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Strapping Youth: Arab Strap

Ben Thompson, Seven Years of Plenty, 1998

IN THE MIDDLE of 1996, dynamic Falkirk duo Aidan Moffatt and Malcolm Middleton were inspired by the first big weekend of their summer to write a song called 'The First Big Weekend'. A hilarious chapter of localised debauchery – encompassing a canteen quiz in which no-one ever wins the big cash prize, bad dreams, Euro '96 football ignominy, super-strength cider and a particularly fine episode of The Simpsons – this anthem for part-time ecstasy casualties won a well-deserved Top 3 placing in John Peel's Festive 50.

Total word count of piece: 1710

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