Independent 11,963 by Mog

16 comments on “Independent 11,963 by Mog”

1. Most of the theme was over my head, so wasted on me. The online version did not like “loud” and a bit of experimentation gave the obviously incorrect “load” as the answer they wanted. Hmm!

   For “keen” I thought “a keen interest” fitted for “intense” and was trying to make “keening” (like the cry of the red kites round here) work for the other part but the parts of speech don’t quite agree.

   Re Instagram, Wiki tells me “The name is often colloquially abbreviated by its users, using terms like IG, Insta, or the Gram”. I’m not claiming that justifies it. If the logo or something more commonplace were “IG” I’d be more comfortable.

   Anyhow, thank you Quirister – I agree with your comments – and Mog.

2. {([…fomed in 1975 – a 50th (Golden) anniversary])}

3. I thought I had the theme words from the get-go – though I did not correctly interpret the parse for MAIDEN which left me slightly unsure. And I do not know enough of this band to be able to spot the potential affirmation in either song titles or musician’s names so the theme element was somewhat lost on me. Some clever constructions as Mog has delivered in the past. KING KONG is very nicely done.

   Thanks Mog and Quirister

4. I got lost halfway down, even though I recognised the theme. I would like to remind setters that recent statistics indicate that something like 60 percent of music fans in the west enjoy much classical music, and many presenters on radio are crossovers. We’re lucky to have three nationwide classical music stations in the UK. But thanks anyway Mog and Quirister.

5. Quite a number of other Iron Maiden songs are at least partly name-checked here. But I only know this because I called up a list from Wikipedia as soon as it became clear I was expected to actually know some of them, and I’ll let an actual fan have the joy of listing them out.

   I wound up cheating on the EELGRASS, so this was a DNF for me.

6. I regret that I have no knowledge of, nor any interest in, this theme ( which was poorly clued in my view, 1down etc.).
   Aside from that, too many dubious wordplays and definitions, and too much “in stuff”……McBrain providing anagram fodder, 15d, and Gers in 27d., etc., ad nauseum.

   I’m afraid that it’s not my cup of tea, but each to their own.
   Good blog, Quirister.

7. Same sentiments as others, for a keystone clue 1D was weak, Gers as a surface made no sense, Hallowed – both definition and wordplay too loose (Kosher = Allowed?).

   There was some lovely stuff though, particularly ON EDGE, great surface and hidden inclusion, WIG and DEMOB. BIG APPLE very nice once I’d seen the blog.

8. Have to say I agree with E.N.Boll& on this, although I do share the admiration for the BIG APPLE clue. Tuesday is theme day here but I do prefer such themes to be of the ghost variety.

9. As with @1 Jack of Few Trades annoyed that the online version had LOAD instead of LOUD. Luckily it was a straight(ish) forward clue.

   I have a reasonable knowledge of Iron Maiden but can’t say it massively helped here.

   Many good ones in this but many large ticks for BIG APPLE which was a clear winner in this puzzle if not of the year so far.

   Thanks Mog & Q

10. HALLOWED be thy name, ACES high, Two minutes to MIDNIGHT, The number of the BEAST, and WASTED years
    …are the references not mentioned by Quirister that this long-since erstwhile metalhead can spot. Favourites BIG APPLE, EELGRASS and ANIME. Good fun, thanks Mog, and cheers to Q.

11. Thanks both. In contrast to others, while my knowledge of the theme was scant, I thought the gateway clue was fair and accessible, and I enjoyed persisting. Sometimes a theme aligned to personal taste gives too much assistance. Classical music is not for me on the whole but commands plenty of attention from setters. I am only frustrated I did not parse BIG APPLE unaided

12. Hovis@8.
    Remiss of me not to give a cheer for the KING KONG clue,
    but the awfulness of WASTED was still on my mind.
    A favour please? What is a “ghost theme” ?
    Ta, IB

13. E.N. @ 12: a ghost theme is where no knowledge of the theme is actually required, and in fact you could successfully solve the puzzle oblivious to the fact that there’s a theme, since all of the theme answers are defined in other ways.

14. I know absolutely nothing about Iron Maiden so the theme was wasted on me but I’m quite familiar with EELGRASS which was my first entry in the grid and also the girl from IPANEMA – although I did need to check the spelling! Can’t say this was one of my favourite puzzles but, nevertheless, thanks to Mog for all his efforts and to Quirister for the review.

15. mrpenney@13
    Much appreciated. A very clear steer, on something I’d never heard of.
    So, like ghosts, the theme doesn’t exist, if you don’t see it!
    cheers, IB

16. Not a big fan of Iron Maiden but I recognised a few of the band members and I liked all the clues that involved them as fodder. And the ones I didn’t know the clues were direct enough to work out the answer.

    Lots of love for BIG APPLE but my fave was BEAST. A really neat theme clue/answer combo that is easy enough to parse with complete ignorance of the theme. I’m sure there are plenty of easter eggs for Iron Maiden fans in the final grid and in the clues that I completely missed.

    Shame about the error with LOUD on the online version. It meant trying a lot of variations in place of KEEN until frustratingly having to press the check button.

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