THE CREATOR

I am Richard Harrison, a 24 year-old software engineer currently living in Coventry and working for Marconi but please don't hold any of that against me. I first discovered MLS in 1996 whilst at the University of Sheffield and living with a long-time MLS fan from their early days playing at the Pink Toothbrush in Southend. A year of a copy-of-a-copy of Mornington Crescent playing during typical student mass washing-up sessions finally awoke me to the genius of Jake and Co.

THE LAUNCH

12 Reasons Why was launched on April 13th 1997 as a by-product of a university project. It started as a small fan site with a few photographs taken by my friends and I at various MLS gigs.

THE EARLY YEARS

A few new features were added to 12 Reasons Why, among them the MLS AtoZ, Media reviews, The ultimate MLS Top 20, comprehensive lyrics page and enhanced photo gallery.

THE SILENTLY SPARKLING 'MERGER'

Following a plea by Chris, creator of Silently Sparkling, asking for a possible new home for his much-loved and fact-packed MLS Website due to a change in his circumstances. 12 Reasons Why became the official home for all Chris' excellent work, seen dotted around this site and including photos, gig reviews, lyrics and band biographies.

THE FUTURE

Following a large sparse period by both MLS and 12 Reasons Why, a new dawn arose around the time of the IT Records deal and It's A Girl Thing release. 12 Reasons Why is currently undergoing a hopefully useful and attractive overhaul...with easier navigation, up-to-date news and gig details and probably loads of mistakes and problems...so the future as Jake would say is yours and mine....and here at 12 Reasons Why any help, advice or constructive criticisms will be taken kindly and hopefully not too suicidally.

THE COMPANY

What with MLS being forever great and surprisingly popular with the press despite chart success and the new gigs and records..phew I was getting a wee bit overcome with updates for 12RW. So in January 2000 with the launch of www.twelvereasonswhy.co.uk so also came the 12RW Company. Currently with myself in charge but ably aided by the new Assistant Editor Roo Simpson!! and we are equally brilliantly helped by numerous lyric editors, photographers and other contributors. February saw the launch of More Reasons Why, the sister club to 12 Reasons Why...a dropping zone for files, photos and news...a place to chill from the harsh non-sparkly world outside.