Yes, it's time to raise your head with pride, put one hand on your heart, the other on your wallet, and say you're proud to be British. We've seen some good times together, and we've suffered some bad, but now — pay attention at the back — yes, now, is the time to rejoice.

This very issue of International Musicians will shortly be in the hands of men with checked shirts and women with big bums. I'm talking about Americans here. Magazines in their thousands will soon be sailing down the Mississippi en route for this year's NAMM show, some of them in a boat. That's why we've put aside a few pages to remind them of a few British products and bands making a mark on their burger-stained soil.

So to all Americans, this issue comes from Britain with love...