We decided to play the NEC because we were asked to, and because we actually rather like the place: we've always enjoyed doing it before. We don't often get sensible offers to play in the UK, so most years we just play on the mainland, with the occasional exotic detour.
People have taught me not to look for intelligence in rockmusic.
Postmodernism surely requires an even greater grasp of symbolism, as it's increasingly an art of gesture alone.