Fans idolise bro with the 'fro

By ALAN PERROTT

"No hugs! No kisses! And no touching the'fro! ... I'm serious!"

It's obviously hard to be a proper fan these days, but not even such scalding officialdom could stem the screams when Australian Idol Guy Sebastian finally appeared.

The Aussie, as fawned over for his afro as his singing, was at the Sounds Megastore in Auckland City yesterday, one of many sign-and-run raids he is conducting in schools and music stores throughout the country.

About 500 mostly hyperventilating young girls were there to shower him in collective hysteria.

The experience was all too much for Lucy Ewen, who was sobbing too hard to speak when she finally stood before the centre of all her dreams.

In between chest-heaving sobs, the 13-year-old managed to hand over a heavily thumbed exercise book, filled with every photo and story she has been able to collect, for Sebastian to sign.

"He. Held. My. Hand," she hiccuped afterward.

Sarah's staunchness under pressure was bad news for her aunt who had wagered $50 on her niece fainting before getting within reach of the star.

Jessica Bollen will have some explaining to do when she gets back to Tauranga.

The multi-pierced teenager sold her birthday present, a $700 Fender guitar, for $140 to get petrol money for the trip.

Why? "It's Guy Sebastian. Hello."

Sadly, her plan to use such true dedication to guilt trip her idol into extra favours fell through as she got shunted aside by the next fan in line.

But the enthusiastic reception did not stretch to our own wannabe idols.

"No way, the overseas guys are way better," said 23-year-old Shane Seally, to vigorous nodding and exclamations from everyone within earshot.

"New Zealand Idol sucks, they need a lot of work."

Away from the fervour, the Australian promotion machine behind Guy Sebastian is coming under attack. At issue is the platinum record awarded to the 22-year-old from Adelaide for his latest single, All I Need Is You. Platinum status in Australia recognises the sale of 70,000 units yet when the award was made, Sebastian's single had sold about 26,000 units in two weeks.

The Australian Record Industry Association said it recognised the number of units delivered to stores.