Dear FishHeads, Freaks, fans and the Company,

I have never been someone who has run away from issues and have always tried to be straight and up front about my problems in Life, taking advice from my old press officers Brian Munns at EMI and Keith Goodwin who advised me way back that to "lie and deny" is not the best policy as you will always be found out.

Today in the parochial version of the "News of the World" , the one only released in Scotland, my ex wife has sold an "exclusive" story about her life with me for the princely sum of £7000 (as far as I have been told through acquaintances).

For a number of people who know me well and were about during the "dark ages" the stories are not new but have a perspective which to say the least is unbalanced.
I refused to talk to the News of the World as I did not want to verify or deny any of the articles choosing to leave it in the hands of my lawyers.

I will be having discussions with my lawyers and press advisors tomorrow to determine the best way to approach these "revelations".

I don't want to go into any more details at present but I can say that Katie and I were aware of the impending story for quite a number of weeks and the timing was very deliberate, cynical and cruel.

It's been a shadow hanging over us for a while and we had hoped that the story would disappear as it was obviously sold on the "profile" of our quiet and intimate wedding arrangements which she was aware of.


I would have liked to have thought that after being separated for 9 years and officially divorced since 2003 that my ex wife would have let things lie but obviously she feels differently.

You can read her "true story" about our marriage at
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_news/359861/Terrified-Tamara-reveals-all-about-life-wth-Marillion-singer.html
and if you care to post to the "journalist" in question you can at jacqueline.mcghie@notw.co.uk

I'll let it lie there for now as there are a number of issues I have to deal with at present the most pressing and immediate of which is cooking a roast chicken dinner for my wife!  :-)

lots of love

Onkel Fish x

PS There's a clip of "Kayleigh" performed live at the wedding in '87 on the NOTW website. (Bruce Dickinson on bongo duties)
Must talk to EMI publishing about the permissions and royalties  :-D

PPS There's also a link to the "Kayleigh" video, check out the size of the pupils on the actress!  ;-)


Long Cold Day [Dick/Wesley/Young]
(c) Derek W Dick 2001

It's so funny, you don't call at night, always missing in action,
I'm left out in the cold and you'd never have thought I was thinking,
Turning it over
Putting the pieces in place and building a case for my anger
I'm taking it in, I'm taking my time in taking you out,
'cause it'll be a long cold day in Hell before I take you back,

So tired of your lying, I can't sleep at night,
I'll accept what I'm told, take what I'm sold,
There's no question to ask,
To sort out the answers,
To prove who is wrong or who is right,
But I know in my heart that we're breaking apart.
If we admit to the truth,
Pretend it's all been an act,
As a matter of fact
It'll be a long cold day in Hell before I take you back.

Sometimes I feel like I'm sailing on a dreamboat on wild and heavy seas,
I was cast adrift or fallen overboard, I catch my breath and head for shore,
I turn around, the ship sails on
This ship sails on.

Funny, you don't call at night, always missing in action
I'm left out in the cold and you'd never have thought I was thinking
I was thinking
Still thinking
Still thinking
Said I was, said I was

So tired of your lying, I can't sleep at night,
I'll accept what I'm told, take what I'm sold,
There's no question to ask,
To sort out the answers,
To prove who is wrong or who is right,
But I know in my heart that we're breaking apart.
If we admit to the truth,
Pretend it's all been an act,
As a matter of fact
It'll be a long cold day in Hell before I take you back.

And I still remember sailing on that dreamboat on starlit mirrored seas.
I hold my breath and I gaze from shore from this empty beach and this pile of clothes
I hit the water, the ship sails on
I hit the water, the ship sails on
I hit the water, the ship sails on
I hit the water, the ship sails on