October 20, 1988

Geneva, Switzerland (AP): "The World Youth Cultural Council, a UN body, reports that young people today desperately search for one united voice to lead them. Though religious leaders try to provide one, traditional religions are no longer relevant to today's youth. Much more successful has been the media, the music business paramount. But even in the dazzling world of mega-star idols, a unifying leader has not been found."

A small group of exceedingly powerful men sat in red plush Chippendale chairs surrounding a polished mahogany table. In front of each participant lay grey leather folios that displayed the gold-leaf embossed symbol of the Novordo Club--a pagan cross radiating from a sun-circle encasing an s-like snake. The Demons watched over the assembled luminaries.

"See those men of Our Lord Lucifer?" Silver Demon said. "Their agenda bears our Corionic Cross which The Creator banished from His realm. The red crystals around their necks prove their allegiance to us. Whosoever wears or minds those symbols of Our Lord shall heed our cause to own this small planet."

"Their governments are implementing our political, financial and social programs targeted by Our Lord for placement. This group of leaders will discuss how they will control the culture of the young of this world." Gold Demon then whispered as if the men below might hear them. "It is today they will choose our troubadours of the new generation. Of course, we will make sure they choose our boys of the spoken-pact two years ago."

Some of the men left the oak-paneled room to attend other Novordo Club meetings involving environmental policy. Those involved in deciding who would lead the world's youth remained. These included Baron Torquay-Lambourgeau, head of the world's largest banking cartel; a forty-two-year-old record mogul; and two media kingpins, Mr. X and Mr. Y.

"Talent manager Joe Phillips--that is, my wayward son," the Baron said, "has a five-man band of ill-repute that has the talent-skills, the charisma and the desire to succeed where all others must fail. More than anything, my son says. More than anything will this group perform to impassion the youth into a frenzy of hero-worship."

The record mogul asked, "Are you referring to Sound Unltd? They're not exactly a hot act right now."

"Who the hell cares?" Mr. X asked. "Isn't it us who decide who will own popular entertainment? That they aren't now the top band is all the more reason to go with them. They're obscure enough so as no one will ever guess our motivation for picking them."

"They truly have it all," Mr. Y said. "Singer-lyricist Erik Manning is, pardon the expression, a godsend. Matchless voice, and even better, his naughty operatics and pyrotechnics on stage drive girls and boys into the lap of devilish fanaticism. He lived in great poverty after his hated father abandoned his family and later died. This one's in it primarily for the money.

"Guitarist-composer Jack Lubin is already of hero-quality with his screaming guitar style. He led a street gang and demands perfection and unity from the others. He's in it for the glory. Coincidentally, my agents told me that Lubin believes he made a pact with Our Lord Lucifer for success. Both Manning and Lubin are handsome rogues with model-gorgeous girlfriends, perfect for the idol image both of them must project.

"Their bassist Mick Pordengreau is bisexual with a beak for a nose and a long, pretty face surrounded by ringlets down his back. He was sexually abused by his mother and neglected by his father. He's in it for the perversion. A cultist who wears our symbol of the old Celtic Crag-Dwellers of the Cambrian Mountains of Wales.

"Synthist Bryan McClellan is a bulky biker with bushy red hair and associates with Hell's Angels. He made his girlfriend pregnant last year and felt obliged to marry her. Reggie Lewis, a top studio musician, is helping him build a keyboard/effects synthesizer. He's in it for the ride.

"Drummer Tom Cornsby lives with clairvoyant Prissy Wyatt and pretends to channel the god Corion for amusement. His father is indentured to the Duke of Effingchester. The young curly blond doesn't know this. He's in it to find out.

"This quintet has greatness, genius and naughtiness written all over it, but its passions have been watered down by small-minded Epigram Records officials. Particularly President Colin Hedgely.

"Later, a sixth member--Warwicke's Ship Works riveter Keith Mullock--will rejoin them. A strict follower of the outdated Code. But his dad was a womanizer. Like father, like son. He's in it for the women.

"When the sextet is formed, they will be unstoppable."

"So," the mogul said, "you're saying Sound Unltd won't have any trouble winning over multitudes of fans? They're that good?"

"My son thinks they'll have an impact greater then the Beatles," Baron Torquay said, "and my agents--who do disparage their obscene antics, by the way--agree with my son. They're fit to rule youth culture in the nineties. Sound Unltd stands for money, glory, perversion, self-interest, sex. You know, naked power at any price. Other acts will compete with them, but it has been decided."

"You have decided, Baron," the record mogul said. "I've never seen their so-called raunchy antics. How do I know Sound Unltd can best harness the basest desires of the young?"

Mr. X placed a cassette on the table. "The best I can do right now is to show you this video of a live performance at Xanadu." X put the tape into the VCR. "Not another band in the world does the routines these boys dare to do, though many come close."

Music of raw, slow, hot passion set even middle-aged hormones ablaze.

The record company man watched and listened in titillated awe.

The first scene showed Erik singing with his hands down his skin-tight leather pants.

Rub me, suck me, tease me, (bleep)

Then, with his exposed hands about his genitals, he humped a mikestand while moaning in climax.

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oooooh, baby, (bleep) me dry

In the next scene Mick and Jack, on either side of Erik, jabbed their guitar necks into the singer's awaiting rear. Scene four showed Jack and Mick flicking their tongues together as their bodies rubbed. Finally, Erik and Bryan butted each other's rear-ends together atop the synthesizer which quickly exploded into red flames.

"These boys'll do anything to rouse a crowd, won't they?"

That's the point," the Baron said. "They'll do anything. The guitarist, their band leader, will drive them to greatness. Kids today don't buy a product strictly on industry hype. The younger generation will follow them precisely because they are great." Baron Torquay sipped his water. "And so, are we agreed about Sound Unltd?"

Each nodded. Each red crystal glowed heart red.

Torquay adjourned the meeting. "Let us now end the discussion with a prayer to Our Lord Lucifer." The rotund aristocrat began the affirmation. "We are ever in service to you, god of darkness born in light. Your realm of power and pleasure shall purchase all who bear your light-cross symbol."