Dublin's Hope Collective
Patti Smith punk icon + author extradionaire The Patti Smith autobiography is written with the most incredible craft. The words are used with care and skill and convey a startling depth and intensity. Naturally I am interested in any Irish angle and it appears early on. While describing her childhood in Pennsylvania she conjures up … Continue reading Patti Smith Just Kids (London: Bloomsbury, 2010)
It's always bizarre to reminisce about life in the 20th Century. It is so common for us all to now take to the internet in search of any information that is required. Access is at your finger tips should you wish to find out about music, stamps, food, news, sport. Heard there is an uprising … Continue reading All radio should be active
Dexy's Midnight Runners New Model Army Fugazi Senseless Things Snuff Rollins Band Jane's Addiction Ween Rage Against The Machine That Petrol Emotion The Wild Hearted Outsider
Top 5 ways to improve Rebellion I loved the festival this year, although I'm a recent enough convert over the past 5 years this was my favourite one so far. Lots of good diverse bands and with so much to do. I love that it's on in Blackpool as the tatty slightly decaying seaside town … Continue reading Rebellion top 5’s pt 3
Top 5 t-shirts We did a very scientific search on t-shirts on display - looked at them all and tried to remember which were most popular band by their merch. And in no particular order we have.... Resistance 77 - wierd that they fell the need to explain their patriotism but even wierder that england … Continue reading Rebellion top 5’s pt 2
Top 5 moments from Rebellion 2012 The anti-fascist sing songs from Los Fastidios, the Filaments and Hard Skin - whilst it may have been less prevalent than in recent years there is still a small number of people who believe themselves to be superior due to the colour of their skin. This year there was … Continue reading Rebellion top 5’s pt 1
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
I just read the autobiography of Cork singer-songwriter Jimmy McCarthy.Best known for composing songs covered by Christy Moore, Mary Black, Maura O'Connell, The Corrs and even Westlife!It is one of those books (like the Christy Moore one) where the author uses the songs he sung or played to describe his life at a particular … Continue reading Jimmy McCarthy
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
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
