The(ir) New Deal....

THE DEAD RABIDS - Night Of The Living Dead Rabids.

Today’s musical offering from Sydney, Australia is one of the best things I’ve heard for weeks/months/years. It’s an album of two half’s which fit together to make a 14 track monster; six are covers the rest are Dead Rabids originals, and one I Spit Upon Your Grave is a reworking of a number that Guitarist and Singer Bob Short did with one of his previous bands. The covers aren’t karaoke covers, and are well chosen reference points to the bands influences and history. (Velvet Underground, The Clash, The Ramones, Iggy and The Stooges, Bo Diddley and The Kingsmen) Talking of history here’s a brief resume, courtesy of the bands myspace page
“In 1977, Bob Short formed legendary punk band “Filth” with Peter Tillman (later of the Lipstick Killers). Filth managed to upset a lot of people but, given how easy it used to be to upset people, that wasn’t too difficult. Bob then went on to form the Urban Guerrillas and made a dreadful noise with such songs as “Paradise” and “No Allegiance”. John Gunn joined as drummer and here the Dead Rabids’ story begins.John went to London with another group of punk legends, The Last Words as well as drumming for a variety of other acts including a long stint with The Associates. Bob went to London and formed proto Goths Blood and Roses. Blood and Roses made the front cover of NME, played the John Peel Show and released large wobbly slabs of vinyl that squirmed into the UK alternative charts. Bob and John have reunited with newcomer Wade McPherson on Bass. The band is called the Dead Rabids.“ here’s what the band have to say about ’emselves now:
“The Dead Rabids walk this Earth with a song in our hearts. It is, however, not a pretty song. The Dead Rabids are the best at what we do. The trouble is, what we do isn't very nice. We play for a happy a few. A band of sisters and brothers. The one per cent of the one percenters. We love them and they love us. It's a big old love factory in Rabid Land. Outside, the world can tumble into dark entropy. Popularity belongs to the mediocre. Well, we're not going away. We're not going into that darkness. We believe in what we do. We are passionate. Dead passionate. You can bring on your slings and your arrows. You can take your outrageous fortune. We've been born and we've lived under bad signs for so damn long that anyway looks up. You can curse us, poison us, condemn us but you better get the job done right first time. If you spit in our face, we'll take out your eye.”
The album was recorded and produced in less than 10 hours, not that you’d think it. I wonder what it would have sounded like if more time had been spent? I dunno! because this is full on, vital and urgent straight to the point down’n’dirty rawk’n’roll. No frills but plenty of thrills’n’spills. This download is approved by the band who "want the music to be heard"……so what are you waiting for? Hear it here. Enjoy and Destroy!

There may be trouble ahead.

Now’s the time to filling the power vacuum. Take to the streets with minority and single issue politics. Take the workplace to the streets for one big party. Not a General Strike, but a General Sickie! A whole country off work through illness. “Sorry boss can’t come into work today, I’m feeling stressed, depressed and generally unwell.” Yeah…. SICK OF IT ALL! The(ir) selfish free market capitalist consumer death culture and all the unfair and unjust social/economic ills it brings to people. It makes me wanna puke!

THE ORDINARY BOYS - Maybe Someday (CD Single)

Here’s a band that promised something, but in the end delivered nothing, apart from this great debut single. Their Over The Counter Culture album was alright, but from then on in it was downhill and the band became…just Ordinary. Maybe Someday is a critique of the modern world and it’s technologies that numb the mind, “Waiting for some inspiration, A lack of human interaction.” It’s b-side Laughing From The Sidelines is about not fitting in. Cracking stuff, like The Jam meeting The Smiths. Check it out here.

Post Election Blues, Reds,Yellows and Greens. (Some Notes)

So that’s it then. The winners of Britain’s Got Politicians 2010 are……No one really. The Conservatives got the most seats in parliament. First past the post, but not enough to have total control over parliament. Labour came next, followed by the Liberals. Hang 10! One winner was The Green Party, getting their first ever seat, UKIP crashed, and no seats for the BNP…result! No victorious Things can only get better march to Number 10 by anyone. No, because all three parties know it’s only gonna get worse in the economic department. If people can’t see the writing on that wall, then they really are fucking blind.
The £ is already starting to wobble, with the global financial markets lack of certainty in the uncertainty of who’s running the show in Britain.
The electoral system can be seen for the sham it is. Tory’s haven’t enough seats to govern, but despite getting less votes Gordon Brown is still Prime Minister,(he must be the only MP never to have been elected by the people) and can remain so until a deal is struck between the Tory’s and The Liberals, that’s if one is agreed, lets remember the Liberals want electoral reforms which will break the hundred year old two party system. Will they settle for anything less in any deals? Will the Tory's be prepared to give up some of their power? Who decides ? Well....the people did! not all of them though.

Some people didn’t even get to exercise their right to vote, as polling stations were closed while they were still queuing outside, others didn’t have enough ballot papers. For fucks sake you couldn’t make this shit up. Britain’s defending democracy in Afghanistan, but it can’t defend it’s own. Did people get cross at not being able to place their cross? Yes,complacent, compliant and peacefull, in some countries people would have smashed the polling station up if they’d been denied their right.
Interesting and possibly messy times ahead. Hold on tight because nobody’s driving, except the media.

THE 25th OF MAY - Fuck The Right To Vote (12" Single)

Here we are in Britain on the eve of polling day in the X Factor Britain’s got Politicians General Election. Yes whoever you vote for the government wins, and if voting did change anything it would be made illegal, or would it? I mean let the people think they’re having a say while the ballots are rigged under the guise of a ‘postal vote’ change has been a key word amongst all the parties. The powers that be fear a hung parliament, because they have the most to lose. Their press has been talking in terms of …A summer of strikes, A weak economy, and being on the verge of Anarchy. Hey I’m liking the sound of that result! Anyway enough of my ranting. Lets have someone else’s ranting and music. The 25th Of May were a unique band, ahead of their time. Never before had a British band combined Rap, Hip Hop and Rock with such stark social comment. Their lyrics echoed the dissatisfaction of the social climate at the end of the 1980’s and start of the 90’s. The music broke new ground; hard drums and guitars married to strong hooklines, singer Steve Swindelli’s powerful message was ever prominent over a pumping back-beat. Fuck The Right To Vote was released prior to the 1993 General Election, and is a different version to the one that appeared on their brilliant 1992 debut album Lenin and McCarthy, which address issues such as Homelessness, Joyriding and the Hillsborough disaster. This was the sound of revolution. I saw ’em live many times and they were awesome, total commitment whether playing in front of 30 or 300 people, they were also a nice bunch of people who liked to party, talk politics and music. It’s a shame Britain wasn’t ready at the time for such an overtly political band, now in 2010 the country needs one. So here you go if you fancy a blast of something new, or if you’re one of the few who knew the score and haven’t heard the Yeltsin Mix of FTRTV or it’s b-side Made In The USA (Scud Mix). Enjoy!

International Workers/Revolution Day.

The artwork above was done by Brian, a friend of mine, who died on this day in 1993.

POLITICS: 2 FOOTBALL:1

I didn’t fancy mass debating last night, so I went round to see a mate and watched the football instead. I caught the highlights of Britains Got Politicians when I got home. It was pretty much the same as the others… My Party will do this….the others will do that. Nick Clegg has played a blinder, just by being there and offering an alternative, yeah he’s the same as the other two he’s a politician, but I said this years ago in one post or another; that the only way forward in our political system is to take bits of Labour, Conservative and Liberal policies along with The Green Party, mix ‘me all up and see what comes out of the pot. A Hung Parliament is the first step towards this. If we have to have a system controlling us, I’d rather it was balanced and fair, one were everyone had a say. Yes… even the BNP, because in a balanced and fair society they wouldn’t exist. The televised debates could be the start of a process that sees their system change, and who knows but in my children’s, children’s society the state may have withered away and everyone is free from it’s control, or it could go the other way if people think there is no alternative to the free market surveillance and consumer driven techno society we have become. Change takes time, do nothing and things move quickly. What we are seeing now is a stage toward the eventual outcome of history, which will be anarchy (words in italic aren’t mine but I’m fucked if I can remember whose they are.)At this stage Politicians are a neccessary evil These debates have been good for democracy, even if they were highly controlled and stage managed. More people are becoming interested in politics. Next Thursday, Polling Day I’d like people to vote Liberal and show the two main parties what they think of them, after all they’ve got us in the shit. Me?…. Well I’m getting a sore arse between thinking about not voting or giving The Lib Dems my cross. What’s the best way to help hang the parliament? Don’t fear their fear, because what they fear is everyone coming together….. as one.

Untitled #?

I read today, in the Labour loving Daily Mirror that the reason Gordon Brown ‘reacted badly’ yesterday was because he thought the lady he called a bigot had said “Where are they fucking coming from?“ instead of what she did say which was “Where are they flocking from?” So as well as not being able to write properly (remember the letter to the family of the dead soldier debacle.) being half blind and prone to temper tantrums he’s also hard of hearing! You couldn’t make this shit up!….or could you?

HAZEL O'CONNOR - Breaking Glass (Soundtrack)

This post was inspired by the news this week that after 31 years a Report into the death of Blair Peach at an Anti Nazi demonstration in Southhall, London in 1979, has concluded that the fatal blow to his head was likely to have been from a Policeman and that there was a subsequent cover up which resulted in there being no justice for Blair and his family. No real news, just confirms what people thought at the time.
Breaking Glass was released in 1980 and tells the tale of a struggling singer Kate played by Hazel O’Connor and her ‘New Wave’ bands meteoric rise, and subsequent fall. It is set against the back drop of discontented late 1970’s Britain, with strikes, demonstrations and police harassment. There’s a scene were Hazel O’Connor’s character in the film witnesses the death of a protestor at a demonstration against Nazi’s, it’s from this point that the Rock’n’Roll starts to fall apart through sex, drugs and the cut throat music biz. The film was co-produced by Lady Di’s last flame Dodi Fayed, and features Gary Tibbs ex Vibrators bass player, there are small blink and you’ll miss ‘em parts for Gary Holton and Rat Scabies, amongst other actors who went on to appear in Brit TV dramas The Bill and Casualty. Phil ‘park life’ Daniels has a more prominent part as the bands manager, before he’s sacked by the record company. Unfortunately I don’t have the means to convert my copy of the film and post that, so here’s it’s rather fine synth, sax driven post punk pop’n’roll soundtrack instead. THIS DOWNLOAD HAS HAD TO BE REMOVED, BECAUSE IT CONTRAVENED SOME COPY WRITE LAW THANG.

BREAKING NEWS....Gordon Brown catches foot and mouth....BREAKING NEWS.

So a SkyTV microphone is left on and the people get to hear what Gordon Brown really thinks, (nice conspiracy theory there; Sky-Murdoch-The Sun newspaper = Political Plot) what you see is what you get hey Gordon, the man of the people upsets a life long labour supporter by calling her a bigot after she’d asked him about the political hot potato of Immigration, and expressed not only her concerns, but also those of a lot of other voters. He then went round to Mrs Duffy’s house to apologies about ’the misunderstanding’. No, people understood. Interestingly she wasn’t pictured with Gordon when he left her house. Perhaps he had one of his losing the plot moments, and slapped her about a bit, either that or she didn’t want to be seen with a big idiot! The final Britain’s Got Politicians show could be interesting viewing tomorrow night.

THE DIRTY STRANGERS Feat JOHN SINCLAIR - Lock And Key (Lyrics)

Now I know where I’ve seen your face Plastered up on posters all over the place /

Born with ears, even now, packed with garbage. the stuff of dead men. wax, & elbows, sewage, seaweed, debris of forgotten oceans, or shells, or the shells & shit they beat the Indians with /

All the trouble you’ve caused, pain and misery You do so much wrong you should be under Lock & Key /

For us to shut up, what they can offer. pitiful. so small, can it bend the ear. paper, & shells, to fill our ears, to make us forget /

All the trouble you’ve caused, pain and misery You do so much wrong you should be under Lock & Key /

To sing, made some improbable proposition, to get thru, Some genius we wanted to cry, to the moon, like weird wolves of illusion, insanity, the stoppage /

All the trouble you’ve caused, pain and misery You do so much wrong you should be under Lock & Key /

Drained, & collapse, on the floor, thru, with love, & unsettled ears. to begin to go, where the music goes, out, to you /

Long long time been under Lock & Key About time everybody should be free All the trouble you’ve caused, pain and misery You do so much wrong you should be under Lock & Key

About time everybody should be free //

MR RAYS WIG WORLD - Faster KittyKat Play Play (4 Track 12" Vinyl-Rip)

“ROLLING DOWN THE STREET ON CHOPPED DOWN HOGS, SCREAMING THAT THE ONLY SCENE THAT THEY’D SEEN WAS THAT THEY’D SEEN IT ALL BEFORE!! BORN OF BOREDOM AND CONFUSION MR RAY’S WIG WORLD INVESTED IN GUITARS & BROKEN PEDALS WITH MONEY OBTAINED FROM HOLDING UP HAIRDRESSERS” - extract from a Mr Ray’s Wig World press release circa 1992. Anyway..........................................................
Here’s a little heavenly something for ya this Sunday. Bruthas and Sisters I give you….Mr Ray’s Wig World….who?/what! the fuck! are they and what’s it all about you may think, well I’ll tell you….It’s like spitting a Pop Eating Wonder Stuff into an Atomic Dustbin, and finding a 1970’s Glam Stomping 60’s acid party going on inside, or possibly as the band told NME back in 1992; “We were once described as a cross between Sonic Youth and The Banana Splits, which seems pretty accurate” But hey…. Don’t take mine or their words for it check ‘em out here and take a hair raising ride into wig world.

More mass debating

Seconds out…Round Two. Like I said before, I couldn’t watch this one because as in our democratic society where freedom is the right to consume I have chosen not to have Murdoch’s Sky TV in my house, I listened to it on the radio instead, and no surprises it was much of the same bickering and bantering about who’s policies would be best for the country. The Liberal Democrats are still kicking arse despite the media’s predictable slurs on Cleggs character, and their scrutiny of his parties policies but like I said before. “THEY ARE ALL THE SAME” they talk about real change, but then you’ve got the media trying to scare the people by saying a hung parliament would be bad for Britain, when the reality would be that a hung parliament would be the first step toward real change. Everyone’s hung up on the economy. I’ve had election leaflets for my local Labour candidate come through the door telling me “the election is primarily about one big issue securing the recovery of the economy” and “if we take wrong decisions everyone will be paying the price for years to come” yeah right, the economy that Labour fucked! Then she has the cheek to apologise if her message “has to be stark” Who ever we vote for, and who ever ’wins’ will still make us pay the(ir) price. Fuck their economy! This is just how unjust it is; I heard Richard Branson moaning on the news about the recent grounding of aircraft during the great volcanic ash debacle, how the authorities over reacted and as a result the industry has lost billions of pounds, dear old Dickey B wants the government to compensate the aircraft companies for their losses, what!!!! I don’t fucking think so. Stranded travellers who’ve had to extend their holidays or pay extra to get back to Britain are very unlikely to get compensated for any extra expenditure due to it being an act of god, and now Branson expects them to pay, because it’s the people that pay, out of the unjust tax system, Government money is our money, they’re just looking after it for us and as we’ve seen they’ve not being doing a very good job of it for us, well not for the majority of us anyway, the minority of bankers and business leaders have done alright out of it. Lets look at Richards Branson, I know it’s not a pretty sight but it’s only for a minute. According to a Rich List he’s
Worth £2,600 million pounds….(thanks to his media empire, something else I have chosen not to have in my home) and he wants us to cover his losses. Well…. I haven’t seen him sharing his profits with us. They talk about a just and fair society. Well this sort of shit just aint fair! Then I see him and his beard beaming from the front of the latest Big Issue, proclaiming “We need a revolution to change the world.” Yeah too right Richard, but how about you change your attitude first you revolting man. If all this Britain’s Got Politics On Ice spectacle has got people a bit more into politics, it needs to be remembered that the young people are from the Branson/Murdoch generation, they need to know that Rupert and Richard are just the same as the politicians, protecting their interests, power and privileges. If people are gonna vote, I hope they make the choice because it is how they feel, not because of how they have been made to feel by the parties and the propaganda, through threats and scares of what will happen to the country if they vote for a certain party. Bring on the third round this week when the squares square up for the final fight.

Politics / Music.

What’s wrong with mixing Politics and Rock’n’Roll?
1) Nothing. When The Dirty Strangers team up with former MC5 manager John Sinclair and release Lock and Key. A driving, hypnotic riff of a song with Johns politician baiting spoken words over the music and a catchy chorus “All the trouble you’ve caused, Pain and misery you’ve done. So much wrong, you should be under lock and key.” Available as a 3 Track digital download at Itunes for a recession busting bargain price of £1.29.
2) Everything When in a stunt The Labour Party appropriate The Jams Eton Rifles in a bid to spread their message of class difference between them and the Tory Party. There is no difference, which is unfortunately highlighted by the media in their expose that Paul Weller sent his kids to private school. Interestingly his new single Wake Up The Nation is his most political song in ages, it’s probably available on Itunes as well.

THE OTHERS - This Is For The Poor (CD Single)

"This is for all the kids who stand out in the crowd / This is for every disappointment /This is for anyone who’s been shoved around / This is for all the ones who stood up for themselves / This is for all the ones who had to fight for it all /This is for the poor and not you rich kids//"
This was a call to arms in 2004 by The Others, a bold and brash blast of post brit pop punk’n’roll. Think Libertines, The Paddingtons, The Parkinsons and you’ll get the idea. The Others were truly a peoples band, using text messaging and the internet to galvanise fans at guerrilla gigs on the zebra crossing outside Abbey Road studios and on a tube train. When I saw them live at The Scala in Kings Cross, by the end of their riotous set there were more of the audience on the stage than on the dance floor. One of the best gigs I’ve been to ever!!! And I’ve been to a few. Check out This Is For The Poor here!

Election Polls

Just like a volcano erupting, British politics has seen a ‘seismic shift‘; thanks to the shallowness of a media driven society people have discovered there’s a new political party called The Liberal Democrats, who if the opinion polls are to be believed have seen their popularity rise. It’s an election, they’re politicians, nothing is to be believed. Nick Clegg is just the same as the others, who are quick to point this out as they try and defend themselves. It’s just a different flavour to the shit we are being fed. Still at least it’s given Brown and Cameron a well deserved kick up the arse, and if there is a hung parliament the traditional two party political system will see a shift in its power base, which can only be a good thing for our so called democracy, where even if The Liberal Democrats did well in the Election, they could never be in power as there is no proportional representation, it’s just the number of seats the party wins that dictates who’s in power. As for their policies, well Vince Cable was one of the few politicians to see and warn of the recession coming, and in the wake of America and Russia’s nuclear arms reduction pact the idea that Britain cuts back on spending for it’s Trident Missile program might be worth considering, as the only thing the world needs to fear now are the forces of nature.

BATUSIS - 4 Track EP (A Review)

Far more interesting than the pizza leaflets and election propaganda that had come through my door while I was away, was a package from NoblePR, containing a copy of the Batusis E.P Sylvain Sylvain from the New York Dolls, and Cheetah Chrome from The Dead Boys new ’supergroup’ I dunno about super, but it’s a great fuckin’ record. A 15 minute gasoline soaked whiskey ride down the devils highway, that puts many of today’s contenders/pretenders to shame when it comes to blasting out some decent and honest Rock’n’Roll. Sandwiched between the two instrumentals; Blues Theme and Big Cat Stomp. (The first is the theme from 70’s biker film The Wild Angels and originally preformed by Dave Allen and The Arrows, while the second is Cheetah and Sly’s sequel) are a couple of tunes that sum up Rock’n’Roll for me; What You Lack In Brains is a piano ladened boogie with Sly’s tounge planted firmly between either his cheeks or some blond bimbo’s, or as Mrs Wolf said “What’s this sexist shit?” err “Rock’n’Roll, and I think they’re taking the piss.” Bury You Alive on the other hand is Cheetahs dark, apocalyptic growler of a song about ‘the man’ falling which references 9/11 and the Iraq War, Mrs Wolf said it sounded like the Lords Of The New Church. So if you’re interested and like all things Rock’n’Roll; the Batusis 4 Track EP is available from Smog Veil Records on May 4th.

All washed up?!

Back with a....................

Well I’m back after a week away on the Norfolk Coast. I never tire of walking along the sand with the sound of waves crashing, and the wind whistling through the marham grass on the dunes, a good way to defrag your mind. I tried not to think about too much of what was going down in the world, there were a couple of things however that couldn’t escape my thoughts:
1) The Prime Ministerial Debate. I’d have rather watched people taking the piss out of politicians on BBC 1’s Have I got News For You, than politicians taking the piss out of people, but Mrs Wolf wanted to partake in The Spectacle of the ‘historic broadcast‘, so I watched, what did I think….well Brown and Cameron bickered and Clegg said he offered an alternative, they all acted out their parts, to the silent studio audience, all very clinical and rehearsed. 10million people watched it and decided they thought Nick Clegg had the X Factor. I for one can’t wait for Round Two on Thursday, because it’s being broadcast on the SkyNews Channel, and I don’t get SkyNews on my T.V Reeeesult!
2) Volcanic ash cloud. Natures power, no planes flying, no pollution. Silence, I live under a flight path, and the sound of the big jets are always there, passing over, not today they’re not, it’s also strange not seeing the vapour trails criss crossing the sky. It’s not been a good few months for the aviation industry, what with the strikes, and now mother nature striking back. Shame!

BRIAN FALLON - Live @ First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia 17/1/10

I’ve been looking forward to next week for a while, a week of no work. Time to take a break from everything including the blog . Something else I’m looking forward to is the new Gaslight Anthem album when it comes out, think its due in June. The sneaky snippet I’ve been blasting out on the stereo, is sounding good. American Slang is the song, the title track of the album. Anyway here’s a chance to get up close and personal with lead singer Brian Fallon as he blasts through three stripped down and accoustic tracks from The 59 Sound. Recorded live and intimate at The First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia on 17th Jan 2010. The recording comes from the good folk at Dimestore Saints forum; the place for all yer Anthem needs.

All the fun of the unfair. The ride starts now. Hold on tight. (Some notes)

Here we fucking go! It’s official, the race is on, one in which we lose from the choice that some make. It’s election time. Who’s got the best looking wife? Who dresses the best? Who’s got the best slogans? Just like the capitalist system they’re all supporting, it’s sell, sell, sell. Win, win, win, unless you lose, lose, lose, which is pretty much most of us.
And then there’s the policies, Economic Tax is too taxing for me. They talk of a ‘fair society’ which is just an illusion, because their capitalist system doesn’t reward the fair and just, it needs things to be unfair and unjust to function.
This Election is gonna be the most media driven ever thanks to the “White heat of technology.”
Prospective prime ministers are gonna mass debate on Television, a political first, no doubt well controlled and stage managed.
Preaching Green Policies while clocking up air miles and leaving carbon footprints across the country travelling by plane. Kissing babies, hugging hoodies.
Celebrity driven. Michael Cain and the Conservatives have come up with this voluntary citizenship program. How long before it becomes compulsory? Because those that would/might benefit from some sort of discipline/order in their lives aint gonna be volunteering. How much to administer and manage such a program?
National Insurance, so business leaders aren’t happy about an increase in contributions, it means they’ll have to put a little less in their pockets. and workers earning £20,000+ probably aren’t gonna welcome the news. Both Tories and Labour have spoken about the fair society, well in my eyes, the more you earn, the more you should pay, and as for business, well the more profit they make the more they should pay. As for public services suffering because of the increase in contributions the employer, would have to pay, well I’m all for some efficiency savings. I work in the public sector, and believe me it’s over run by managers, the ratio between worker and manager in one department I’m aware of are almost 2 to 1, all monitoring performance, targets and standards. Then get this….the same department have employed a couple of consultants to see how savings can be made!!!!???? Well how about managers speaking to the workers, rather than pay an extortionate amount for a couple of consultants. Probably cos the workers would tell the managers where to go. When it comes to public money those in charge don’t care how it’s spent. They’re the fuckers earning £20K+ so it seems fair on several levels that they should pay more tax. Firstly because of the level of their earnings and secondly because they are responsible for wasting public money, tax payers money. Our money, which in my case is a lot less than twenty grand a year. So now it’s time they started paying it back. Sounds fair to me. I don’t think they will though, but hey….Life isn’t fair and everything that’s solid melts into air under capitalism, so now it’s time those that have benefited from an unfair/unjust system were treated a bit more fairly and saw their wealth start to disappear. It’s time for change….real change, but that aint gonna happen at this election, cos they all want year votes and everyone wants to keep their money. It’s the bottom dollar to people the rest is just secondary: Law and order, Health, Education etc.
Don’t get blinded by the election, a couple of other things. Petrol at it’s highest price. America and Russia have reached a nuclear weapon reduction agreement. No election and we’d be hearting more about other news, I wonder what’s been buried in the garden at number 10 or in the flower beds at The Houses of Parliament, how many new laws have been passed? and what are they? Keep yer eye on the(ir) game.
Nothing any of ‘em say will make me wanna vote for them. The right not to vote.

R.I.P Malcolm McLaren

“The only notes that count are the ones that come in wads!”

JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS - Live @ The Marquee, London 1984

I’ve had this show knocking about on my hard drive for a while now. I hadn’t intended to post it, on a account of I got it from a forum and can’t remember which one, and I do like to give credit to others if it aint all my work, but….In a strange sort of synchronicity It seemed right; after hearing that a couple of Blackhearts were involved with Batius and when I was sorting out the Batius post my daughter was playing Avril Lavigne and something just reminded me of Joan Jett, who after all was an inspiration to a lot of women in Rock’n’Roll, (Avril Lavigne..rock’n’roll?????) she also blew the pants off a lot of alpha male rock’n’rollers.

From The Runaways to working with Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols, and then some hit singles with her band The Blackhearts, including I Love Rock’n’Roll and Crimson and Clover. Joan makes a great ballsy catchy rock’n’roll racket, which is why I found myself attending this gig at the Marquee in Dec 1984 (The press cuttings and ticket stubs come courtesy of one of my scrapbooks.) I can’t remember that much about the gig other than it was another hot, sweaty and sticky night, (yes even in Dec) of rock action in Wardor Street. The recording captures this, as it’s an audience one. Not the best, but if you fancy a blast here you go. Joan’s still rockin’ out and giving it to the man with her anti Iraq War stance and pro gay marriage views. This one’s for you Nekrodad.

Happy Easter.

Let’s celebrate the news today that South African white-supremacist the white terror of Black South Africans during the Apartied era, Eugene Terreblanche is dead. That’s one less Racist in the world. Eugene Terreblanche Rot In Piss! It’s down to us to make sure Nazism doesn’t rise again.

BATUSIS - Who?....What?....Why?....Where?....When?

WHO!
This exciting rock and roll project celebrates the first-ever collaboration between punk icons Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys, Rocket From The Tombs) and celebrated glam rock innovator Sylvain Sylvain (New York Dolls). The 4-track EP also features Enzo Penizzotto (bass) and Thommy Price (drums) - the driving rhythm section for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
WHAT!
The self-titled 4-song EP will be released in the US and UK on May 4, 2010. The debut recordings will be released on collectable multi-colored vinyl, with eco-friendly recycled content jacket and full color two-sided insert, and also on digital download.
“You might describe Batusis’ explosive, self titled EP (released by Smog Veil Records) as a garage-glam dance party or a Harley-revving, speaker-melting guitar throw down. As far as the bands concerned, though, you can just call it rock’n’roll.”
WHY!
“I’ve known Sylvain since 1975,” says Cheetah. “The Dolls were a huge influence on me.” Sylvain adds “We’re just nuts about rock ‘n’ roll. We knew that’s what we’d come up with, no matter what!”
WHEN AND WHERE!
BATUSIS: UK 2010 Tour Dates
Monday May 3: Glasgow O2 ABC2
Tuesday May 4: Sheffield O2 Academy2
Wednesday May 5: Liverpool O2 Academy2
Friday May 7: London Islington O2 Academy
Saturday May 8: Hatfield Forum, University of Hertfordshire (The Attic Room)
Monday May 10: Oxford O2 Academy2
Tuesday May 11: Southampton, The Joiners
Wednesday May 12: Bristol O2 Academy2
Thursday May 13: Birmingham O2 Academy2

Batusis myspace page

COMPULSION - Question Time For The Proles (4 Track CD Single)

Released in 1996 Question Time for the Proles is a blistering barrage about that New Labour reinventing the past notion of retrolution “Ancient times are taking over. Sentimental when you’re sober. Fills your mouth each time you speak. You choke.” they tell us that “Harold Wilson/Maurice Saatchi says that things are getting better for you” A year later New Labour also declared that “Things can only get better” with the help of hindsight we now know just who things got better for. Not us but them. Between 1992 and 1996 Compulsion were a breath of fresh air amongst the stagnant smell of the grunge and brit pop eras. Like S*M*A*S*H and These Animal Men they were lumped by the lumpen lazy music media into The New Wave Of New Wave scene. Compulsion were powerful and forceful in their presentation, a full on foot to the floor blast of Punk Raw guitars and chugging rhythms. Think 80’s Post Punk meeting the Manics, Nirvana and The Pixies, and you still won’t do this great forgotten band justice. Click here for some Compulsion. “Question time for the proles, The lunatics are running free and no-one knows.”

No mass debating for me tonight.

BOLLOCKS! Gonna just have to watch instead. Yes, there was No call from the BBC. The Nuzz Prowling Wolf Experience wont be making an appearance in the nations front rooms tonight on Question Time, shame, never mind something’s just weren’t to be. I was all hyped and hoping, to make my point about people being treated as fools and being fooled by the powers that be, especially as there’d been a story in the papers this week, not todays I hasen to add (April Fools day) about a Pet shop owner getting a draconian sentence for selling a goldfish to some one who was under 16 years old. Fool the people. It’s not about the goldfish, or the pet shop owner, it’s about the injustice in the justice system, but I think a better story would have been about the unjust and draconian sentences protesters received after the Anti - Israel invasion of Gaza demos/protests. They weren’t even arrested at the time of the protests, only after police had viewed CCTV footage and identified them were they arrested, but no…… it’s all about the goldfish. The media try to shape the publics opinion and there by forcing the politicians into addressing what ever the issue, or ’Political Hot Potatoes’ is. Take yer pick, they’re all in the fire at the moment; Law and Order, Immigration, Health, Education, all roasting away. I wonder what’s gonna be tossed around on tonight’s Question Time, and how will the politicians respond? By telling people that their way is the right way and fooling them into believing that they’ll listen and do something, when all they will do is nothing, but control the country for their own ends. Tony Blair…what a cunt! I was fooled once and voted for him. Never again will I vote. I haven’t got a memory the size of a Goldfish. I’ve seen what the Conservatives did to the country and now what New Labour have done to it. It’s about time they both cleared up the mess they’ve made. Vote for no-one. Hang the parliament! if we can’t hang the politicians, the WANKERS!

To mass debate, or not? That's the question!

That Great British bastion of televised democracy Question Time is coming to town. In a what seemed like a good idea at the time moment, I applied to be part of the audience and maybe ask ‘The Panel’ a question. Now I’m not so sure. What motivated me to fill in the application and click on the send button? My ego; get my face on TV and voice my opinion to the nation. I dunno. Something to do on Thursday, maybe. To listen to and try to participate in some honest debate, I doubt it, there’re politicians involved. Anyway there’s no guarantee I’ll be chosen to be part of the balanced cross section of society audience. Cross certainly balanced…umm! Anyway I’ll just have to see what happens should know early next week if I do get selected, then it’ll be a case of do I really wanna do this??!! I’ve no real questions to ask any politicians, cos the answers are always the same…Lies. So perhaps as the program is being aired on April 1st April Fools Day no less, I should question them as to whether the British public are being taken for fools, and treated like fools, or are they just being fooled! I think we all know what the answer is, and deep down so do they, and what do they say about the camera never lying.

NIKKI SUDDEN - The Last Bandits Last Gig.

Four years have passed since that fatal morning of March 26th when in New York, hours after playing a gig Nikki Sudden was found dead in his room. His music has been a constant, through the ups’n’downs of my life his music and words have always been there to escape and get lost in. From the ramshackled DIY punk of the Swell Maps and the lovelorn laments of The Jacobites, to his Rolling Stonesy solo stuff. He could hit a typewriter with a quilt and I’d still love it. So I was quite excited to find a recording of his final gig.
I liberated/lifted/leached it from The Lemonheads forum. No permission was asked, I make no apologies for this, as I wouldn’t have been prepared to take no for an answer with this one, not when some of you guy’s’gals are into yer Nikki Sudden, and may not have heard it, this poignant show needs to be out there and not just left to rest where only Lemonheads ‘fans’ are gonna get a chance to hear it.
I’ve listened to it many times since I procured it. At first with sadness, because in one sense it’s not his finest, in another it is; as at sums up the total Rock’n’Roll attitude and abandon. This is Punk!
The last shows Nikki, the travelling troubadour played in New York City, were either him with just his Guitar or with Drummer Danny Hole. For the gig at The Knitting Factory Tap Bar on March 25th 2006, as well as Danny he invited along Bass player Alan Merrill, who’d previously played in 70’s PopRocksters The Arrows, a band Nikki loved. For some numbers he was joined by a rock star fan; Evan Dando from The Lemonheads, a pop-grunge outfit who’d had their 15 minutes in the 90’s, when Evan would often be photographed in a Swell Maps T-Shirt. Alan Merrill had never played with Nikki before, and had previously shunned live appearances. Evan on the other hand was no stranger to jumping up with geniuses from across the pond, having played with Dan Treacy’s Television Personalities at a gig in Berlin, doing a few Johnny Thunders numbers. I digress. Back to Nikki’s gig, which isn’t a perfect performance, but it’s pure, real and unpredictable. Flawed and frail in places but a compelling and consuming listen. Whether Nikki was high and lonesome we’ll never know, but he was dead and gone at the break of dawn. A sad, sad loss. You can put your arms around a memory! here and here. (I’ve split it in two; The first part before Evan joins him, and the second after.) Gone but never to be forgotten. NIKKI SUDDEN 1956 - 2006.

Here are a few eye witness accounts of the gig that I found on t’internet:

“At 11 PM we took the stage and launched in to "Treasure Island," and it seemed to be working, in a loose, sloppy sort of way. Drummer Danny Hole was great, keeping the solid back beat. I was watching his hands, finding his style so I could get the right bounce on bass, and we locked in as the rhythm section fairly quickly. The songs ran by, one after another, and I was lost in total concentration, doing my best to get the songs right. About halfway through, Evan Dando of The Lemonheads got up on stage with us. I had never heard of him before, but it seems he was a media star with a record deal at some point or other. He has a decent voice and got through a few numbers with us. Then we finished the show, and it had gone quite well, in spite of my initial fear of playing totally unrehearsed music.” - Alan Merrill
“According to reports, he fittingly spent the final hours of his life playing a free, ramshackle, loose show, covering T. Rex and the Velvet Underground, climbing a stage to live his rock star dreams and channelling his heroes, and asking nothing from his audience in return.” - Skunkeye blog
"And I guess this is as good a place as any for me to offer a review of Saturday night's show at the Knitting Factory tap bar. The band, Nikki, Danny Hole (the Warlocks) and Alan Merrill (the Arrows, the man who wrote I Love Rock-n-Roll?) started out a bit shambolic and raw, and it was quickly pointed out that the bass player hadn't even rehearsed with them. Considering that, his/their improvisational abilities were pretty impressive and when they got it together it was quite rousing. They played some old songs, some newer songs and some covers to a small but dedicated and appreciative crowd, myself included. Then halfway through a cover of T Rex's Bang a Gong, Evan Dando of the Lemonheads came on stage and tried to get his guitar to work. It didn't. Only at the end did they get it sorted out, just in time for Bang a Gong to turn into Sister Ray. At this point, I realized I was watching something very special! The rest of the show went along like that. Things would fall apart, they'd pick up, they'd rock out, Nikki would sing some heartfelt tunes, then delve into a classic Swell Maps number, which would somehow morph into Sympathy for the Devil. They also covered The Stone's Dead Flowers.” - Anon

THE PARKINSONS - A Long Way To Nowhere.

In the wake of bands like The Strokes and The Hives at the beginning of the noughties Britain rocked once again to the sound of loud guitars. This time the influence came from the 70’s rather than the 60’s. The Parkinsons were one such band, who became infamous rather that famous with their full frontal Punk Rawk attack on their audiences. Three Portuguese fells who’d relocated to London and hooked up with Chris Lowe, a drummer who’d previously bashed the skins with anarcho agitators The Apostles. A Long Way To Nowhere was their first release in 2002, a 7 track mini-album that smashes into yer skull before exiting as quickly as it hit. A magnificent catchy, rowdy racket. No frills but plenty of thrills and spills. Hear it here! Think The Ramones, The Heartbreakers, or The Lurkers. Punk Pastiche it isn‘t, thanks in part to the production by Jim Reid and Ben Lure from The Jesus and Mary Chain. The band also released a single; Streets Of London in 2002 before a couple of members left and then Blip, Blip, Blip……………………………….......... off the radar they went, as quickly as they’d arrived.

Rights'n'Wrongs

Human Rights/Human Wrongs! Without human wrongs things might be alright. Greed, Intolerance, Prejudice, violence, to name but a few. Addressing the wrongs would protect the rights, but this aint happening, it’s all about the rights of individuals against the wrongs of others. I mean why should people who’ve done wrong be afforded the same rights as those that haven’t.
There needs to be a response and ability by government and communities to understand that with less human wrongs there would be less need for human rights, without recognising this and doing something about it we will continue to be ruled by the Fascism of Human Rights legislation, which causes as many problems as it solves.

ALEX CHILTON - R.I.P

Alex Chilton went from chart success in 1967 at the age of 16 in The Box Tops, to cult and underground status with Big Star and his solo work. Alex’s song writing was Pure, raw and emotional. He produced The Cramps, influenced people like Bobby Gillespie from Primal Scream, gives a nod to Johnny Thunders in his song Bangkok, Pauline Murray from Penetration covered Holocaust with her band the Invisible Girls, that track is from Big Stars 3rd album Sister Lover. What a brilliant but bleak album, second only to Lou Reeds Berlin as one of the most depressing albums I own. Live in London was recorded at Dingwalls in May 1980, Alex’s backing group included Knox from The Vibrators on Guitar. It was probably due to this, that Live In London was my first introduction to Alex Chilton. The album was poorly received when it was released, and to Chilton purists it might not be the best way to remember the man. But it’s my way! and I aint that pure. Alex Chilton; another good ’un is gone.

Ohwell.

NO! HE LIED!! More ‘newspeak’ How much Longer? The blurring of the reality between Fact+ Fiction=FRICTION!

TELEVISION PERSONALITIES - Live in London & France

I mentioned Dan Treacy in dispatches when I posted Dave Kusworth recently. Dan’s another unique songwriter who like Dave hasn’t received ‘commercial success’ but is seen as a’cult figure’ a success but without the financial reward; a musician with a honesty and integrity. Asked by Kurt Cobain to support Nirvana, a song covered by The Futureheads and now 32 years since their first single 14th Floor. US freaky psychedelicers MGMT have recently recorded a tribute to their hero; Song For Dan Treacy. So I thought it’d been a while since I’d posted any of the only Personalities on Television worth listening to that it was about time I did, but I wasn‘t sure what to post. While I was humming’n’ahhring about it last week in a strange sort of synchronicity the TVP’S have appeared in this weeks NME at Number 20 in The Greatest Cult Hero Chart, he was also mentioned in an interview with MGMT in the same issue. So here you go, a double whammy of the Television Personalities, on account of I couldn’t decide which one to post. Paisley Shirts and Mini Skirts was recorded at The Clarendon, London in 1980,one of the bands early gigs. It finds the band in a playful post punk 60’s pop kinda way, and features Part Time Punks, I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives amongst others. Camping in France, which was recorded in….yes France sometime in 1985 on the other hand finds the band on a slightly darker psychedelic sixties pop trip, and includes 2 of the best anti-war songs written King and Country and Back To Vietnam and features Jowe Head from Swell Maps on Bass and Backing vocals. One reviewer felt that Camping In France “Caught the band on a bad night” True it is rather loose and sloppy, but that’s the charm and magic of it ; like all good rock’n’roll it’s unpredictable, which is why Dan Treacy’s a cult and others are ****’s
So if you fancy putting on a Paisley Shirt or Mini Skirt click here, or for a bit of Camping click there. Whatever you do, Enjoy!

Target of the week!

Why?
For her fake and phoniness, and because the media have airbrushed out the fact that she attacked/assaulted a women in a nightclub a few years back, and now she’s promoted as the image of perfection. These people need to be reminded of who they are, and so do the people reading about them. Nobody’s perfect!

WAKE UP! (A Few Thoughts)

Someone asked me this week about what I’d do if I were Prime Minister. Their question stemmed from a conversation they started with me about the state of the nation. They weren’t happy. This post develops on some things I ranted on to this guy about.
“Don’t get me started about immigration “ they said, “yeah” I said, “don’t get me started about it either“, then off they went about how it’s all the immigrants fault, taking the jobs, houses etc. Then I got started about how, no it wasn’t the immigrants fault, it was the systems fault, and how if stories about a government plan to encourage mass immigration were true, it was because they knew full well that the future generation of workers, just wouldn’t be up to doing the jobs that needed doing. They were a something for nothing generation, with no incentive to work for a meagre minimum wage, and why was/is the minimum wage so low anyway? Was it because there was also a generation of get rich quick bosses who continued to prosper under New Labour Thatcherism economic policies, that kept prices high and wages low. Then you had the cult of consumer credit; buy now pay later…well we’re paying the price now for these cunts. I hope it was worth it for ‘em with their flash cars high tech gadgetry and the rest of the shit that they didn’t need. An Economic clampdown is what’s needed on the production (not that Britain produces much anymore) import and export of things like luxury cars, new gadgetry that’s supposed to improve lives, but which just ends up enslaving us.
Call me a Marxist/Commie mutha fucker if you like, but the way I see it is that so long as money is the driving force of a social system then there will never be a fair and just society, just individuals seeking instant gratification, like they seek an overpriced cup of coffee to keep them going during another shopping trip. The Costa coffee shops that pollute our High Streets, are called Costa, cos a cup of coffee costs a fortune. I was thinking of opening a series of shops that only sold tea based drinks and call the chain Tossers, because that’s what these people are with their fucking European coffee shop culture that invaded our towns during the 90‘s, just like McDonalds did in the 80’s ahh! The great smell of globalisation…..It makes me fucking sick!
Immigration can enrich the culture of a nation were would British football teams be without it. Well they might be able to charge a reasonable price to get in at the turnstiles, one the working man can afford. Just like The World Cup Immigration is a global concern. There’s plenty of room in the world, it’s just a matter of dispersal. Economic migrants go where the money goes, so if all those models of capitalism that baulk at the thought of paying more tax fucked off with their entrepreneurial enterprises to some of the worlds ‘developing’ countries and helped develop their capitalist economies, then that’s maybe were the workers would go. It’s a shame that capitalism seems to be a system that countries have to go through in their development, before some sort of Socialist/ Marxist/Anarchistic society can evolve. From out of the ashes… We need Localised economies, networks of producers and providers of necessary goods and services, working with each other, not against each other. A balance between the Local the National and the International, not a competition.
Education. Children should go to schools that are local to them, taught by teachers who live in the area. Cuts down the need for commuting and reliance on that symbol of freedom; The Car. But no, under capitalism and Labours obsession with bureaucracy our education system is based on competition, were league tables define the quality of education our kids get, and the amount of financial support the state gives to a school. The state? That omnipresent force that maintains the capitalist/power relations in a country. Why else were banks bailed out and financial support given to the car industry. It’s the same with the National Health Service, were life depends on where you live.
Law and Order. There’s lots of laws, but very little order. Punishments are often punitive compared to the crime, the guilty go free and the innocent are locked up behind closed doors, scared to walk the streets, if you believe all that’s written and broadcast about it in the media.
Benefits. Tighten up the system. If capitalism wasn’t king, then money wouldn’t be as important to people as it is, if there was no surplus in production, then there’d be less consumption, if people were satisfied with what they had, then they’d settle for less rather than strive for more. In the interim towards achieving this state of mind, wages should be increased, benefits lowered and an incentive to work established. Off set wages with cheaper housing, health care etc.
Public Transport. Governments talk about New high speed rail links. Is quicker better? How about the existing networks improve their reliability and quality of service? Do we really need to scar the landscape with more veins of mobility, just like road widening schemes that just make more space to get filled up by more cars, another railway line to run late.
Some of these ideas to idealistic and simplistic? Maybe, but at least it would be change and not continuance. Here’s a couple of final thoughts. The so called social breakdown we are seeing is nothing new, there have always been problems with crime, unemployment etc it’s historical. Britain’s never had any real social revolution, other than the Civil War, and some say that wasn’t a revolution as such. So Vote No! to their system, by not voting. Bring on a hung parliament and let the fun begin, but lessons of the past mustn’t be ignored. Workers so conditioned and used to instant gratification need to wait, once the elections over with and if there is no majority party, then industrial action should stop, until then go for it. The Postal Workers have got what they wanted, let the British Airways cabin crew bring down the company, that’ll be a few less planes polluting the atmosphere. In a hung parliament
Power would be shared, which leaves little vacuums of power were with organisation these could be filed with ideas that may not have got taken on board by a party with a majority mandate. Whatever happens I think/feel that there may be a rough ride ahead for some people. We need to stand united, because divided we are ruled.
If we were living in a natural world, then any job losses downward social mobility would be seen as pruning or coppicing the vegetation, which would grow back eventually over the years, but if it were a tree, the branches would not grow exactly the same way as they had been before, as the environment it was growing in would have changed, we need to establish an environment were Capitalism is no longer the base of our social structure, so when growth starts to happen again it will be different. Hopefully
people would have become less motivated by money and power and developed a more collective approach to thinking rather than the individualistic thinking that has prevailed for the last 30 years, and that’s what we need to be thinking about; what British society will be like 30 years from now, or rather what sort of a world do we want our children/grandchildren living in? One where perhaps people have a real say and the state has been devolved by the people themselves who have realised what’s important and what’s not. Anyway enough ranting, that’s me finished……

Prose and Cons.

A women comes out of the newsagents, she’s coughing and spluttering with laughter. She’s just won £2 on a Lottery scratch card. Some people are easily pleased. The security camera outside the shop creaks as it turns round. The women feels safe and secure as she walks home with no fear of getting robbed by some young joker. Some people are easily scared.

"I Like To Play Games"

HEAVY METAL KIDS - BBC In Concert 1977

What can I say about the Heavy Metal Kids that I didn’t say when I posted their Live and Loud album? Fuck knows can‘t remember it was a while ago. Apologies if I sound like a stuck record, but here we go…. The band weren’t Heavy Metal, more like Prog-Punk, not long drawn out beasts of songs about mystical fairies, theirs were short sharp tales of Sex, Drugs and Rock’n’Roll. Fronted by the charismatic and theatrical Gary Holton who found fame after the band split with Casino Steel from The Boys releasing several albums (posted elsewhere on this blog) then as an actor in British comic drama Auf Wiedersein Pet, before dying of a drugs overdose in 1985. During the early 70’s The Heavy Metal Kids were a huge if often overlooked influence on the Punk scene; The Damned were taking notes at The Roundhouse Mick Jones and Tony James first met at a Heavy Metal Kids gig at The Fulham Greyhound. Their influence wasn’t just limited to the 70’s Mick Monroe from Hanoi Rocks has covered a couple of their tunes; She’s No Angel and Delirious, he shouldn’t have bothered in my opinion, but hey it’s all rock’n’roll. The darling of this years Brits music award Lady Gaga is said to like the bands Hey Little Girl, a track from their last album 1977’s Kitsch. This recording dates from August 1977, the band were on the verge of splitting up after the toils of constant touring and drugs abuse. This is an electric performance, far better than the Live and Loud one. From the “wide eyed sniffing boys” of Chelsea Kids, tales of sex and squalor at the Squaliday Inn, the honky tonk pop of On The Street, to the haunting passionate ballad of self obsession that is Cry For Me, then there’s a dose 70’s sexism with She’s No Angel, before this short 30min set finishes with the Fuck You! anthem of mental breakdown that is Delirious. High octane stuff with guitars played like Russian Roulette a thumping rhythm section and Gary’s distinct cockney yobster vocals. Anyway that’s enough said, here’s what it’s all about. Enjoy!

MASS-DEBATING AND DEMONSTRATING.

So there’s gonna be live General Election mass debating on television. The three wankers from across the political divide are gonna put on the performances of their lives as they fight for our vote with their policies and plans to lead the country….. Lead! …..Lead the country like a dying dog where? To put it out of it’s misery? No just a chance to inflict more pain on the people. How they are gonna do this is what we’ll find out over the three live Britain’s got Politicians/X-Fucter debates. “Phone lines will close in 15 minutes….add 01 for more of the Brown stuff, 02 for some of Cameron’s new class con, and 03 for the other one. Now lets go over and hear what the judges think” Well I for one won’t be voting for any of ‘the acts’ as I don’t believe in the system the winner will be governing over. They talk of change but all they offer is continuation, it’s like karaoke cabaret, except it’s after they’ve won that they forget the words.
While Britain prepares for it’s election with endless propaganda the people sit back put the kettle on and wait….wait for what! In Greece the birth place of democracy, their economy is crumbling like the architecture, the government is under attack, people have taken to the streets to let out their anger against the system. Greek leaders are accusing Germany of being ‘Economic Nazi’s” for wanting them thrown out of the EU unless they sort out their finances, there are historic antagonisms over Greek gold that was stolen during WW2 by the Germans. Much the same as Britain really, our economy is fucked and we are at war in Afghanistan and Iraq over oil. Some have fears that unless there is a majority party after the election Britain’s economic crisis will worsen and its credibility as a nation will be damaged, pretty much like Greece’s has. So if everyone who doesn’t believe in the politicians lies and double standards of them and their liberal capitalist democracy doesn’t vote the chances of a hung parliament would become higher, as would those of the BNP I suppose, but that might be a risk worth taking, because I for one quite fancy seeing what would happen if there was a hung parliament. The good ship Britain might have to change course in order to survive the stormy waves it once ruled, or could it be a step toward a New European super state. None of the politicians seem keen on the idea of a hung parliament, why what have they got to fear...lose of power maybe? Anyway enough of this shit. Stay tuned! Respect to all my virtual Greek friends for fighting a real fight. Here in Britain many people are too complacent and compliant about the democracy they perceive to be living in. Freedom is a satellite TV dish and the choice of 150 channels of shit!

LOL

Looks like the Tory's are just Fascists in disguise then!

CHELSEA - Live @ The Bier Keller. (Audio)

Chelsea were always a good night out in London town around 1983 - 85. This was recorded at The Bier Keller in Blackpool some time during that period, I don’t have the exact date. It’s the audio from the Cherry Red DVD/Video release, and captures the band in a typical confrontational performance some real in yer face rock’n’roll. Gene October knew how to get the kids going, a real showman, never given the credit he deserves. All the classics are here; Right To Work, Evacuate etc, some with added crowd contributions. The flyer that accompanies this post comes from 1985 and was used to promote the bands Valium Mother single. It’s nice to see that the record company spared no expense in the promotion department, unlike the band, who always gave 100%.