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"Don't ask me how, but we ran into each other in Sweden, Neil gave me a wizard and a wizards license there. You know you must have a license if you are going to carry a wizard. I carry my license with me everywhere I go, and my wizard hides in my piano at night. Anyway, Neil was in Sweden with Alice Cooper. He wrote the story for Alice's new album coming out. I only saw Alice for a few minutes before Neil and I went out singing Big Spender in the streets of Sweden. As for how we first met, Neil and I disagree on this. My story is that Rantz (close friend of Tori's from way back) gave Neil the 5 song demo of what later would become Little Earthquakes at a comic book signing in San Diego. Neil says he wrote me a letter, and that I called him from Londay. I say he called me, and I don't remember any letter. In that phone all, Neil says he told me that I should put an album out, and he thought it would be a huge success. I say I told him, in that conversation, that I had a record deal, and my album would be coming out soon. Which ever story you want to believe is fine, mine is better. Neil and I have been friends ever since." (Upside Down #4)

Neil is infamous for his Sandman comic book series. Neil is mentioned in such songs as Tear in your Hand, Space Dog, and Horses. Evidently, Tori has made it a point to mention Neil in each album thus far.

Additionally, Tori wrote the introduction to 'The High Cost of Living' which is part of Neil Gaiman's Death series (based on the Sandman comic series). In fact, the character Delerium is a type of incarnation of Tori created by Neil (not intentional when he started writing Sandman).

Neil Gaiman/Sandman references in Tori - (Jase)

The Endless, in the Sandman comic are Desire, Despair, Destiny, Delerium, Dream, and Death.

I will very briefly describe each: Desire has the smell of peaches, cast two shadows (one dark, the other translucent), and she is everything you have ever wanted. Despair (Desire's sister and twin) is cold to the touch, a whisper in the wind, and will tear your heart when life falls upon you. Destiny (oldest of the Endless) spans beyond time, smells of dusty book, leaves no footprints and cast no shadow. Delirium (once Delight) dwells in a closed world. Her appearance changes randomly and her eyes are mismatched with the colors of green and blue. Dream (also known as Morphieus) takes few friends. He is rake-thin with skin the color of fallen snow. Death takes you when you fall. She is everyones fate.

Songs with reference to Neil Gaiman:

Horses (1996)
Sister Named Desire (1996)
Space Dog (1994)
Tear In Your Hand (1991)

For more elaborate and non-paraphrased information, see Sandman: Seasons of Mists (the Sandman, issue #21) which gives detail information regarding the endless.
Tori referenced in Neil Gaiman/Sandman

Sandman #41 The lyrics to Tear In Your Hand are on pages 9-10. In the comic, the music is being played in the background of a gay bar and as we all know, Tori did play in gay bars when she was 14 (summer of 1977). Death: the time of your life #2 On page 18, there is a poster of Under the Pink. Stardust #3 A VERY Tori tree. The tree has greenery at the base of the tree and copper leaves (red in appearance) at the top. I believe this is a clear indication of the tree that Neil promised to make for Tori. Over-the-hill references Sandman #42 Coincidence? On page 13-21, Delerium tells Taramis (the waiter) that she wants fresh mango juice with her order. And later she talks to Dream and says, "Yeees. I do like mango juice really." In an article I recall her saying, "In real life I am bone dry, and when I play I am a mango and in sex I'm starving to be a dripping mango." Sandman #45 Coincidence? On page 9, Delerium says, "I think you're very nice. I think Twinkle's a nice word..." Sandman #59,63, 64,66, 68 Connection? Delerium is looking around for her dog, Barnabus. Tori had a dog named Scrumpy that was rescued from a car crash, but died from a disease 4 months later. Tori referred to him as their wizdog. Neil may of known about the dog since the indicent happened before issue 59 came out.

September '97
"Drops of Ivory",since July 1997