Editorial: All Change on the Western Front

Welcome to the new-look Carbon/Silicon News pages!

First, I guess I should introduce myself: My name is Shep (actually, my mum calls me “John” – but you know how internet forum names have a tendency to stick!). Some of you might recognize me as the editor of the “semi-official” fan news page – carbonsilicon.info. Well, after a lengthy period of bribes and negotiations (half a dozen beers and a ticket to the last bunker gig) I’m pleased to announce that Mick + TJ have recruited me to help anchor the news area here on the official site. You’ll continue to see plenty of contributions from the band posted here – but hopefully I’ll be able to help fill in the information gaps when the band are busy in the studio, out on the road, or doing whatever else it is that international rock megastars do…

The new website is still coming on-line — section by section — but you can already see what we’ve got planned for the News pages right here. In addition to the main news column, there’s a section for rumours that we’ve picked up around the net or during after-gig chats (which I’ll do my best to pester the band for a definitive answer over), an official podcast/video slot that should be coming online very soon, and a “Guest Columnist” section, for which the band are lining up some very special contributors.

Lastly – but perhaps most importantly – there’s this section; the column for YOUR news about the band. I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but we really do live in an age where news is spreading faster and faster… YouTube footage and gig reviews seem to start flying to all corners of the world within minutes of the band leaving the stage…

Long-time readers might remember that – a couple of years ago – TJ posted an opinion piece here entitled “Surfing the Digital Tidal Wave“, discussing the excitement (and trepidation) involved in starting a new band in the digital age. The reality is, the “wake” behind that digital tidal wave — the news reports, digital media, and opinion pieces that end up being filed and posted around the net — is so vast, and so unpredictable, that nobody – not even the band – can possibly track its effects, or know what’s washing up where…

Here’s where you come in: We believe that there’s no news gathering agency on the planet as resourceful — or as dedicated — as an army of interested fans. We’d therefore like to recruit YOU – our site regulars – as roving “stringer” reporters for the band. If you spot any content on the net about Carbon/Silicon – or have any Carbon/Silicon content that you’d like to contribute yourself (reviews, links to footage/pictures, blog links, or anything else…) let us know! Click the “send your story” link on the main news page, or just drop a message to news@carbonsiliconinc.com. We’ll publish your items here, and credit you with your own byline.

The internet fan community has always been hugely important to Carbon/Silicon. Your influence, support, and feedback has helped to shape the band since its inception, and has been pivotal in the transformation from “two old friends jamming a new tune” to a fully-fledged touring outfit with a new album in the shops. As Carbon/Silicon start waxing their digital surfboards for the next (bigger!) wave, the need to keep that conversation going with the fans is as important as ever. Hence the site changes that you see here today.

Sign up for the web site, and join us for the ride. Things are about to get interesting…