A new Blog on the block.

'The Magic Suitcase', link over to the left and scroll down to CHECK OUT THESE. A couple of good first posts; Culture - Two Sevens Clash, Slade and The Wall's punk collection, this last one is a must for all serious punkers, contains Ghetto one of my top 10 tunes. We'll worth a trip and a great start in my opinion. Who knows what the magic suitcase will contain in the coming months? best take a look inside.

EATER - Live @ Barbarella's, Birmingham 1977

Probably the youngest of the 'first wave' of punk bands. Formed in Nov 1976, while still at school. Their drummer Dee Generate often had trouble getting time out of lessons to gig, he was 14 and when he did invariably the police became involved due to licensing laws, usually turned out OK when Mr and Mrs Generate gave parental permission. The band famously announced in an interview with Sniffin' Glue that "We're the only band that can really relate to the kids, even the Pistols...they're old enough to be our dads." Don't know how the Pistols felt about that, but The Damned were big fans, at a gig both bands did down the Roxy, Eater found themselves playing to not just the usual punk kids, but also Jimmy Page and Robert Plant from 'the enemy', Led Zep. Plant spoke to the other NME and said "All the talk about old farts and young farts is nonsense, age doesn't matter." Eater split in 1979 leaving behind one album, Eater and a handful of singles. This recording is from sometime in 1977 at Birmingham's infamous punk venue Barbarella's. Another document from the punk jigsaw. Check it owt, it's just a click away: http://s19.quicksharing.com/v/1106063/EATER_Live_1977.rar.html

TITS OUT;The Freedom To Feed.

In our overtly sexualized society, has it come to the stage that the sight of a women breast feeding their baby is now seen as some sort of offensive sexual act? cos I for one can't understand what the problem is. If a mum feels comfortable breast feeding her baby in public, let her, doesn't bother me, but it bothers others. How can this be? there are breasts exposed in the papers and on TV daily. Is this just another case of the media stirring up a small issue into something bigger with the help of a bunch of prudish right wing control freaks. The right to breast feed in public, what a load of bollocks. Just do it! Why does anyone need to be given the right to do something that is natural? (and no I wouldn't take a piss in the middle of a crowded McDonald's, not even as a political protest.) The main reason this has become an issue is economic. In the proposed 'Right to Breast Feed' legislation there are also ideas for women who breast feed being allowed time off work to feed their child. If the bosses are worried about losing money, perhaps the government can provide some sort of breast feeding subsidies or tax breaks for firms, because after all it has been proved that breast feeding cuts down the increasing health problems the government have highlighted recently ; such as asthma and obesity. Why not invest in this at an earlier stage so not to drain NHS resources at a later date. If there are other workers who aren't gonna be happy, cos someones getting something they are not, chances are they're gonna be male, lets look at the discrimination that women still suffer in the work place and barriers in their path to promotion. Often involving the issues of having children shall we. If they're not male then they obviously haven't heard of solidarity or are women behaving like men in order to survive in a mans world.

EXCUSE ME WHILE I TAKE A TRIP UP MY OWN ARSE

Was gonna stay in and watch Eurovision last night, but went to see The Vibrators 'fly the flag' instead. They were great, played all the old classics and still sounded fresh, relevant and full of energy. Eddie and Knox had more stamina than the punks and skins half their age, who had to stop for a rest during 'the moshing.' Only complaint; wish they'd done a few more of their less well known numbers, cos as I've said before Knox is such a great song writer. Something I spoke with him about afterwards when I renewed my acquaintance with him. I first met him 24 years ago when I interviewed him for a fanzine I was doing. A copy of this interview can be found on the bands website. (Link to the left and scroll down) At the moment he's got about 300 songs written and is presently trying to secure a new publishing deal, ironically he'd submitted one to be considered for Britain's Eurovision entry. It wasn't completely rejected, the committee quite liked it but.......Any way enough. Here's a couple of tracks from Knox covering The Clash's Train In Vain and Should I Stay Or Should I Go He should really stick to doing his own songs, but here yer go, a click away If you wanna check 'em out: http://s19.quicksharing.com/v/7866311/KNOX_Does_The_Clash.rar.html

Eurovision tonight; where Britain will be judged on the strength of the song and our foreign policy, both are shit.

Things Can Only Get BetAAARGH!

Just what has puppet actor Tony Blur done in 10 years ? He's lied and deceived us with every bullshit broadcast he's made. He's cost us cash while telling us the economy is doing great, as interest rates rise. He's left the elderly lying on hospital trolleys in corridors for days while robbing their pensions. He's saturated the country with CCTV while crime on the streets has risen. Innocent people have died for him in a war that wasn't theirs, as a result a whole raft of laws that infringe civil liberties have been introduced. He's filled the House of Lords with cronies who gave him enough cash. He's closed down schools to build academies of learning, built affordable housing for those that can't afford it. He's given us more spin than if you put that god damn 'Things can only get better' record on at 78rpm. But at least we've got the Olympics to look forward to, that is until it's time for us to pay for 'em. Ooops nearly forgot, he brought peace to Northern Ireland, well the reality is that he only finished off the work the Conservatives had started. In fact throughout his premiershit New Labour have continued the right wing work of the Tory party toward the ultimate Totalitarian Democracy, where people think and feel they are free but in reality they are not. Nobody gets a real say in how the country is ruInED, not that we should expect to when after all the government aren't getting a real say in who's gonna be their leader and our Prime Minister. Brown, the colour of shit. The same shit just from a different arsehole.

48 Hours? No it's gonna be 48 days before Britain swaps one Prime Sinister for another from Blair to Brown, I can't see any other ministers mounting a challenge, not if they value their jobs, which they'll probably lose anyway in a cabinet reshuffle. From one puppet dicktator to another. When it's all over history shall judge them both by the length of their noses.

Get with the C/Si program.

Momentum is gaining for CARBON/SILICON'S debut 'real recording' The News EP, as oppose to their 'virtual recordings' which were only available in MPFree format from their website, thought i'd post their last 2 albums which are no longer obtainable to download, they've been replaced by the excellent Crack Up Suite EP (link to site over to yer left and scroll down) CARBON/SILICON are Mick Jones and Tony James. long time friends. From London SS to The Clash and B.AD, from Generation X to Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Sisters Of Mercy, these guys have been there seen it and got the T-Shirt. C/Si sound nothing like any of 'em but a bit like all of them, it's the sound of a different generation of punks having fun and keeping the flag flying. After 30+ years these guys are sounding relevant and still have something to say. The News EP is gonna be out on 28th May for Digital Download and on June 4th an extended DD and 7" and 4 track CD all tracks have been mixed by Bill Price (who worked with The Clash) by all accounts they have been compressed into a more manageable listen. So download, buy and lets get the charts a bit fired up again. It's all in the timing 1977 / 2007. Anyway in the mean time have a listen to their recordings from 2006. Highly recommended, and just a click away.

A.T.O.M : http://www.sendspace.com/file/76rc77

WESTERN FRONT : http://www.sendspace.com/file/ud0xtx

CRISIS - Hymns Of Faith

Along with The Clash and Crass, CRISIS brought a healthy dose of politics to the 'punk scene', they were coming from a strong Socialist perspective. Their debut single No Town Hall was a benefit for a group campaigning to stop the building of a new town hall in the London borough of Southwark, where homes for all were needed not a new town hall. The band were staunch anti-racists, as their 2nd single White Youth testified. The 7 tracks on their posthumous release (by 1980 the band had gone their separate ways forming Death In June and joining Theatre Of Hate.) Hymns Of Faith: On T.V/Laughin'/Back In The USSR/Afraid/Frustration/Red Brigades/Kanada Kommando// deal lyrically with subjects such as television, violence, totalitarian Russia and European terrorist organisations. Musically the buzzsaw guitar and single note guitar lines carry the tune and the drums and bass provide a heavy rhythm a classic piece of post-punk political passion. This download is ripped from a 25 year old cassette tape recording of the original vinyl. It is a must have. You know the score, it's just a.............away: http://s19.quicksharing.com/v/5747733/CRISIS_Hymns_Of_Faith.rar.html NEW LINK IN RE-POSTS/REQUESTS SECTION OVER TO YER LEFT AND SCROLL DOWN!

The missing child in Portugal, there are a few things pissing me off about the medias coverage of it; other than their usual vicarious coverage of family trying to cope with it all. "You can't imagine how they must be feeling", "They're both looking tired and drawn" blah, blah, blah. Others suffering eases our own, and makes us realise how lucky we are that it wasn't us, because according to the media it could have quite easily have happened to any parents, as we have all left our children alone or considered it. I'm sorry when my daughter was 3 the thought never entered mine or my partners heads, any way I thought there was a law in Britain that said you couldn't leave a child under a certain age alone at home. I also wonder what the medias reaction would have been if the parents weren't 'professional people' and say just for example it had been a single unemployed mum from a council estate having a drink in the bar? would she have been criticised for being an irresponsible parent? Lastly the attitude towards the Portuguese police, who the media say are not doing the job right and as well as the British police would be. Well, this sort of situation may well be new to the Portuguese authorities, but I'm sure they're doing the best they can with the resources they've got. Anyway, excuse me, but surely when you travel abroad you would expect to receive the standard of service that the country you are visiting provides. Whether that is up to British standards is neither here nor there, just because a few Brits have colonised the Algarve it doesn't mean that it isn't still Portugal.

It's A Wonderfull World.

Wots been happening ? Lots of random killings in Britain, from kids to policemen. In France they've elected a Right-Wing president who aims to do a Maggie and curb the power of the unions amongst other things. In America Bush meets the Queen and fucks up by breaking royal protocol and winking at her. In Portugal a 3 year old Britain is abducted from a hotel room while her parents are having diner at the restaurant. Quick Blair, get the spade looks like a good time to bury any bad news.

Sunday Political Analysis on Bank Holiday Monday

After the Local Council Elections, Great Britain can be seen as becoming a divided nation. The Scots and Welsh don't want to be governed by Westminster anymore. The South of England favours the Conservatives and Labour maintained and gained support in The North. The Lib-Dems small amount of support is all over the place, and The Green Party gained seats in some councils. The major victory is that the BNP not only failed to break through in new areas but lost seats they had previously gained. How this will be reflected at the next General Election will depend on what New Labour does and doesn't do. But remember: WE ARE THE PEOPLE! and as the Newtown Neurotics said when they wanted to Kick Out The Tories; "DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU READ IN THE PRESS"

dEAD mEN wALKING

Picked this up for a quid in the local 'crack converters' wasn't sure whether to buy it or not. Mike Peters(The Alarm), weren't too bad saw 'em a couple of times, a 2nd division Clash. Never really into Pete Wyle and his mighty Wah. Glen Matlock, Rich Kids were good but...Kirk Brandon, now yer talking, Westworld a classic Theatre Of Hate track, must be worth a £1 to see what he sounds like backed by a bunch of aging punks. How? and Why? Kirk got involved with this project I don't know. Anyway you can't get much for a quid these days. Westworld is reworked into a haunting acoustic lament and is great, the rest of it well I dunno, it weren't a bargain but it wasn't a complete waste of money. Check it out for yerselfs. It'll cost you nowt and it's just a click away: http://s19.quicksharing.com/v/1456483/dEAD_mEN_wALKING.rar.html

Wild Billy Childish and The Musicians of The British Empire

For 30 odd years Billy Childish has been releasing music, writing poetry/books and painting pictures. An artist and true British excentric (Google his name if you wanna know more.) This is one of his latest offerings; a 7" only single released by Damaged Goods records: Punk Rock at The British Legion Hall b/w Joe Strummers Grave. Only heard it recently and it's a classic garage punk stomp. The lyrics to Joe Strummers Grave are a brilliant observation of the present state of the Great British nation, peppered with a healthy dose of humour. "Cool Britannia, Jesus saves/Rupert Murdoch rules the waves/Richard Branson doesn't shave/And Joe Strummers lying in his grave." Brilliant. Go on, you wont regret it, you know what to do.... It's just a click away: http://s19.quicksharing.com/v/8733747/WILD_BILLY_CHILDISH.rar.html

ELECTION RESULT

No result for the BNP, but I do have 211 people in my council ward that voted for their policies, which is 6 more than voted for the LIB DEMS, mind you I dunno what their policies were as I never received a leaflet of theirs. Didn't get a CONSERVATIVE one come through the door either and they've got 378 supporters. LABOUR the only other party who did go out canvasing kept the seat with 848 votes. With all the results from the wards this leaves the local council in Labour control with just a couple of Conservatives and Liberals to keep them in check, but no BNP to stir things up. Result.

BloodyNastyPeople

Have just come back from exercising my democratic right to vote. It's a sham(e) that in a democracy parties are allowed to stand on a platform of hatred toward other people with policies that would take away the freedom of certain groups in society. I just hope that across Britain today people have the sense to put their cross in a box that will send the BNP scum back to the rocks from which they crawled under. I'm not so sure though being as those other eroders of civil liberties; New Labour have left people feeling cheated and cross.

THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN - Re-formed and Live 2007.

Probably the most important and influential band since The Clash. Jesus and The Mary Chain used the punk blueprint, tore it up took the pieces and gaffa taped it back together into something completely different. Upside Down their debut single was a slab of feedback, early live shows ended in riots, these guys didn't care. No Mary Chain, no Britpop. Their debut L.P PsychoCandy was as important to a generation just as The Clash's had been to another. As time passed the band matured, but never lost their edge nor the ability to craft a good tune using the tools of their trade. "A guitar is like a hammer or chisel - it's something to get the job done. You don't need to sit down and learn to play the thing. That would be four years of your life wasted" was what Jim Reid once said. Unlike The Clash, Jesus and Mary Chain decided to reform. This recording is from their first gig together since the Reid brothers acrimonious split on stage in 1998. It was recorded at Pomona in California last month and obtained via Moggieboy over on the Primal Scream forum. It includes all their classics from Never Understand to Reverence. Personally I dunno if they should have got back together, perhaps they should have just left a legendary legacy like The Clash. Anyway you decide. It's just a click away: http://www.sendspace.com/file/yptw98

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF IDLENESS.

As today is International Idleness Day I'm gonna do very little. Why not do the same?

IGGY POP - 'Heroin Hates You' (Live @ Stardust Ballroom, LA 1979)

There's no harder worker in the 'entertainment industry' than IGGY POP. He has been knocking 'em dead with his raw power in cities across the world for 40 years now. The story of Iggy is a blog in itself, so I aint gonna bother recalling it, read his biography Open Up and Bleed by Paul Trynka for more. What I will say is; no Iggy, no nothing, from Metal to Punk and Goth to Pop, Iggy has influenced them all. The good, the bad and the ugly. From fixing heroin to filming in Hollywood, Iggy has done it all. Hero, villain from genius to flawed artist. Over the years he has released critically acclaimed and severely slated albums. It is live where Iggy is truly in his element; wild and wired, primal and feral feeding off the audience then spewing it back at them. My favourite Iggy recordings are his live ones were the shows are peppered by his past and flavoured with the best of the rest of his present. This recording is from 1979 when he was promoting his New Values album. He had his 'punk backing' band with him ; Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) and Brian James (The Damned), both found touring with Iggy the most intense thing they had experienced. Any way experience it for yerself, it's just a click away: http://www.sendspace.com/file/7ptak3

ON INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY, A WORD FROM A COUPLE OF PEOPLE

'Modern bourgeois society with its relations of production, of exchange and of property, a society that has conjured up such gigantic means of production and of exchange, is like the sorcerer, who is no longer able to control the powers of the nether world whom he has called up by his spells.' - Karl Marx

'The 21st Century will not be about the battle between capitalism and socialism but between the forces of progress and the forces of conservatism' - Tony Blair


I 'AINT NO CONSERVATIVE ,BUT I SAY LET'S TAKE AWAY THE SORCERER, AND HIS APPRENTICE GORDON BROWN'S POWER! In the 10 years that New Labour have been in control society may have progressed materially but morally it has regressed to a darker age. As a society we are unbalanced. It is time to cast our own spells.