Music

Smile

by Brian Wilson "If there is one person I have to select as as a living genius of pop music, I would choose Brian Wilson." George Martin, Beatles producer "I lost my way, heh, heh, heh." Brian Wilson With sell-out concerts at the Royal Festival Hall and major coverage in the serious press, Brian Wilson, aged 61, is back. He is back playing music he wrote when he was just 24. Last year we were re-introduced to Pet Sounds , consistently voted best album of all time by music journalists. This year Wilson has compiled the most famous unfinished album in rock history, Smile , abandoned 37 years ago...

The Man in Black

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down Living on the hopeless hungry side of town I wear it for the prisoner Who has long paid for his crime But is there because he's a victim of the times I wear it for the sick and lonely old For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold I wear the black in mourning for the lives that could have been Each week we lose a hundred fine young men (From The man in black, 1971) Johnny Cash was great not just for his songwriting, performing and humanitarian outlook. He was great because he although he embodied the features of American country music...

Is Eminem a tosser?

Since his phenomenal success spilled over into the movie world - even bagging him an Oscar - everyone knows who the platinum blonde enfant terrible of rap is. But what's all the fuss about him really about? We asked 3 Bolshy readers the simple question...is Eminem a tosser? No: by Dan N Eminem is by far the most successful rapper in the world at this moment. His nearest challenger, 50 Cent, is one of Eminem’s protégés. However, Eminem’s route to the top has not been uncontroversial. Quite apart from the ongoing feud with Irv Gotti’s “Murder Inc.” group of artists, the handgun charge and the...

Workers of the World: Round-up

by Pablo Velasco Oscar Olivera wins case Urgent appeal for Chinese workers' leaders P Diddy uses sweatshops Brazilian car workers walk out Korean workers' demonstrations Colombian Coca Cola worker visit Oscar Olivera wins case Bolivian workers' leader Oscar Olivera has won his fight against victimisation. Oscar is the secretary of the Federation of Factory Workers of Cochabamba, and works at the Manaco Footwear Company. He is a locally elected union leader who gets his regular salary and benefits from the company while performing full-time union work. He is also a leader of struggles against...

Frontline poetry: The Diggers' Song

You noble Diggers all, stand up now, stand up now, You noble Diggers all, stand up now, The waste land to maintain, seeing Cavaliers by name Your digging does disdain, and persons all defame Stand up now, Stand up now. Your houses they pulldown, stand up now, stand up now, Your houses they pull down, stand up now. Your houses they pull down to fight poor men in town, But the gentry must come down, and the poor shall wear the crown. Stand up now, Diggers all. With spades and hoes and ploughs, stand up now, stand up now, With spades and hoes and ploughs, stand up now, Your freedom to uphold...

Baghdad Ska

By Attila the Stockbroker Hooray Hooray for the USA Your soldiers took Saddam away So we're all going out on the streets to play And celebrate our liberation day The hospitals overflow with dead The market's bombed and we have no bread But you said this was the only way.... And I think my family are all OK I think my family are all OK I saw an old friend the very next day Armed to the teeth and up for the fray He said "I'll make those Yankees pay!" - A B52 blew his wife away I put my hand upon his head I held him close and softly said "I know it's an awful price to pay"… Then sadly I went on...

The Triumph of Hope over Experience, Robb Johnson

Anyone on the UK left who hasn't encountered Robb Johnson, at a benefit, singing on a demo, or otherwise providing a vocal harmony to the rythms of the class struggle, is clearly missing out - and even the Daily Telegraph thinks so. The bosses' rag recently called Johnson "one of Britain's most challenging songwriters", challenging in this case being a grudging recognition of the force and clarity of Robb's writing. His songs have been recorded by the 'folk establishment', from Barb Jungr to Roy Bailey, yet Johnson himself remains strangely low-key and unknown outside a small, select, circle...

War! What is it good for?

Pop music can be escapist — nothing wrong with that — but occasionally it transcends that to give voice to popular concerns and question jingoistic assumptions. Here is my “top ten” of anti-war songs, some well known and some hidden gems. Matt Cooper Edwin Star, War There a good reason why an anti-war song can’t just say “war is wrong”. It has already been done perfectly. When Edwin Star sings “War- urgh! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing” there might not be any deep understanding of why the Vietnam War was happening, but as a a guttural rant against the injustice and waste of it all, it...

BOLSHY'S TRIBUTE TO JOE STRUMMER

Joe Strummer 1952-2002 They don't make bands like The Clash any more. Call me cynical, but it's true. Girls Aloud and One True Voice, as vocally talented, articulate, intelligent people as they are, don't quite measure up to a band like The Clash. Their front-man, Joe Strummer, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack in December 2002 at the age of 50, will certainly be missed. Joe Strummer and The Clash combined punk - the angry noise of the white working-class - and ska - the angry noise of the black working-class - and came out with…The Clash: the angry noise of the working-class. Okay...

Policing live music

Robb Johnson takes a look at what the new Licensing Bill will mean for live music "at the margins" The Licensing Bill will make live music illegal. Okay, that's probably just the sort of alarmist assertion the government are accusing the Musicians' Union of propagating in their opposition to the current proposed Licensing Bill. But just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you! The Government claim the new law will not only do away with closing time, but also the "two in a bar" rule that prevented pubs without an entertainment licence having more than two people...

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