the clash – The Thatcher Crisis Years

The Clash at the Anti-Nazi League carnival in 1978

Posted on March 13, 2018March 17, 2018 by The Thatcher Crisis Years

Aged fourteen, I went on the huge Anti-Nazi carnival in east London in 1978. I got split up from my mates and ended up on my own – bit of a daunting experience. Got out at Embankment tube and watched loads of punks vaulting over the barriers while I politely inserted by ticket stub – as you did in those pre-Oyster days.

Then walked up towards Trafalgar Square glancing nervously at the big police vans nearby. I’d never seen anything like this and they were clearly looking for some aggro. The noise in the square was something else. A band was playing and the cheering was deafening.

At some point, we began the very long march to Victoria park in Mile End. I mean seriously, could you get people to go that far these days? Recall passing under the railway bridge near St Paul’s that was taken down in the 80s and then arriving at the park to hear more bands on a big stage including….The Clash!

But a small confession to make. I just don’t remember The Clash on stage at all. What my memories feature are X Ray Spex and the Tom Robinson Band. But….here’s The Clash and for some reason, Jimmy Pursey of Sham 69 got up on stage with them.

When Shoreditch was fascist territory

Posted on February 12, 2015March 18, 2018 by The Thatcher Crisis Years

National Front leaflet Even in a lifetime, parts of London can change dramatically and Shoreditch is a huge transformation story. Thirty five years ago, it was a battleground between neo-Nazis and anti-fascists.

National Front supporters would strut through Brick Lane intimidating the local Asian population and spray painting swastikas and racist graffiti. And in 1978, the NF set up its headquarters in deepest Hoxton – 73 Great Eastern Street to be precise.

In the spring of 78, the Anti Nazi League and Rock Against Racism organised a huge anti-racist carnival in Victoria Park, Mile End – which I attended with my school mates. In our group was the son of Len Murray, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, a fellow pupil at my school. On what was a magical day, we watched The Clash play in the park as well as the Tom Robinson Band – not a combo remembered much by anybody aged under 40.

Later the same year, south London got its chance to rock against the National Front with a carnival in Brockwell Park. But the word went out that while the capital’s anti-racists were watching some great bands – the Nazis would be taking over the east end. The call went out for some of those who opposed the NF to forego the music and counter-demonstrate against the far right in Shoreditch.

Brilliant Record Mirror cover featuring The Motors

Posted on July 29, 2012March 17, 2018 by The Thatcher Crisis Years

Record Mirror had some really amazing art work on the magazine front covers at the end of the 70s – I own some framed covers of Siouxsie Sioux and The Clash. Here’s another one in my collection promoting a feature inside the magazine on The Motors. Just superb.

Record Mirror front covers from the late 70s

Posted on April 3, 2011March 16, 2018 by The Thatcher Crisis Years

I’ve just decorated my bedroom as a shrine to the coolest 80s pop stars and here’s a budget idea to do the same to yours. Basically, I got some of the best Record Mirror front covers off e-bay and then had them framed. Around 1978 to 1981, the magazine had some very stylised front covers with artistic images of stars instead of photos. I don’t know what the reason was – cost, whatever. But framed – they look amazing – here they are!