20 years of 'it': Anneke Brüning

Having unusual musical tastes brings people together right from the start. But today it's easier to find other like-minded crazy people than it was 20 years ago. At the end of 2005, I was looking for information about the Genesis cover band "Seconds Out," which was supposed to play in the city. Nothing could be easier: turn on the laptop, open Google, read independent reports from the extensive IT online forum. At the time, I was in a long-term relationship with a jazz fan and wrote cultural reviews for the local daily press during my studies (as I still do today). I hadn't educated myself about prog rock for years, and my only ally when it came to Genesis was a school friend. I was excited to hear the old Genesis songs live (after all, as someone born in 1979, I was far too young to have heard the hits of the Gabriel era live on tour), and I was not disappointed at the concert. On the contrary—I was completely euphoric!

I enjoyed staying on the online forum afterwards, as there was a lot to learn about my favorite band that I had lost sight of. Surfing the forum is like a virtual meeting of a minority scattered throughout Germany – and there are even a few English entries. I read very personal articles by fans and followed their stories, exchanged chat program numbers, and initially formed abstract friendships with people I had never seen before. Especially with two students, eight years younger than me, who called themselves "Zaebba" and "Jack Sparrow."

I still have the first chats saved. The very first written conversation with Jack Sparrow lasted over two hours and went on into the night:

[00:25] Jack Sparrow: All right… we'll talk again sometime. It was nice to meet you! And above all, very unusual, which made it even more interesting ^^
[00:34] jazzeke: See you soon! 🙂 It'll definitely be nice with the two of us 😉

One day he wrote that he was visiting his aunt nearby and asked if we could meet up. Of course we could! This was the opportunity to watch my old video cassettes with Genesis documentaries, painstakingly recorded or exchanged, with a kindred spirit. No sooner said than done – and we got along great. My boyfriend was doing an internship abroad, by the way. What followed was a rollercoaster of emotions. I eventually broke up with my boyfriend and the great happiness of "Jazzeke" and "Jack Sparrow" could begin.

A year later, we were standing together in the stadium to see the band that had indirectly brought us together: Genesis! For us, a dream had come true. Of course, we also had the opportunity to meet other fan club members. We had already met Christian and many others at the 2006 fan club event in Welkers. At The Musical Box concerts (which, by the way, are in a different league than Seconds Out), we always see the same fans from the online forum, who contact us before each gig. Other encounters with Genesis lovers from "it" are random and happen at concerts by Yes or Porcupine Tree, for example.

"How did you two actually meet?" is the classic question for couples. We could say: on the internet. But it's more accurate to answer: in the Genesis fan club. Listening to music and going to concerts is still our shared hobby. It would be unimaginable for us to have completely different tastes in music. We now live together and plan to get married soon. Of course, music by Genesis and a group from the fan club will be part of the wedding.