Well, I suppose it wasn't all that surprising, in the end. After a brief, ecstatic yet ultimately empty flurry of news of potential progress on a new album, the end came on Friday. When the 'official' site doesn't update for months on end, you know that something must be up, but I wouldn't, couldn't allow myself to believe it. DiS is unhappy; I'm near distraught at the demise of Mansun. They were the first band to mean something to me; back in 1995 or 1996 when I was first really getting into music in a big way, they were exciting, they were glamorous, they had something to say. And more: the tunes were ace, almost without exception - and those B-sides! If you haven't heard "The Edge", "Rebel Without A Quilt", "What It's Like To Be Hated", "The World's Still Open" and countless more, then I pity you for the paucity of your existence. And if you haven't leapt about joyously to the kick-ass frugging thrash of "Take It Easy Chicken" (especially live - oh, man, TIEC live!), well... It's better to burn out than to fade away, I guess - and even though "Little Kix" wasn't exactly critically acclaimed, I think it would be rather harsh to level any accusation of fading away at Mansun. Even if, when the announcement came, it was nothing more than a short, damp statement of thanks. At least they didn't linger on like the bad smell that the Manics have decayed into. I'll miss you, guys - and so will many others. But it should have been so many more.