Everybody Hurts

In 1992 R.E.M. released their eighth studio album Automatic for the People. Back then I was a mere 18 years of age, living and growing up in North London. During this time my friends and I would meet outside the local offy (off licence/liquor store) every Friday evening prior to ‘going out on the town’. Due to there being no mobile phones or social media back then we would always meet at the same time and at the same offy every Friday evening.

The evening would start with us all excitedly bundling into the offy and each purchasing an alcoholic beverage or two; a somewhat undignified aperitif designed to moisten the palette for the night ahead.

For most of us, the biggest worry back then would have been the post pubescent issue of being asked for ID in front of your friends when attempting to buy alcohol. Anyone asked for ID due to the misfortune of looking underage would subsequently be subjected to a barrage of abuse, ridicule and good old fashioned British piss-taking by their friends once everyone had safely purchased their goods and exited said offy.

“Back then that was how we ‘shared music’ and we would ‘like it’, simply by telling each other in person we liked it.”

With cans and bottles being opened and cigarettes being lit, the conversation would then…