It's holiday time this issue at Next Central and your usual crew of ink-kids are miles away looking at doors and searching for Bjork lookalikes. Before departing a questionaire was formulated and faxed to Brian, London-Irish popkids fast becoming bigger than their name with the rather nice "You Don't Want A Boyfriend" single. Brian faxed back some replies. Next, it's all questions and answers.

Who is Brian?
Brian are K.Sweeney and N.Austin.

Are Brian baggy?
No. Quite tight. Like envelopes.

Have Brian played live?
No. Never have, never will. Live gigs, you can't sit down, can't brathe, hear music mutilated by speaker stacks. No thanks.

Does Brian always take the last bus home?
OK we might play live. Someday. Maybe. Maybe soon.

What sort of guitars do Brian use?
Brian endorses Fender Jaguar, Rickenbacker and Yamaha.

What's "You Don't Want A Boyfriend" about?
Someone's life.

What's Brian's favourite shopping centre?
Van Morrison seen in a certain light.

What sort of books do Brian read?
Anything by Carver, Keillor, Wodehouse, Dubus, Ford, McLaverty, Roche. Big books. Large print.

Would Brian sing to EMI?
We'll cross that bridge...

How old are Brian?
Younger than the youngest member of Hothouse Flowers if you divided his age by two.

What's Brian listening to at the moment?
"Liberty Belle" by the Go-Betweens, "Vehicle" by The Clean, "Me and Mr. Ray" by Miracle Legion, "California" by American Music Club, "Blindfold EP" by Curve, "I Am A Wallet" by McCarthy and REM's "Fables of the Reconstruction".

What do Brian do with all their good press?
It's nice. Costs us a fortune though.

Have Brian ever spent a night in Bad Bob's?
We would only enter Bad Bob's if we were tricked.

What are Brian's next steps?
Another single, the album.

Do Brian enjoy being an enigma?
At least in England we have that option but we're not an enigma.

What Clash records do Brian own?
"The Cost of Living EP" ("I can't play but I know how to throw a good shape" - Mick Jones)

What is the saddest thing to have happened to Brian?
Being at the Stars of Heaven's last UK gig. A sad, wet night in downtown Harlesden.

Have Brian ever cried during a film?
Yes, during "The Courier", all the way through. They had to carry us out. ("Up to your old tricks again Val?")

What are some of Brian's favourite things?
Mike Leigh, Lar Cleary, Peavey Bandit amp, Paul Westerberg, "Wings of Desire", Wellington Monument, the sleeve of Microdisney's "Clock Comes Down The Stairs", The Blue Nile's "The Wires Are Down", Jenny Agutter, "The Muscle Market" by Alan Bleasdale, The Addison Lodge, Glasnevin, Kitchens of Distinction (LOUD), beauty and truth.

What are Brian's favourite songs?
"Big Green Eyes", "Boyfriend", "Time Stood Still", "Wonderful", "It Never Crossed Your Mind", "Bright And Clear", "It Wasn`t You", "Understand", "If You Knew", "A Million Miles", "Don`t Leave Me Behind", "Stolen Shoes", "Last Bus Home", "Meet Again". Love `em all.

Have you ever done anything to be ashamed of?
We were all young once. Everything seems like a good idea when you`re fifteen.

What's Brian's favourite lyric?
The Chills' "Submarine Bells": "Deep and dark my submarine bells groan in green and grey/Mine would chime a thousand times/To make you feel OK".

What's Brian's favourite intro?
The drums and guitars coming in on "Union City Blue" by Blondie.

Do Brian want to shock?
We want to lull people into a false sense of security and then leave them there.

What's Brian's favourite word?
"Gank". It say so much: Ruby Wax, "Document" by REM, John Sessions, Simple Minds, "Catcher in the Rye", Tina Turner, Inspiral Carpets, bands who make a big deal of sweating onstage...all GANK.

What do Brian have to say to the young people of Ireland?
Many beautiful things.

On what occasions do you lie?
The usual occasions. Whenever it`s necessary to save someone's feelings or to get out of trouble.

What is Brian`s favourite advertisement?
The one where the old man tells his grandson about how he used to cram HB ice cream down his throat until he vomited.

Did you watch MTUSA on Saturday afternoons?
Again, only if we were tricked.

Are Brian the future of rock 'n' roll?
Depends. Maybe. Who cares.