Man's Web Community

They said it couldn't be done. Well actually they said it shouldn't be done but no matter, the truth will out.

As a public service, and as a salutary warning to parents and small children everywhere, the Manband Archive presents the observers guide to Manfans. Some of the worst offenders may be hiding behind the Manoraks button, but first, a few general notes.

Manfan: A broad group of predominantly male members of the human species who have a strong interest in the Manband. Occasional females are spotted but these usually disguise themselves by wearing suits and living in remote countries. Occasional Manfans living in remote countries have disguised themselves as females, but they are sorry about it. Manfans are quite widespread and there are large clusters in the south of England, in Germany and in the more industrial areas of Wales. Small pockets of Manfans have been identified in the north-western parts of the United States, and also in Canada. There is also some evidence of a sea-borne variety of Manfan, thought to display grey or perhaps white plumage. They thrive on a diet of bananas, broken glass and limejuice. Manfans collect almost all Man albums and an occasional single. They attend as many Man gigs within a twenty mile radius as time and expenses will allow, have a reasonable knowledge of roots and offshoots such as Help Yourself, The Neutrons, and Alkatraz.

Manorak: A smaller group of individuals who have what may be termed a particular passion for the Manband. Members of the fan club who lurk at their letter box for weeks before the latest issue of TWC arrives. Manoraks exhibit an obsessive poring over the M section in second-hand record shops, shops which form a key part of their natural habitat. Own all the albums, most of the singles and generally treasure one or two live tapes from unofficial sources. Have amassed a Man (and roots and offshoots) record collection that is nearing completion and where the gaps comprise mainly German, Italian, Spanish and Angolan single releases whose sales probably number in oh, tens at least. Manoraks have vast collections of ticket stubs, concert flyers, signed albums, posters and lyric sheets, know (and are known by) the band on a personal basis, and have occasionally been mentioned on record sleeves and such-like. Will tour the country in pursuit of every Man gig within a three-hundred mile radius of wherever they happen to be on the day. Invent bizarre and creative excuses for being in London or Swansea on selected dates. Geographically challenged, migration patterns of Manoraks occasionally involve detours to London while en route between Norway and Greece.