Category: Pop music
-
Policing Acid House Parties in 1989: What the new Thatcher Government papers reveal
The latest round of papers from the Prime Minister’s Office have been released, relating to the final years of Margaret Thatcher’s government in 1989-90. While files on several topics have been opened, this post will look at the file dedicated the policing of ‘acid house parties’ (also known as raves) in 1989. As I’ve mentioned…
-
Policing club culture in the UK and the neoliberal city
This week, famous London club Fabric was permanently closed down after its liquor license was taken revoked, allegedly after police raised concerns for the safety of clubgoers following the deaths of two people this year inside the club. Others have suggested that the Islington Council sought the closure of the club because it was too…
-
Thinking historically about acid house & early rave culture: The soundtrack to late Thatcherism
Most discussions of the soundtrack to the Thatcher years concentrates on the early-to-mid-1980s and the rise of Thatcherism. For example, many have referred to The Specials and The Beat at the time of 1981 riots, Duran Duran and Wham! as the Thatcherite hegemony won the 1983 election and Billy Bragg and the Style Council during…
-
June 4, 1976: Sex Pistols play Manchester for the very first time…
In the history of British popular culture, June 4, 1976 is a significant date. The Sex Pistols played at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall to a small room of people. It is one of their first gigs outside London. Like the saying about the first Velvet Underground LP, nearly everyone in the audience that night…
-
More electro/indie CDs for sale
Following on from this list, I am decluttering my CD collection and the below CDs are for sale. All are $5 Australian (plus postage) except where stated. I will post worldwide – please enquire if interested. Payment via paypal is preferred. 10,000 Maniacs – Blind Man’s Zoo 10,000 Maniacs – Our Time in Eden The Audience – s/t…
-
The Youtube clip I’ve been waiting for: Tony Martin doing Billy Bragg
This is the greatest bit from The Late Show. I’m glad someone’s finally uploaded it. Enjoy!
-
South Africa and anti-Apartheid in British popular culture before Mandela (1976-1983)
This post is partly inspired by my work on The Young Ones and the cultural depictions of the history of Thatcherite Britain. In the first episode, ‘Demolition’, which aired in late 1982, Rick and Neil have an argument over whether the vegetables in the meal were from South Africa (there was an international campaign for a boycott…
-
The Smiths and the Anti-Apartheid Movement: “You have incredibly good taste”
I’ve been wanting to write something about the new online archive of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement and had been looking for some angle as a way in, inspired by Gavin Brown’s brilliant write-up on the archive’s material on the City of London Anti-Apartheid Group. And then I found this poster. This is the poster for…
New Historical Express 