BRIT GRIT.

Now for something completely different. A NPW film review of sorts, including an evacuation from the cinema half way through the adverts at the beginning, (Shame) due to a 'serious incident.' Everyone was ushered outside and told to gather in a designated area and wait until instructed to go back in, which was about 20 minutes later. Never found out what the 'serious incident' was. (probably someone having a crafty fag.) Missed most of the trailers, but hey never mind, lets get on with the show. SUGARHOUSE, a brutal and beautiful film about a gun. Shot on a budget the size of a top Hollywood actors movie fee. Low in budget, but high on everything else. Great performances from Steven Macintosh and Ashley Walters who play two characters; Tom and D both from opposite ends of the social scale; City slicker and crackhead. They become drawn together in a deal that all gets a bit messy, involving a lunatic drug dealer, his pregnant partner and a three man posse of local yoofs, all set in a disused warehouse on a battered concrete Kings Cross housing estate. Amongst all the violence there is humanity and a point to it all. A great film. Go see, rent it on DVD or wait for it to come on the telly, but don't miss it whatever you do.

BANG, BANG, BUST, BUST !

While the media and the public are focusing on gun and knife killings and whether they should buy the new Amy Winehouse album; because she’s a junkie, there is a lot of other shit going down that ’aint getting talked about. The economy for one is looking less healthy, stock markets are fluctuating with unease. Credit and house prices will be effected, as a society we are up to our eyes in ’hock’, how much more can the economy take ? Still there’s a way out for people; Gambling. I now hear that it’s gonna be alright for gambling establishments to advertise on telly, thanks to the new government gambling laws. For fucks sake, like we really need to have more problems created for society. Surely part of this mess is down to lack of self control by the individual. The must have, pay latter culture and take no responsibility for actions in spending and raising families. As a society we are becoming not only morally bankrupt but we are heading towards financially bankruptcy. How do we solve the problem? Well the only way is to look at what has caused the problem. It’s time to accept that capitalism sucks. It may bring wealth to some, but it brings misery to many more. Without wanting to go all Karl Marx on yer, every social problem can be put down and traced back to capitalism. From the murder of Rhys Jones to Amy Winehouse via gang culture and the collapse of the family unit, you name it……. It’s cause and effect., think about it. So then, the solution must lie in the rejection of capitalism. I can’t see any political party doing that, so it’s down to the individual to wake up or be woken up and smell the roses, rather than all the shit, we read about in the papers.

No rantings and ravings today, instead here's some music to enjoy while you destroy.

MORE MODEL ARMY

t'other New Model Army post seemed to go down well, so here ya go here's some more live stuff; Recorded at Maxwells (where ever that may be) on 3/11/2005 for emusicLive. 86 minutes of the mighty righteous Army, some old some new, but nothing blue. I've been listening to their new album High a lot recently, top stuff. If yer lucky there may be a hidden link that's still active somewhere on this blog, to download it, courtesy of an anon visitor, have a look if, you find it fair enough if you don't then you'll just have to go and buy it, like all good music lovers should anyway. I have several views on all this sharing of music, on a personal level I think, fuck it; over the years I've probably spent a small fortune on records/CD's/Merchandise and gigs, so it's pay back time. As for the NMA new release, would I have gone out and bought it? Being honest about it, probably not, 'cos I'd not heard a lot of their stuff since their 'heyday' and the couple of bits I have I wasn't that impressed with, unlike High, which is great, and I wouldn't have heard that it if it weren't for Mr or Mrs Anon, now I'm thinking of going to see 'em live for the first time in fuck knows how many years, (that's New Model Army not Mr or Mrs Anon) so there yer go; it's all swings and roundabouts. Right then back to live at Maxwells, (which incidently I paid for) the only thing that remains is to do is click here for some clog stomping fury. Enjoy and don't forget to support the artists featured on this blog in what ever way you can. Shit, looks like I did have a bit of a rant, oops.

A 3 MAN RIOT !

In a phoney world of perfection, here comes something real and honest, warts'n'all. Showing scant regard for all things high tech in the world of recording; ARMIES OF ANGER serve up a healthy slab of 'punk rawk', which takes me back to the anarcho punk days of the 80's. A time of sending a blank tape and a stamped addressed envelope to a band you came across in a fanzine, then a couple of weeks latter it would be returned through yer letter box like a mini letter bomb with a recording of the band on it. All my first Subhumans listening was on cassettes sent to Dick at his home in Melksham, which coincidentally is where Armies of Anger are from. Must be something in the water or the cider. The brilliantly named Maximum Rage On The Minimum Wage EP is 9 tracks of fast furious shouty agit punk with some traces of dub thrown on to the fire for good measure, and a nice break between the onslaught and assault on governments, their wars, lies and social injustices. The words; spat out with venom, anger and passion against the shit we are living in. This is great stuff, think The Ruts, Crass, Stiff Little Fingers and The Subhumans. 101% Punk rock, delivered in the way it should be; DIY, rough/raw and ready/Wild/feral/Urgent and Angry. This needs to be heard, life affirming stuff that shows Revolution and Resistance is alive and kicking in Britain 2007. Ignore at your peril. Get the demo here, and go to the left and check out these for their web page and myspace site. Hey it's great to be alive and all's well in the world with shit like this going down. Bring forth the guillotine!

"Darwin did not know what a bitter satire he wrote on mankind, and especially on his countrymen, when he showed that free competition, the struggle for existence, which the economists celebrate as the highest historical achievement, is the normal state of the animal kingdom. Only conscious organisation of social production, in which production and distribution are carried on in a planned way, can lift mankind above the rest of the animal world as regards the social aspect, in the same way that production in general has done for mankind in the specifically biological aspect." - Frederick Engels (in Dialectics of Nature)

999 and GENERATION X - Re-Upped and Re-Packaged.

Here ya go Usted, just for you and anyone else who hasn't been able to download these two cracking shows from the old skool; 999 @ The Nashville in 1979 and GENERATION X - Live in Sheffield 1978. I've done 'em as one download, but in two separate folders (hopefully) any problems with the opening of files/folders, leave a comment, also if there's any other dead links you may require let us know. Got a couple more 999 shows I may post sometime, also on the subject of thee old skool, in the comments under neath the Chron Gen post, Pip has kindly left the link to a couple of live CHELSEA shows that were released by Chaos Tapes. Well worth investigating. If the links to those are dead let us know and I'll make arrangements to re-up 'em. Ooops nearly forgot here's the link for 999 and Generation X.

FOUR LEGS GOOD, TWO LEGS BAD.

I'm lost for words. What sort of a society have we become where kids kill kids with knives and guns on a daily basis. A place were a scumbag called Derick Phanord can tie a dog to a tree, pour petrol over it, set light to it and then walk away. Just who are the animals?

BRUTHA BLOGGERS (Or am I typing Bollocks?) OF THE WERLD UNITE.

Bin thinking about doing a post like this, but always thought nah, it's a bit of a shit idea; kissing peoples arses and going all self congratulatory. But I'm bored tonight, I've had a beer so here we go. (If yer gonna crucify me, don't hammer the nails in too hard.) Where to start, well there's PHOENIX HAIRPINS, Curious Guys underground guide to all things alternative. PUNKS ON POSTCARDS, John Liedowns nicely crafted selection of old and new underground and overground...wombling free Punk. Two of the first blogs I visited, so I hold you both responsible for this mess of mine, or as someone quite imfamous recently said "fine and riotous site" Anyway enough self congratulatory shit, its on to CACTUS MOUTH INFORMER, Alternative 80's, War poems and politics courtesy of Highlander. Then there's MrMagoo whos RUNNING RIOT IN 2007 with his amazing bootleg beast of a blog from 80's Punk'n'Oi to anarcho punk. You name it he's got it. (well apart from the Urban Dogs, if anyone has, feel free to post a link in the comments bit, would be well gratefull) Whats next, well there's CONTROL TOTAL, a great mixture of punk and mod amongst others, more over than under(ground) musn't forget Lee and his brilliant madcap madness over at THE DYING ART OF COMMON SENSE. sHIT MAaan, this is getting too much there's tons of greta blogs out there, just cracked open another tiney typing and spelling is starting to go and I've already forgotten Pogels RARE PUNK sie and jERONMES sadly defunct SOUNDS FAIR, THE MAGIC SUITCASE and ANNIES ANNIMAL, the MuSIC TRAVELLER, shit probabley forgottenloads of others so fuck it i'm gonna stop. Like I said shit Idea , jsut scrole down on the left to CHECK OUT THESE, loads of great blogs there so just pick'n'click cos they're all orth a trip.89yhjcd '''''GFYUWD

K

HDAU KKKKKQ2X

DEFIANCE OR DEFERENCE ?
ANTIPATHY OR APATHY ?
YOU DECIDE !
THE CHOICE IS YOURS !

"YOU LEARN WHY YOU DO SOMETHING BY ACTUALLY DOING IT" - Anthony H Wilson

The Lords Of The New Church - Open Your Eyes

This track is as political as anything released by Crass or The Clash. One of the best statements committed to vinyl ever. LISTEN'N'LEARN!

I'M A MEMBER OF THE CHRONIC GENERATON

Not really the first band I saw, that was the Optional Xtras. Chron Gen, or Chronic Generation as they were called then were the second, they were still a three piece future members Jon T and Pete Dimmock were playing in the Optional X-tras. Also playing that night were Filthy Habitz, this was the night in January 1980 was when punk rock hit Stevenage and Bowes Lyon House opened it's door to 'alternative muzik' gigs, thanx to Tim and Les who ran local fanzine Vsign and promoted the inaugural gig. Chron Gen played many of their early gigs at Bowes and practised in the venues bar. The cover of their first release was taken in the 'rifle range', which was an actual rifle range downstairs. Aaargh those were the days; a bar and rifle range in the local Youth Club. Chron Gen soon had a hugh local following that became a national one after the release of their debut ep Puppets Of War, and their appearance along with The Exploited, Discharge, Anti Nowhere League and Anti-Pasti on the infamous Apocalypse Now tour in 1981. Any self respecting 80's punk was not without a copy of Puppets Of War, a great slab of Buzzcocks/Clash punk. This download is from their Limited Edition Chaos tape release recorded in Leicester on the Apocalypse Now tour. Get it here.

Police arrest rates must be below target in London Borough of Tower Hamlets, also officers must need their number of arrests cash bonus. Look there's Pete Doherty....................click, click, click, that's another statistic in the computer. Ding, ding, ding the sound of the cash tile, that's the holiday paid for. The murderer of headmaster Phillip Lawrence can't be deported because it would be an infringement of his 'Human Rights' Aaargh good old British justice, always a sense of fair play.

STOP PRESS News24 now tells me that the police have fucked up, or as they called it 'a administrative error.' This meant that Pete's case was thrown out of court, with no charges brought. It was also reported that the Government would be challenging the court ruling over Phillip Lawrences killer. So there yer go...In conclusion there is justice sometimes, and we will be able to see how much power our government really has.

QUANTITY/QUALITY

HOW MANY MORE DEAD SOLDIERS?HOW MUCH MORE WILL THE OLYMPICS COST?HOW MANY NEW LAWS?HOW MANY MORE VICTIMS OF GUN AND KNIFE CRIME?HOW MUCH MORE POLLUTION?HOW MANY MORE OVERPAID FOOTBALLERS?HOW MANY MORE NEW BANDS?HOW MANY MORE MILLIONAIRES?HOW MANY MORE TV CHANNELS?HOW MANY MORE CONSUMER GOODS?HOW MUCH MORE DEBT?HOW MUCH MORE TAX?HOW MANY MORE HOURS TO WORK?

HOW MUCH LONGER?

Another Pleasant New Town Sunday

Sitting here thinking what to post; music, rantings, a bit of artwerk? I dunno it's a right miserable day outside. British summer time..Ha, Ha, Ha. X Factor has returned, great another thousand fame seeking wannabes looking for an instant hit of celebrity. White middle class bureaucrats continue with their war on terror. I now hear that some hospitals may stop bringing round sandwich trolleys, for fear that the contents of some sandwiches may offend Muslim patients. Has anyone asked Muslim's, no of course not. This is madness and just creates barriers where there were none. Hospital bosses should do something useful like clean up the NHS, healthy patients dying, now that is offensive. The Climate Change protest at Heathrow is drawing to a close, all police leave has been cancelled; expecting trouble? or ready to cause trouble? then blame the anarchists. Our streets are no longer safe and society is falling apart, fame can be found if you're prepared to sing for yer supper in front of over inflated egos and wallets. Every Muslim is a potential terrorist and we need to do whatever we can not to offend their religion and anyone that protests against anything is a trouble maker. That's if we believe what we are told and what we see. If we're tuned to a different station and dancing to the tune of a different drum, then we owe it to ourselves to make a stand and speak out. I'm just waiting for the day when a contestant on the X-Factor turns up and sings a Clash song.

FOR ALLAHS SAKE

Heard a news story on the radio t'other day, that a Catholic Bishop thinks that everyone, no matter what their religion should refer to their god as allah. What the fuck is he going on about? re-branding god as allah aint gonna sort shit out, probably make things worse. Still it's nice to see the Catholic church thinking about creating some sort of religious harmony, fucking hypocrites. Worship whatever god you like, call him whatever you like, just don't call him on a Sunday 'cos he's busy.

"It's great to be playing in a democracy, after playing in Britain" - TELEVISION PERSONALITIES (Live in East Berlin 20/7/89)

This has been another holy grail of mine, well not actually this recording, but any live recording of those fun loving part time punk modsters the Television Personalities. This is a great gig, (recorded in East Berlin in 1989) a career spanning set from Part Time Punks to Back To Vietnam, including a great Bowie/Reed melody by that Swell Map; Jowe Head. Also included is their take on White Riot. The highlight for me is the finale, a sort of anti-war statement featuring How I learned to Love The Bomb/Back To Vietnam/King and Country. Magnificent, as is the in between song banter. All in all this is a must have for all TVP 'fans' and for everyone else, give it a blast and you too can fall in love with the tortured genius and charm of Dan Tracey. Thanks to Bertrand on the bands forum for providing this little gem. Enough inane chatter, here it is and what are ya waiting for, it's just a click away.

IT'S THE BEAT GENERATION

Once again the wonders of the internet and the conscience of the blogger have provided me with the chance of listening to another pre-release. This time it's THE DEAD 60'S second album; Time To Take Sides, and it's fucking great and has helped to lift my mood this week, which can't be bad, the power of music. For this album the 60's haven't so much dropped their ska influences as to add a dose of power pop to them. There are bits that remind me of The Motors and Bruce Springsteen, this shift is gonna see the band either get a major slating or a massive rating. Personally I don't give a shit, it's a great album with soul and passion. Anyway if you wanna here it get searching on the web or wait until it's released, either way its worth it. Just as a little preview here's an alternative live version of the track Liar from the album. It was/is currently available on their web site, but to save you the bother get it here.

TV SMITH - Re-Upped and Re-Packaged.

Had a request to re-post the TV Smith stuff, from wmhp2 over on the re-branded If Music Could Talk Clash forum, the ultimate resource for any Clash 'fan' Have re-packaged both the Live in Stevenage (1993) and the Acoustic Adverts post as one download, available here. Also as a bit of a bonus, over to the left there's a link for TV's Not In My Name track, a scathing attack on the whole Iraq war business, originally released in 2003 via his web site. Enjoy. Any other deadlinks, requests for re-postings leave details in the comments bit on this post.

A DYING DEMOCRACY ?

In the interests of democracy Britain needs strong opposition parties. Cameron and his cronies are not doing their job, the Liberals due to lack of proportional representation have no chance of power. Support for parties such as the Green Party is growing and they are influencing policies, as are the BNP, the big parties know they have to listen to the people and respond for fear of losing votes to these parties. When it comes to debate in parliament and holding New Labour to account, the Tories are failing, without a strong opposition we are slowly slipping down a slope toward a Totalitarian Democracy. A one party state, with one vision of the future. This is not good, but perhaps it is period that society has to pass through, in order to reach what some belief will be the eventual outcome of history…Anarchy. Lets think about it……. And take a look back. We are in this mess because of a period of total individualism courtesy of Margaret Thatcher’s New Right vision, which destroyed the Trade Union voice of the working class and saw that there would be no such thing as society. To some this was seen as a necessary shift as they believed the workers had too much power and were responsible for Britain’s decline during the 1970’s. Bearing this ideological shift in mind perhaps to some the only way to clear up this social mess is through some sort of authoritarian totalitarianism, were the British population is literally gonna be ’forced to be free’, by the introduction by new draconian laws, some of which are already in place. Another thing to think about is that the Nazi party were originally called The National Socialist Party, New Labour have been spending time banging on about Britishness , and literally as I type this I hear on the news that the police force are going to start wearing black shirts as part of a new uniform.

IT'S SOON GONNA BE TIME TO STAND UP AND TAKE SIDES/WHICH SIDE OF THE BED ARE YOU SLEEPING ON?/WAKE UP!/ARE YOU GONNA BE PART OF THE PROBLEM?/OR PART OF THE SOLUTION?//

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"The awful [financial] waste that patriotism necessitates ought to be sufficient to cure the man of average intelligence from this disease. Yet patriotism demands still more. The people are urged to be patriotic and for that luxury they pay, not only by supporting their "defenders," but even by sacrificing their own children." - Emma Goldman.

"SURRENDER ALL YOUR FREEDOM IN THE NAME OF LIBERTY"

From outta the concrete urban ghetto
wastelands of South East London 2007, come KALLINGER.CO. These guys rawk and aint for the faint hearted. Coming straight at ya like Ministry meeting the Dead Kennedy's on the devils highway. This is music to smash the machinery of the state to, a soundtrack to the revolution. Brutal beats and grinding guitars, this is angry stuff, no compromises. Hard and heavy, but carrying a great tune. Handle with care like you would a lit Molotov, this is explosive stuff. No one escapes their healthy cynicism; Dead 'rock stars', religion and US foreign policy are all locked in their rifle sights. Take aim fire! 6 tracks: Satan Rides a Harley/Miller Time/Making Good In the West/Go Bang yer Own Drum/Death Rattle and Roll/About The Americans 2//

Get 'em here and visit their web site there.

THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT, THE FUTURE'S...........

Oh dear, the stock markets have started to crash. There's talk of a recession and repossessions are on the increase. When a butterfly flaps it's wings........The cost of the 'war on terror' to the US economy is fucking massive and the cost to the British economy is massive. Cause and effect........It's a global market, Interest rates will rise. The price people are gonna be paying for their lifestyles is a result of the cost of soldiers lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, in a war that is illegal, un-winable and a fight that was never ours. We will all suffer and be made to pay, for us it's gonna be a bargain price compared with the suffering of the Iraqi and Afghan civilians. The forces and ideology our governments are fighting believe that Western Capitalist Culture corrupts and is bad for society. So when people are struggling to meet Mortgage repayments in this buy now pay later culture they need to be thinking; who's actually winning this war on terror, and would it be that terrible if there was a lack of choice for the consumer. Anyway lets look on the brightside; at least the streets will be safer, with the police being able to stop and search anyone they fucking like if they think they may be a terrorist. We've also got the Olympics to look forward to, which is gonna bomb or be bombed if the government don't sort the shit they expect people to live in out.

Aint had a good week, this has reflected in the quality of the posts. I make no apologies for this. SHIT HAPPENS! I always find a bit of music helps to either chill or release the anger. Normal service will be resumed once life stops imitating art and reality stops feeling like being stuck in some bizarre investigative reality docu-soap. If not SHIT WILL STILL HAPPEN!

'IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THIS IS DONE'

One of the 80's biggest 'alternative' bands; NEW MODEL ARMY, named after Cromwell's English Civil War forces. I first came upon them when they played at Bowes Lyon House in Stevenage in 1984. Justin aka Slade The Leveller prowled the stage in a red bands mans jacket like a manic street preacher spitting out words of venom and anger. "I believe in vengeance I believe in getting the bastards, getting the bastards, getting the bastards, now!" You didn't get that at a Crass gig. They received a lot of criticism of their often puritanical views, and themes of revenge that also surfaced on a latter track of theirs, The Hunt, another tale of vengeance. Their live shows were an intense religious experience they had a faithful, fanatical following that travelled the country to worship. Pyramids of bodies and waving arms filled venues, and clogs pounded the dance floor, clogs were the shoe of choiceof yer New Model Arm disciple. Converse trainers, Chelsea Boots or Dr Martins were no protection against a stray clog, not that there were many when they played in Stevenage, the hall was half full. By 1985 they were playing Top of The Pops wearing Only Stupid Bastards Use Heroin T-Shirts, with gaffa tape across the word bastards. All Of This Is was originally released in 1999 and is a fine live collection of all their best numbers. Get it there, turn up loud and feel angry.

ONE DAY THIS/IT(?!) WILL ALL MAKE SENSE!

ALTHOUGH I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER OF ORDER, I AM IN THE FULLEST SENSE OF THE TERM, AN ANARCHIST. -Michael Bakunin

OH FUCK......TOMORROW'S MONDAY!

I was reading something the other day about police DNA data bases, and how people caught for the most minor offence will have a sample of their DNA taken, an example used was that if a person was caught letting their dog foul the street, they would have a sample taken from them. I first thought blimey that's a bit extreme, then I thought pretty unlikely as; how often is anyone caught letting their dog shit on the pavement, hardly ever I'd say judging by the amount of dog crap on the streets where I live. My final thought (and this worried me a bit) was; Fuck 'em, if someone hasn't got the respect or takes no responsibility for their actions or in actions then why should I give a shit if they have their DNA taken. I know there are issues about 'human rights', but what about the rights of people out walking not treading in a piece of dog shit that someone else couldn't be arsed to pick up. As time passes I find myself getting quite intolerant with these bleeding heart liberals banging on about 'rights' for the individual when a lot of the time 'individuals' dont give a shit about the rights of others.

MINDLESS VIOLENCE/WHAT DOES IT PROVE?/IT PROVES YOU DON'T KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SHITTING ON YOU/AND IT'S MORE YOUNG BLOOD GOING DOWN THE DRAIN//

- NEWTOWN NEUROTICS/THE CLASH

THE CLASH - A Tale Of Two Cities.

It was June the year was 1981 and Britain was in the midst of rioting on the streets of major cities like London, Bristol and Liverpool. Where were The Clash? They were in New York getting flak from hardcore fans for not being back home "throwing bricks" This was the White Riot they had sung about. Babylon was Burning and they were in NYC meeting up with film stars, directors and other glitterati. What was going to be a seven night residency at Bonds Casino turned into a two week stay in the Big Apple, due to fire laws and concerns about overcrowding. The rioting in Times Square prior to the opening night, when fans with tickets were denied access may not have had the same ring to it as what was going on in the UK, but it all helped build the myths and legends surrounding The Clash. They took no prisoners at these shows, supported by rap artists, graffiti artists, joined on stage by poets and political activists. This is when and where The Clash took of in America, they had 'em eating out of the palm of their hands, global domination wouldn't be long. Spurred on by the spectacle of the New York shows, in Sept 1981 The Clash assaulted Paris in a similar fashion, playing a residency at the Mogador Theatre, with the same galvanising effect on fans and musicians alike. These set of shows cemented The Clash as a band that really did matter. Anyway enough, you've read the words now listen to the music:

THE CLASH - Bonds 1981 (FM Broadcast)

THE CLASH - Up'N'At 'Em (Best of Mogador Paris Sept 1981)

Hey, this foot and mouth shit just gets better. Was gonna do a post yesterday about how it's all down to economics. Feeding cattle cheap imported food made from dead animals....blah, blah, blah, but never got round to it due to the important issue of faded rockers and reality TV shows. Anyway back to foot'n'mouth, yeah, it now seems that this latest outbreak can be traced back to a near by research laboratory, where the same strain is being used for a foot'n'mouth vaccine. Ironically prior to and during the 2001 outbreak, no British animals were vaccinated against the disease, and as far as I am aware, (but I maybe wrong) DeFRA are against animals being vaccinated.

Wasted Youth 'Jealousy'

OH DEAR, OH DEAR OH FUCKIN' DEAR.

Where do all the rock'n'rollers go? Spain, with a Channel 4 film crew in tow. Check out A Place In Spain : Costa Chaos on Channel 4 Fridays @ 8pm. Don't normally recommend TV programmes, but if you were into Wasted Youth and Flesh For Lulu this is worth seeing; because the hapless twat the program is about is non other than guitarist of both bands, Rocco. Maan I love Wild and Wandering by Wasted Youth and Swing Blue Sister by Flesh For Lulu, but Rocco your latest work leaves a lot to be desired.

A True Story.

What is it with kids these days, some have no regard for anyone else other than themselves. You get on a bus and are expected to listen to some dodgy drum and bass/garage shite being played on their mobile phones. Then when you ask them to turn it off because you don't want to listen to it, you are threatened with being "stabbed up" and called a "smack head grebo", and to top it all the bus driver and rest of the passengers say and do nothing. Perhaps they were enjoying the music, I doubt it though, most likely too scared to say anything in case they were threatened. If nothing gets challenged then nothing will change and who wants to live in a society were people can just go around doing as they please without a thought for anyone else and everyone lives in fear? Not me, because that's anarchy of the worst order.

ANGELS ON TELEVISION

Right then, here we go. This post's gonna concern itself with two of my favourite albums. First up its Fallen Angels by FALLEN ANGELS, who consisted of Knox from The Vibrators and members from Hanoi Rocks. Recorded in 1984 and the only time they played together as a 'group' It is far superior to anything Hanoi Rocks released and some of the best stuff Knox has written, both lyrically and musically. A great no nonsense rock'n'roll album. Highly recommended. Get it here. Next up it's those loveable lo-fi, psychedelic modsters TELEVISION PERSONALITIES with their masterpiece The Painted Word. It is a bleak, depressing but thoroughly compelling record, tales of alienation and emotional rejection, it's intense stuff. The track Back To Vietnam is probably the most harrowing anti-war track I've heard, (second only to No Doves Fly Here by The Mob.) Sense of Belonging and Paradise Estate are two beautiful and miserable observations of a society in decline, and just as political as anything The Clash or Crass released. This also comes highly recommended. Get it here. Both these releases have helped me through good times and bad over the last 20 odd years, they have a soul and passion to them, and that's all you can ask from a band.

Another day, another 'crisis'...........it's Foot and Mouth (The Return!)

THANK FUCK IT'S FRIDAY!

Apologies 4 the lack of substantial posts over the recent days. This trend may continue for a while, as my energies are being taken up with a situation I am in at work. I'm tempted to share it with you all, it makes for interesting reading, but on reflection this probably isn't a good idea, as employers don't take too kindly to stuff being said about them on blogs, I've probably said too much already. One thing I will say though is that there are a lot of firms and companies that use the soundbite/buzzwords of: 'Aiming For Excellence', well in my experiences the word 'excellence' needs to be replaced with the word 'excreta', because that is all they achieve....SHIT!

The other dark beast of 80's Britain that wasn't called Thatcher.

Had intended to post this head to head with the Biting Back compilation last week, but ran out of time, so here ya go, a few days late. This may not be to all of yer liking as 'Goth' was a bit of a niche market and an often ridiculed subculture, too dark and gloomy. I can take it or leave it, wouldn't sacrifice my life to it, but did cross paths with the beast; saw many of these bands live and lived to tell the tale. This compilation packages the whole 'goth genre' into an easily accessible CD, and well worth downloading for the pre Spear of Destiny version of Black Madonna by THEARTRE OF HATE, and also tracks like Propaganda - PLAYDEAD, Pagan Love Song -VIRGIN PRUNES and Testament - UK DECAY, also included in this dark doom fest are: SOUTHERN DEATH CULT, SEX GANG CHILDREN, plus loads of others. Anyway take a trip to your darkside by clicking here.

Now the flood waters have subsided the scum floats to the surface. Bosses in The Environment Agency receiving bonuses while making cut backs on flood defences. Water authorities raising the price of water as a result of the flooding, while also paying themselves 'fat cat' bonuses and not replacing the old pipes. Once again it's the innocent who suffer, after all it's us who's gonna pay? Well isn't it about time the guilty paid? It's time to drown the 'fat cats' and piss in their water supply!

No more posts till Monday, but here's a pikture for yer.

THE CLASS(war)OF '94

Recorded live at various gigs at The Square in Harlow, this compilation highlights all the leading lights from the 90's 'crust punk scene' basically the evolution of the 'anarcho scene' in the 80's, but with a more groove based, dub, dance element to it and less shouty, shouty. The message was still the same; proceeds from the sales of this CD went to the Hunt Saboteurs Association. So there you have it 15 tracks by: RDF/The Sea/AOS3/Citizen Fish/Bender/Scum Of Toytown/Ramraiders I.T.A/Blade/Fun'daMental/Rhythm-Ites/Zu/Blyth Power/Snuff/Credit To The Nation/Wat Tyler// Get it here, but remember next time you see any collections for the Hunt Saboteurs, put a few pence in, cos this release will have cost you nothing.

DON'T BUY DOMINO'S PIZZA!

Domino's Pizza are presently involved in a dispute over making illegal deductions from employees wages. Hungarian workers have been basically working for nothing, money has been taken out of their wage packets to 'cover costs' such as housing and company cars. Workers were not made aware of the amount that would be deducted. I wonder whether the company would have done this had the workers not been 'economic migrants'? Another thing I thought about was; why is it in the media now? DOH! Think about it....The Simpson movie is out this week, who sponsors The Simpsons on the telly? Yes, it's Dominos Pizza! One Nil. Up the workers, Up The Simpsons, and Up Yours Domino's.

ONE DAY A REAL RAIN WILL COME

This 'disaster flooding' is getting a bit much. A whole town without water, people walking the streets with containers trying to fill them up at water bowsers supplied by the councils, which are either empty or have been vandalised, by selfish and greedy bastards. The media talk of humanitarian aid and relief operations, just like they do when disaster strikes in a developing country thousands of miles away which we vicariously watch on the news, now we can watch it happening on our own door steps, those who's aren't under feet of water can only wonder what we would do if our lives had been washed away due to financial cut backs in government spending. They were warned 3 years ago about the possibilities of flooding in some areas and the need for better defences, and they didn't fucking listen. The cost of the clean up is gonna run to £5 Billion , I wonder if that's how much was saved by the cutbacks? Ironically while Britain drowns, Europe burns in a heatwave. The results of global warming? maybe, or maybe not. I have an alternative theory located elsewhere on this blog. Click on the HAARP link at the foot of this post to take you to it, and open yer mind.

FURHER ATTENTION

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MANIC STREET PREACHERS - 'Self Destruction Bruise' (Live @ Astoria 1994)

The Manics returned to Britain after a European tour with Suede and Therapy, to play 3 nights at London's Astoria. The tour had been tense and fraught, Richey was slipping back into his heart of darkness, banging his head against a wall, cutting himself and buying a butchers cleaver in order to chop off his fingers, so he wouldn't have to go on stage and play. The shows they played at the Astoria have been described as the most exciting the band have done. This recording is blistering, if you wanna know what made the Manics such an important band, check this out. It captures the band at their incendiary best, a live greatest hits set and a fitting testimonial to Richey, one more gig, and he was gone. The rest is his-story.

THE RUTS - Live @ Deeply Vale July 1978

This was recorded at a free festival near Bury, Lancashire also appearing on the bill were Hawkwind, Here and Now and Steve Hillage amongst others. A strange place for The Ruts to perform, but not when they were regulars at the festival, which ran from 1976-79. The band actually formed in a tent at the 1977 event. Can't imagine what the 'hippys' made of The Ruts Punk, Reggae crossover collision, the band certainly enjoyed it. This performance was before they'd released their classic debut In A Rut and almost a year before their '79 chart smash and 'bad boy samplers' favourite; Babylons Burning. This recording captures one of the best of the rest punk bands in an embryonic stage of their short career. Two years later, singer Malcolm Owen 'fucked his brain' and died of a heroin overdose. A wasted talent and a tragic end to a band that had so much more to offer, right from the start they were taking punk in a different direction, as you can hear this on this artifact, click here and enjoy.

SOLD DOWN THE RIVER

As some parts of Britain drown, the fortunate ones who's feet are not submerged when they sit down to watch the telly can share in the discomfort, stress and missfortune of others; with a News Special on 'The Great Summer Flood' live and direct to your nice dry sitting room, with all it's context intact and not flood damaged. Perhaps if people are enjoying the experience of 'others misery' they could move to a property on a flood plain, as the government are still planning to go ahead with building 'affordable' homes in these areas.

"WHEN I WAS YOUNG P.C MEANT POLICE CONSTABLE/NOWADAYS I CAN'T SEEM TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE//" - Manic Street Preachers

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE......

This freak weather and flash flooding business is getting a bit much. People in Gloucestershire are running out of drinking water while their homes are under 3ft of flood water. How much more shit are people gonna have to put up with. Lets hope their insurance covers the damage and that their insurance companies pay out. It looks like the government and local authorities are gonna have to pay out to, and spend some more money on flood defence schemes and better drainage, better still maintain what you have got, after all it's not the first time it's happened in some areas and I doubt it will be the last. Don't go saying it's an act of god or global warming, it's an act of cut backs and inaction by Local Authorities and central government. Wars cost money, so lets look at these floods as a result of fighting 'terror' and not freak weather. Notice the army hasn't come to the rescue yet, no, cos they're in Iraq and Afgahnistan.

Theatre of Hate -Propaganda

"BUT ME AND YOU WE KNOW BETTER"

The results of the first NPW poll are in. Thanx to all who took 5 seconds out of their busy lives to vote. Look out for future polls and lets see if we can beat the turn out of this first one.

54% of visitors to this blog think that the voting age in the United Kingdom should be reduced to 16. (Discuss)

Without wanting to sound right wing and ill-liberal I think it would be wrong to reduce the voting age to 16 in the UK. Let me explain: Can we trust a 16 year old to cast their vote in a responsible way, when all the signs are that young people are becoming less responsible. This shows in proposed Government policies to raise the age a young person can drive to 18 and the age they can buy alcohol to 21. The right to vote is important; people fought and died for this right, and now it is being proposed to just give it away to a generation who are on vacation. Has anyone asked the young people if this is what they want, or is it just a way to increase the voting base in time for the next election. The young could be the foot soldiers for change, but that would depend on who they voted for. I believe in rights for young people, but I also believe in responsibility and respect, and there seems to be a general increase in the former and a decline in the later ones in Britain today. I may be wrong and am making a sweeping generalization, but I’m not so sure. I speak from experience my job involves working with young people and over the past few years, their attitudes have changed. It’s all about money, getting smashed and the cult of the individual. Continuous exposure to dance culture and techno music can’t be good for them, nor can violent video games, neither can celebrity culture with its images of wealth, consumption and designer brands. Put all these little pieces of the jigsaw together and what do you get? A generation who have been abused, brainwashed and corrupted by our capitalist system of governance. The time to have lowered the age to vote would have been during the late 1970’s after punk had broken, a time when politics were injected into the youth and the hit continued into the 1980’s when young people were far more politicised and music spoke to them with Guitars! (I wonder what sort of society we would be living in today if 16 year olds could have voted in 79, 83 and 87?) What new bands have the kids got today? Hard-Fi and The Enemy are the only ones that spring to mind. The designer youth cultures of today may look good but they lack the most important thing about youth culture, a sense of identity and an individuals standing in society. There are no outsiders any more. Yes ‘every child does matter’ but that is what they are; children, and in my opinion they are encouraged to grow up far to quickly. The yoof of today are different, they are living in a different world to the one I grew up in, I accept that. But will giving 16 year olds the right to vote change their and our world for the better or will it be a case of Too Much Too Soon and an example of a society doesn’t like to say No! were rights are concerned. Perhaps if during the Thatcher years people had said No! then we wouldn’t be living in the shit we are today. The right for a ‘post millennium capitalised’ 16 year old to vote will not change that, it could just make it worse.

So The Government have got away with taking cash for honours, like Pete Doherty gets away with his drug charges. The major difference is Pete Doherty doesn't run the country and how he behaves doesn't effect me. Still it shouldn't come as any surprise, 'corrupt politicians' and 'junkie rockstars' who would you trust?

LETS DO DRUGS!

So, some of Gordon Browns hench people have admitted smoking pot, and actually inhaling, but they couldn't bring themselves to say they enjoyed the experience. Big deal, I couldn't give a shit. New Labour have only released their skeletons before they escaped in the run up to the re-classification of Cannabis debate.

At the same time hundreds of miles away on the coast of West Africa lies a 'Narco State'; Guinea Bissau. South American drug cartels have bought this country, its government and army and are using it to traffic cocaine to the noses and crack pipes of Europe. The freedom for Pete Doherty to do what he wilt comes at the price of the freedom of Mano Sa Gomes who has spoken out against Guinea Bissaus corrupt officials and its drug trade. He is currently hiding in for fear of his life.

2 Names, 1 Gig, 1 Record and a Interview.

From out of Letchworth Garden City, North Herts, Lets hear it for ..................................THE CLEFTS. Formed in 1978, they started out with 2 acoustic guitars and a cymbal nicked from school. In 1980 They played their only gig; supporting 'Acoustic Punk Poet' Patrik Fitzgerald at Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage. They'd only found a drummer two days earlier, and had called themselves The Reekers. In 1981 they recorded and released this prime slice of 'DIY punk', under the name The Clefts, this is another fine example of The Desperate Bicycles philosophy; It Was Easy It Was Cheap Go and Do It. Released on their own label; Rifle Rack and sounding like UK Decay and Joy Division meeting the Swell Maps and Crisis in the Garage of a suburban house, this is great and well worth a click of yer mouse and a save as, John Peel even gave it a spin, so what are ya waiting for here yer go, its the Red, White and Blue EP, in all its anarchic and chaotic gory. There's also a scan of their only interview here, and that's about it. Ladies and genitals that was.................................THE CLEFTS.

BritishBullshitCorporation.

Have always said that Television lies, now it is a fact, that's if the rest of the media are to be believed.

TV SMITH - THE Acoustic ADVERTS.

This is the only TV you can believe. These 8 tracks: Back From The Dead/We Who Wait/Televisions Over/On The Roof/Gary Gilmores Eyes/Bored Teenagers/No Time To Be 21/One Chord Wonders// are taken from 2 shows that the mighty Mr Smith did in Zurich @ the CLA Cafeteria in 2006. Get 'em here. It's electric!

££££ A FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SELDOM PARTED ££££

The Conservatives are in court at the moment fighting for 8 Million pounds, that was donated to the party in the will of a rich man. His son is contesting the will, he is claiming that his father was 'mentally deluded' at the time he wrote the will. His son may well have a point. The poverty gap is widening; 1% own a 1/4 of all the countries assets, so it's about time that the rich dug into their pockets and gave back some of what they have earned or taken, (depending on your viewpoint) from the people. Come on down Sir Tom Hunter; The Price is Right. Tom is a 'self made millionaire', (today Britain has the highest number of these 'entrepreneurs' in 100 years.) He is proposing to 'invest' a Billion pounds into charity. Well good for you Tom, what do you want; a Blue Peter fuckin' badge. Britain has a history of philanthropy, which only seemed to die down during the greed and selfishness of the Thatcher years, ironically this was when all the money was made. The Blair years saw the continuation and consolidation of this cash. So dig deep and start giving something back, after all the government aren't gonna help redistribute any wealth, so it's up to the 1% to prove that they 'aint just RICH SCUM!

Johnny Thunders In Cold Blood

Pete Doherty has nothing on this geezer. Drugs may or may not be cool. They can or can't fuck you up, but it's all down to individual choice, something that is getting taken away from us with the passing of every law in our so called 'free societies'. "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law."

Here we go again, everyone's getting upset with the Russians, 'cos they've said NO! Fuck Off America, we don't want your military bases on land that used to be ours before your capitalist dream took it away from us along with our power as a nation.

"Let's Loot The Supermarket...Mutha Fuckers"

This is the sound of two of the 60's great subcultural icons; Wayne Kramer (MC5) and Mick Farren (The Deviants) Kickin' out the Jams along with Larry Wallis (Pink Farries) at Dingwalls in the year of George Orwell. Without these retribates punk may never have happened. What you've got here are 9 tracks of pure rawk 'n' roll. Not much else I can say really, except If ya wanna know more about the adventures of Mick Farren, check out his excellent book Give The Anarchist A Cigarette, and click here for a bag of Human Garbage. NEW LINK OVER TO THE LEFT IN REQUESTS/RE-UPS SECTION

28 DAYS LATER!

Right then, where to start. Individual liberty or the freedom of the 'masses', safety and security against an enemy that our leaders have hyped to the max; feeding and fueling a fear that has increased with every action and reaction of the government. It's time for Britain to stop being Americas lap dog, and sever it's 'special relationship', that might be a start to improving our security, but don't fuck it up by following the US example of some sort of Guantanamo style security measures. An argument for longer detention without trial is that it takes a long time gathering evidence i.e mobile phone and computer records, therefore a simple solution is to lock up suspects for longer, well what about another solution; why don't the police work a bit fuckin' harder and put in some more overtime and sort out their resources rather than pushing human rights to the limit, and increasing resentment in certain parts of the world toward Britain. The lessons of history shouldn't be ignored, after all internment in Northern Ireland during the 1970's worked well, not; it just saw an increase in terrorist attacks, and a clamp down on not just individuals rights, but also the rights of the general population who couldn't move without having to pass through an army checkpoint. At present we are living in dangerous times in more ways than one, what about the future when these proposed laws could be enforced on anyone who speaks out, protests or gets involved in direct action against those who are governing them. Now that is the real threat to our safety and security.

Right then, my mind is a little less bl___ than earlier. A couple of things before I go and do something else
1) Have enabled comments, so everyone can have their say.
2) Have stuck up a poll thingy, so once again you can have a say about a certain topic that I may rant and rage about in future posts. Now thats either Democracy or Lunacy, only time will tell.