Music (or, as we call in it in the trade, BIMM).

Personally, I say good on the kid for doing as well he's done.

And if wasn't for the fact he's such an exlcusivist snob - his club night adverts once said 'no chavs' - i'd probably like him.