WHAT SORT of a year could it have been whose most important band didn't release a new record? A pretty good one as it turned out. The impact of Nirvana's astonishing rags-to-rags ascent at the end of 1991 resounded throughout 1992. Not just in clueless and sinister 'grunge fashion' supplements, but because everything else - from Bruce Springsteen's return, to the absurd antics of Axl Rose - had to be considered in the light of it.

AT FIRST it sounds like booing, but it's not. It's the call of the Springsteen fan, a slow drone with ape-whoop undercurrents which builds until the entire arena throbs with it - 'Brooooooooce'. The fans do the call after songs and whenever Springsteen says anything. 'I always saw my job as a long distance drive,' croaked Springsteen near the end. 'I'm still driving, and I'm glad you're still along for the ride.' 'Brooooooooce,' said the fans.