Today three items are worth considering, and different as they may appear, they all fall under the category of popular music and the government. Moscow When John Lydon articulated his support in Blackpool on Sunday for three women on trial in Russia he probably didn’t suspect that his sentiments would be echoed by Madonna. He … Continue reading Moscow / Dublin / London
Blackpool Rebellion Day 1
Today it was back to Blackpool for the annual check-up on the medical condition of the venerable old institution that is punk. Punk nostalgia could not have found a more perfect temporary home than 'the Paris of the North West'. There amongst the Ghost Trains, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, the sticks of rock, the … Continue reading Blackpool Rebellion Day 1
Blackpool Rebellion 2012 Day 2
Day 2 Create. Community. One of the most interesting things about punk is its invitation to create. Sure, like any other popular music genre, it is associated with tonnes of consumption: how many Ramones t-shirts have sprung from cotton plants around the world? How many bottles of dye have been sold to embellish punk heads? … Continue reading Blackpool Rebellion 2012 Day 2
Day 3 of Rebellion provides lots of topics for further discussion.
40 Shades of Green, 50 Shades of Grey. The Q and A session with Viv Albertine and John Robb illustrates why the personal stories and histories have to be recorded. Sometimes we assume that good bands get heard just because they stand out or have something special about then. Yet the real story is how … Continue reading Day 3 of Rebellion provides lots of topics for further discussion.
Blackpool Day 4
Altered Images had a really enjoyable and buoyant brand of pop music when they emerged from Scotland. They cancelled a scheduled appearance in Dublin at some ball or other in Trinity at the height of their appeal. Thankfully for us pop fans Teardrop Explodes who played in McGonagles that week were persuaded to stay a … Continue reading Blackpool Day 4