LE MAT - Waltz Of The Fool b/w E'vry Dream (7" Vinyl Rip)

Musically this 'ear blog has been going down the old skool punk road, with a few turns of some newer tunes for good measure, now for something a little different, I'm gonna be injecting a few more of these 80's tunes into the usual mix. Right then, yer first hit is LE MAT with this blinding bit of 60's tinged psychedelic rawk and roll. Released in Oct 82. Waltz Of The Fool was their only single, their only other release was an album also called Waltz Of The Fool. Both were released on the Television Personalities Whaam! records. These Southend boys were certainly no fools. They once supported Duran Duran on tour, but were asked to leave after only 8 dates. Rumour had it that they were so good that LeBons Boys were too scared to follow them on stage. Judge for yerselves, it's just a click away !!!!! I'm aware that the quality of this rip good be a bit better, but hey I'm just getting to grips with the software, so what the hell this is punk rock, and anything goes, plus I love this record so much and couldn't wait to hear it again. So yeah there are a few crackles and I could have equalised bits, I dunno you tell me, all ideas for best settings/effects to use for improving and cleaning up sound gratefully accepted. Thanks to Highlander over at Cactus Mouth Informer all future rips will be at bit rate of 192, so If you want better quality you tell me. One last thing, while tripping through my vinyl I thought blimey the 80's were a rich time for alternative genres of music, but society was a poor place with Thatcher in power. Now under New Labour society is presented as being richer, when the reality is that it's the same shit but we're sinking deeper in to it, and currently music is generally a lot poorer. So does this mean we need an even extremer form of governance in order for music to get better. Or is it all a matter of taste. Anyway step out of yer comfort zones and enjoy Le Mat.

Sitting here, scratching my head.....

Read about new legislation that will allow local authorities to demolish 'old' council houses so that they can build 'new' ones.

SIX YEARS LATER/IS THE WORLD ANY SAFER?

'THEY' PREY ON FEAR

Do Not Accept this thievery. It is a con based on a fear of crime amongst the population and sold to them as a way of making crime solving easier. It's the only reason that I've heard as to why a DNA database is a good idea, that and a deterrent. If you disagree with this the argument then becomes... well If you've done nothing wrong then you've got nothing to fear. Well I'm sorry I do have something to fear; The future. I don't want the state holding any samples of my DNA, who knows what sort of government could be in power in say 15 years time. They could be even more dictatorial and controlling than the one in power at the moment. Believe me it is quite possible and very probable. Not only is another bit of our freedom going to be take away with this proposal, but also a little piece of us is going to be taken and stored away. For what? In case we decide to commit a crime in the future!

THE ASSASSINS(OF HOPE)

One band missing from Ian Glaspers excellent The Day The Country Died are THE ASSASSINS OF HOPE. The year 1981 the place London, the music anarcho-punk. This is their only recording and it is rougher than a badgers arse, but great with it. Their musical influences ranged from; The Clash, The Mob through to Theatre Of Hate and Del Shannon, not that you'd know it listening to Slowmotion Suicide. Other influences included the punk scene, the angry brigade, seeing the Anarchy centre at Wapping work and a disillusionment with being on the football terraces. Somewhere along the line they lost their two singers; Peat and Chantal and the Hope. They found a new singer, and another guitarist and became THE ASSASSINS; musically they changed but lyrically and ideologically they remained the same and you could hear more of their influences in their sound The Ruts spring to mind. They recorded one demo and also a planned single Hell is for Heroes, which was never released. Not only were they a great band in both guises but they were top people. I remember going with 'em (when they were the assassins)to a gig in Oldham where they were supporting The Varukers. The band, the equipment and friends all crammed in the back of some box truck with no windows. They when't down like a lead balloon with the mohawks. Then there was the time they supported Mercenary Skank and a punk theatre group, also not forgetting a gig they did with The Stingrays. Anyway enough reminiscing. Here's the music, I've done 'em as two separate downloads: Slowmotion Suicide and Demos/unreleased single. Hopefully this post will plug a hole in the history of the anarcho and underground punk muzik scene of the 80's. Enjoy.

AN OBSERVATION.

Who's idea was it for petrol stations to turn into mini-supermarkets, selling everything the local shops have got even alcohol; now whats that all about. Drink driving anyone? This sort of market expansion along with the growth of multi-nationals is killing the local shops, and also making queues longer when paying for petrol, having to stand behind some one with a basket full of stuff they could have bought elsewhere. Then the person in front pays with a plastic card. Fuck chip'n'pin, what's wrong with cash? Or is it that people aint got the cash and are living on credit. Great not only do I have to suffer endless queuing, but I also have to pay more to subsidise people living above their means. Probably cos they go in to fill their car up with petrol and then become conned by the allure of overpriced stuff on sale, that they wouldn't have considered buying if it weren't on display and the petrol station just sold what it should; petrol. One persons convenience is anothers inconvenience. Petrol stations for petrol, supermarkets and local shops for food stuffs, that's what I say.

Just when you thought it was all over, 'team McCann' score an own goal and turn from victims to suspects. How long before 'Browns bootboys' get involved and the whole thing turns into some sort of diplomatic incident with the Portuguese system of law coming under attack?, or it turns out that they did do it. Either way the story aint gonna go away, just like Osama who's popped up again with a newly dyed beard from his cave or CIA television studio. Bush misses the ball completely at the APEC summit in Australia or was it the OPEC summit in Austria. The only one who seems to have their eye on the ball is Osama. Aaah, the beautiful game.

HIStory

Been thinking…….always a bit dangerous that one. Too much of it makes yer brain hurt, not enough of it and you end up with no brain. Then does it all depend what your thinking about? Anyway, what was I thinking about? Right that’s it yeah…….All this shit that’s going down these days in Britain; It’s nothing new. Poverty, it’s always been there. Throughout history society has needed people to look down on. Makes everyone feel better about themselves. The Yoof, you only need to read Dickens’s Oliver Twist. Drinking, just look at Hogarths picture Gin Street, Drug use, look at DeQuincey. Prostitution, ‘the oldest profession’ The list and the names carries on over the centuries, I’m not gonna carry it on. The point is that through out history there have always been ‘social problems.’ Some things don’t change, no matter what governments have done over the years, there are gonna be ‘problems’ because they have gone hand in hand with the growth of capitalism. To some capitalism in the past may have made us Great Britain. But in the present it is destroying us. We passively sit down and watch it all fall apart live on News 24. Killed by leisure. In the past people did something about it. Now everyone expects it to be done for them or does nothing. We are the only ones who can make it change, just like those in the past did. From The Peasants Revolt, The Tollpuddle Martyrs through to The Chartists and The Suffragettes. They all stood up; they didn’t have TV. Scientific progress has made us passive. Technology has reduced our freedom, so have new laws, just as the Corn Laws and Poor Laws did all those years ago. That’s it. Gotta stop now, my brain is hurting, what do you think?

HORNSEY AT WAR - Dead Beat Revival (a VinylRip, crackles'n'all)

Haven't got much info about this bunch of 'erberts. So I'm gonna have to remember (with the help of a gig review from a local fanzine) back to 1981 when I saw 'em live at Bowes Lyon House in Stevenage supporting Flux Of Pink Indians, it's also were I bought a copy of this EP for the princely sum of 50p from a geezer with a cardboard box full of 'em. Anyway, back to the gig. They played quite a short set from what I remember, "Hornsey at War were on stage and believe me it was as quick as that." They sounded quite shambolic and chaotic. "How come Hornsey sounded so bloody awful?..............why should we put up with rubbish? Just because you're a punk band does not mean you can play a load of shit and expect to get away with it!" I seem to remember the singer wore a balaclava and held his head a lot. "As for the stage act ( I say act, I mean travesty) the lead singer pranced about stage like a fart in a space suit! He kept his ears covered a lot of the time, who can blame him?" Personally I must have thought they were alright, otherwise I wouldn't have bought the EP, which you can get here. As it is it's one of the few records of mine from that era that wasn't stolen, swapped or sold. Dunno what that says about it. Judge for yerself, very similar to Alternative TV. Take no notice of what the fanzine reviewer said, think he was just some muso,who said of another band on the bill; Chaos "..and their playing in general was of a good standard" Good standard, fuck off mate that was punk rock.

ALL BURNT OUT

Arriving at 'Anarcho Central' Brougham Road, Hackney, London in 1981 on the same bus as fellow Yeovilites The Mob. These guys used to pop up everywhere from Centro Iberico, The Zig Zag club and a sqauted church on Pentonville Road in the early 80's, they even came to Stevenage for a gig with Zounds, The Eratics and notorious Crass haters The Special Duties. Like both the Mob and Zounds, Null & Void were a cut above the rest of the anarcho scene, with their rhythmic bass driven tunes with a choppy guitar to groove to and lyrics that smashed the system from a personal level. It's hard not to mention all three bands in the same breath, they even shared the same drummer, Josef. Their Four Minute Warning tape album and only vinyl release, Still are a couple of my favourite releases of the times. I maybe wrong here, but I believe that Null & Void are probably the only band to have worked with the two must important and influential punk bands; The Clash and Crass. Their 1984 cassingle Slow Down b/w Harder to Remember was produced by Andy Palmer from Crass, and their final recordings a cassette EP was recorded with a little help from Joe Strummer in his Lucky 8 Studios in Camden. Their latter recordings took a funkier direction, reminiscent of the Gang Of Four. All Burnt Out is a definitive collection of all Null & Void's recordings; a must for anyone with a love for all things anarcho. Get it here, but yer gonna have to pay. A bargain for £7.21 including postage.

Are our leaders using the books Brave New World and 1984 as blueprints for a new society?, does life naturally imitate art? or were Aldous Huxley and George Orwell just a head of their time? I dunno you tell me!

THE VAYNES - Mr.Fixit (12" vinyl rip)

Straight out of 'Goth'em City Leeds' circa 1985 come The Vaynes. A glorious Rock'n'Roll beat combo, in the vein (pun entirely intended) of Iggy Pop, Johnny Thunders and Slaughter and The Dogs. This is pure unadulterated rawk'n'roll. Previously known as The Dead Vaynes, a reference to their notoriety as mainline drug users, surprisingly they got it together to release an album; GTF, on Batfish Incorporated. The record label set up by the Batfish Boys, and produced by Batfish Boy Simon D it came out in 1985. Two years latter, they released this 12" on their own label Vanity Records. A glam slam reference to drug use; Mr.Fixit, co produced by Matt Dangerfield, formerly of The Boys and featuring an appearance by Nev from Leeds punkers the Abrasive Wheels on drums. The B side Cinderella has Craig Adams from The Mission playing Bass. Midnight Gun the final track on the 12" is taken from the aforementioned GTF album. So if you like yer music a bit Punky and a bit Rocky with a hint of Goff then this is a band for you, if it leaves you wanting more then there could be plenty more to come. Anyway it's just a click away. Ready, steady GO!

BLOG COMMUNQUE #3

No apologies for lack of posts over past couple of days. I've been playing with my new gadget, a USB record deck. Maan, technology aint called technology for nothing, cos it can get a bit technical. Tried converting stuff before using old tape player/record deck. My PC received the sound alright, but the recording program weren't receiving any signal. Now with the new USB deck, the signals coming through fine, but no audio. What the fuck's that all about, makes it a bit hard to listen to when cleaning recording up. Then there's getting the bit rate sorted, trying to do 196, but keeps coming out 128. What the fuck's that all about. I dunno, I've managed to convert something for ya, just listened to a copy I burned and it sounds ok but due to time factors, you'll have to wait until tomorrow and judge yourself. Don't panic if you aint just hear for the music, the ranting will continue. Just means I'll be able to post more variety of stuff and try and fill some gaps in the evolving blogsphere of all things 'alternative' in music from times gone past.

Heard yesterday that more police are gonna be issued with tazar guns. Read today that a police man accidentally shot himself in the leg with his gun while getting into a car. Make what you will of those two stories and draw your own conclusions.

The only and lasting memory I have of dead Di is just how easy it was for politicians with the help of the(ir) media to brainwash and manipulate the populous into a state of hysteria for reasons of social control and social construction. This technique of mind control continues unabated through every event that creates an emotional response in the individual. You only need to look at the case of missing Madeline Mcann and the recent shooting of Rhys Jones, to see the hysteria that is whipped up amongst the collective conscience. For example; official statistics (if they are to be believed) say that gun/knife crime has fallen this year. Not that you would think it at the moment looking at the media, but that's the point. I wonder if the medias reporting of gun/knife crime has risen this year? Anyway, it all part of 'the plan'. Political battle lines are being drawn, the battlefield is being prepared for the next election, the social conscience is being manipulated in areas such as crime and punishment ready for the election fight.

LIFE'S A GAMBLE...IT COULD BE YOU.

'The Lottery, with its weekly pay-out of enormous prizes, was the one public event to which the proles paid serious attention. It was probable that there were some millions of proles for whom the Lottery was the principal if not the only reason for remaining alive. It was their delight, their folly, their anodyne, their intellectual stimulant.' - George Orwell in 1984.

THE CLASH - Live @ Victoria Park, Hackney 30/4/78

It's been a while since I've posted any Clash stuff, probably cos I'm spoilt for choice courtesy of the good folk at the If Music Could Talk forum, so this is a bit of a lucky dip, and out of the hat comes an audience recording from the last gang in town at the Anti Nazi League Carnival, were they played to a crowd of up to 100,000 politically charged punters united against the growing far right movement of the time. The recording aint the best, but the passions there and as an artifact its well worth the click and save as. Alright so you don't get to see Joe in his infamous Red Brigade T-Shirt, you can see that on Rude Boy, but you do get to hear Jimmy Pursey joining the gang for White Riot, mind you, you can see and hear that on Rude Boy as well. Anyway I'm starting to type shite so it's time to go, but before I do that best let yer know where to get this from, and that place is right here right now. Well not exactly now cos DivShare is fucking about and this is the third and last time I'm gonna try, before using one of their competiters. Who said too much choice was a bad thing, shit I think I have in several posts, oops better go now, here ya go here's the link, cos I'm chatting even more shit than before. NO!, NOT AGAIN, FUCK YOU! divShare. I'm off elsewere. Right lets's try again...Quickshare nah bit of a contridiction in terms there, right back to the ever reliable Sendspace it is. YES! RESULT, here's the link. See ya good people. HERE'S A NEW LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS GIG

So it's 10 years since Princess Di died, yeah what fuckin' ever.

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!