Sorry if this has been discussed before, I haven't had time to read all the way through the archives.

Recently reread Idoru, and noticed something new. I saw two or three places in the book where Gibson takes names from a Steely Dan song called "Here at the Western World." The first, of course, is the Western World Bar, where Laney meets Rez. The other that I noticed was toward the end of the book (right at the end, actually), when the young girl whose name escapes me is in Walled City, with the Etruscan. Gibson refers to her friendship with two characters called Klaus and the Rooster, who are taken from the same Steely Dan song.
I was just wondering if anyone noticed this kind of thing in Gibson's other works.

Oh, definitely. It's all over the place in Gibson's stuff. Look for interviews and even in the blog for more. Steely Dan, Velvet Underground, and, apparently, lots of Joy Division went into Neuromancer, at least.

WG also mentions Nick Cave, Chris Stein and Sisters of Mercy in the Blog; but he said he wasn't listening to Sisters of Mercy when he wrote Neuromancer but the influence of the influence (2-2-03).

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Originally posted by Eric:
WG also mentions Nick Cave, Chris Stein and Sisters of Mercy in the Blog; but he said he wasn't listening to Sisters of Mercy when he wrote Neuromancer but the influence of the influence (2-2-03).

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There are some clear references to songs by the Sisters in Virtual Light, Idoru and All Tomorrow's Parties, particularly a reference to "This Corrosion" and many links to the Sisters' "Vision Thing" album (which Gibson said he was listening to at the time of writing Virtual Light).

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Originally posted by the lazarus corporation:

There are some clear references to songs by the Sisters in Virtual Light, Idoru and All Tomorrow's Parties, particularly a reference to "This Corrosion" and many links to the Sisters' "Vision Thing" album (which Gibson said he was listening to at the time of writing Virtual Light).

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I've never read _Virtual Light_ but I've listened to Peter Weller read it a half a dozen times. Its one of my favorites. I have only heard one song by Sisters of Mercy _Mary Ann_? but you've got me interested now. Thanks Resurrectors.

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Originally posted by Eric:

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Originally posted by the lazarus corporation:

There are some clear references to songs by the Sisters in Virtual Light, Idoru and All Tomorrow's Parties, particularly a reference to "This Corrosion" and many links to the Sisters' "Vision Thing" album (which Gibson said he was listening to at the time of writing Virtual Light).

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I've never read _Virtual Light_ but I've listened to Peter Weller read it a half a dozen times. Its one of my favorites. I have only heard one song by Sisters of Mercy _Mary Ann_? but you've got me interested now. Thanks Resurrectors.

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The song you mentioned would have been Marian off "First & Last & Always"

You can try out some clips of songs by the Sisters by going to this page of their official website.

Chapter titled "Collapse of New Buildings" in IDORU suggest a fondness for Germans who like beating on pies, metal, and blue plastic bins.