Being a fan of American musical extremists, I'm not that likely to defend the Brits apart maybe AMM, PIL, Spacemen 3 and Floyd, especially early (and others I can't think of for now like King Crimson and Joy Division). I obviously like loads of UK bands but few seem to take it to the edge like the yanks -Beefheart, MC5, Stooges, No Wave, Sonic Youth, Père Ubu, Patti Smith, Magick Markers, Ramones, Red Crayola ...... Lester Bangs had little time for us limeys in music - I think they think we spend our time poncing around in beautifully studied and staid poses, that we're fey and fairy-minded, that we are masters of melody and pop but lacking in vital energy. Maybe living in a monarchy and being basically "nice" people (though much less now than before it seems) makes us like harmony, balance and being reasonable in life and art. It could seem to the yanks that we're too peevish and ashamed to put our balls on the table. But since Oscar Wilde has become part of what we are and that involves stepping back from the fire of art and creation and observing it at a distance, impersonally and without passion and involvement and that might well rile Americans - anyway, it does me. At times I want to shake my fellow countrymen into life! We're being stifled by politeness and ideas of the "correct" thing to do in all circumstances. We're very self-conscious and have constantly in our minds the big eyes of society staring at us and influencing our decisions in art and life. I don't think the yanks are like that so much - this means they're freer to create and they get to places we never dream of.