"My Boulder" by The King Blues has been made single of the week by Greg James on the early morning breakfast show on Radio 1.
It is also single of the week on the XFM breakfast show with Alex Zane
Massive thanks to both those DJ's
"My Boulder" is released on Monday October 13th
The album "Save The World, Get The Girl" is released on Monday October 20th and can be pre-ordered for £5.
99 from play. com
The King Blues embark on a headline UK tour starting 18th October with a London date at Islington Academy on October 22nd
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
PRE ORDER OUR NEW ALBUM AND SINGLE NOW!!!
PRE-ORDER SAVE THE WORLD. GET THE GIRL NOW!
FROM
PLAY.COM
HMV
PRE-ORDER MY BOULDER NOW!
FROM
BANQUET RECORDS
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
NEW TRACK UP - MY BOULDER! PLEASE REQUEST IT AT RADIO ONE!
Our new single My Boulder is now up on our myspace page, so please go and have a listen!
www.myspace.com/thekingblues
It will be out on the 13th October through Field/Island records.
If you hear the king blues on the radio, please text in or email the show requesting us again!
Let's take over the FM airwaves!
Cheers to Scott Miles and Mike Davis for spinning the track yesterday.
One Love.
Jazzx
www.myspace.com/thekingblues
It will be out on the 13th October through Field/Island records.
If you hear the king blues on the radio, please text in or email the show requesting us again!
Let's take over the FM airwaves!
Cheers to Scott Miles and Mike Davis for spinning the track yesterday.
One Love.
Jazzx
Monday, 15 September 2008
WANT TO REMIX "WHAT IF PUNK NEVER HAPPENED?"
Good afternoon everyone!
We would very much like YOU to remix "WHAT IF PUNK NEVER HAPPENED" taken from our forthcoming album "SAVE THE WORLD. GET THE GIRL" (out October 20th!)
The accapella track is downloadable from
http://del.interoute.com/?id=73f4e3ee-66ba-48bd-aca6-2f2a660f9ad0&delivery=download
send your remixes into thekingblues@yahoo.co.uk
The best remixes could end being used as future B-Sides.
If you haven't heard the track yet, ROB DA BANK played it last night on RADIO ONE, which you can listen again to here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank/
While your there, please request it again!
jazzx
We would very much like YOU to remix "WHAT IF PUNK NEVER HAPPENED" taken from our forthcoming album "SAVE THE WORLD. GET THE GIRL" (out October 20th!)
The accapella track is downloadable from
http://del.interoute.com/?id=73f4e3ee-66ba-48bd-aca6-2f2a660f9ad0&delivery=download
send your remixes into thekingblues@yahoo.co.uk
The best remixes could end being used as future B-Sides.
If you haven't heard the track yet, ROB DA BANK played it last night on RADIO ONE, which you can listen again to here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank/
While your there, please request it again!
jazzx
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
THE KING BLUES UPDATE
Firstly thanks to Mike Davies, all the bands and everyone we met at Reading/Leeds Festival, definately the best one yet.
It's always the highlight of the summer and to see the tent overflowing was pretty special
You can see the BBC footage of 'My Boulder' acoustic session at http://www.bbc.co.uk/readingandleeds/2008/artists/kingblues/index.shtml which is currently doing the rounds on BBC2
Mike Davies did a Reading special on his Radio One show last night, featuring 3 acoustic tracks 'My Boulder', 'Hold On Tight' and a cover of Meat Loaf's 'Bat Out Of Hell'. There's also an interview with us live from Reading.
Listen again at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/mikedavies/
We have a brand new website up at http://www.kingblues.net/ sign yourself up and get exclusive tracks and up to the minute info
The King Blues 'Let's Hang The Landlord' T-shirts are now available online at http://www. play.com/Search.aspx?searchtype=clothingall&searchstring=king+blues&page=search&pa=search&go.x=0&go.y=0 (including skinny fit)
We have a mini tour coming up this week:
Thurs 28 Aug 2008 NEW SLANG CLUB @ McCluskys, KINGSTON
(support from Mike TV)
Fri 29 Aug 2008 Lazy Lizard, WEYMOUTH
(support from Captain Bud)
Sat 30 Aug 2008 The Hub, EXETER
(support from Captain Bud & Something Somethings)
Sun 31 Aug 2008 BINGLEY MUSIC LIVE FESTIVAL
(with Alabama 3, Echo and the Bunnymen...)
Once again, big thanks to Mike Davies, Zane Lowe and Rob Da Bank for continued support at Radio 1.
It's always the highlight of the summer and to see the tent overflowing was pretty special
You can see the BBC footage of 'My Boulder' acoustic session at http://www.bbc.co.uk/readingandleeds/2008/artists/kingblues/index.shtml which is currently doing the rounds on BBC2
Mike Davies did a Reading special on his Radio One show last night, featuring 3 acoustic tracks 'My Boulder', 'Hold On Tight' and a cover of Meat Loaf's 'Bat Out Of Hell'. There's also an interview with us live from Reading.
Listen again at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/mikedavies/
We have a brand new website up at http://www.kingblues.net/ sign yourself up and get exclusive tracks and up to the minute info
The King Blues 'Let's Hang The Landlord' T-shirts are now available online at http://www. play.com/Search.aspx?searchtype=clothingall&searchstring=king+blues&page=search&pa=search&go.x=0&go.y=0 (including skinny fit)
We have a mini tour coming up this week:
Thurs 28 Aug 2008 NEW SLANG CLUB @ McCluskys, KINGSTON
(support from Mike TV)
Fri 29 Aug 2008 Lazy Lizard, WEYMOUTH
(support from Captain Bud)
Sat 30 Aug 2008 The Hub, EXETER
(support from Captain Bud & Something Somethings)
Sun 31 Aug 2008 BINGLEY MUSIC LIVE FESTIVAL
(with Alabama 3, Echo and the Bunnymen...)
Once again, big thanks to Mike Davies, Zane Lowe and Rob Da Bank for continued support at Radio 1.
Friday, 15 August 2008
KING BLUES NEWS - NEW SHOWS, T-SHIRTS, RADIO ONE AND EUROPE!
Good afternoon! Sorry for the long Bulletin, but its been a very long 24 hours in the KB headquarters, but there's some real cool stuff going on, so please read on!
NEW SHOWS
First off, we have some new shows, including NOTTINGHAM, supporting PUNK ROCK LEGENDS RANCID(!!), and at the NEW SLANG club night in KINGSTON.
For more details, please see the myspace.
While your there, please check out MIX TAPES of our NEW ALBUM "SAVE THE WORLD. GET THE GIRL" that itch put up last night!
BUY THE "LETS HANG THE LANDLORD" T-SHIRT ONLINE
The "LETS HANG THE LANDLORD" T-SHIRT is now available exclusively through play.com. Click on the artwork below to pre-order your's now!
(and yes, it is available in all sizes - including girls sizes!)
"UNDER THE FOG" AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT EUROPE!
To all our European friends, our first Album "UNDER THE FOG" is finally available across Europe through ITUNES! Get your copy now!
and finally,
RADIO ONE PLAYS NEW SINGLE!
Last night ZANE LOWE gave our forthcoming new single "MY BOULDER" its first airing!
Please send him an Email Requesting the song again! http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/email.shtml
You can listen back to the whole of last night's show here http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/
One Love
jazzx
NEW SHOWS
First off, we have some new shows, including NOTTINGHAM, supporting PUNK ROCK LEGENDS RANCID(!!), and at the NEW SLANG club night in KINGSTON.
For more details, please see the myspace.
While your there, please check out MIX TAPES of our NEW ALBUM "SAVE THE WORLD. GET THE GIRL" that itch put up last night!
BUY THE "LETS HANG THE LANDLORD" T-SHIRT ONLINE
The "LETS HANG THE LANDLORD" T-SHIRT is now available exclusively through play.com. Click on the artwork below to pre-order your's now!
(and yes, it is available in all sizes - including girls sizes!)
"UNDER THE FOG" AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT EUROPE!
To all our European friends, our first Album "UNDER THE FOG" is finally available across Europe through ITUNES! Get your copy now!
and finally,
RADIO ONE PLAYS NEW SINGLE!
Last night ZANE LOWE gave our forthcoming new single "MY BOULDER" its first airing!
Please send him an Email Requesting the song again! http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/email.shtml
You can listen back to the whole of last night's show here http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/
One Love
jazzx
Thursday, 31 July 2008
NEW LONDON SHOW! CHEAP TICKETS THIS WEEK ONLY!!
First off, i want to say a huge thank you to EVERYONE that came to Dingwall's last night, and everyone that took to the high sea's of Camden Lock with us!
It was possibly the best gig I've ever played in my life - LONDON, STAND UP TALL!
Secondly, it's my pleasure to announce WE HAVE A NEW LONDON SHOW!
OCTOBER 22nd
ISLINGTON ACADEMY
THE KING BLUES + support TBC
14 +
There are CHEAP TICKETS available from:
http://www. gigantic. com/g~ps=2122~g/gigantic/event_gc02_6948. html
But be quick, these are only AVAILABLE UNTIL SATURDAY, and there are ONLY 100!
Cheers!
jazzx
It was possibly the best gig I've ever played in my life - LONDON, STAND UP TALL!
Secondly, it's my pleasure to announce WE HAVE A NEW LONDON SHOW!
OCTOBER 22nd
ISLINGTON ACADEMY
THE KING BLUES + support TBC
14 +
There are CHEAP TICKETS available from:
http://www. gigantic. com/g~ps=2122~g/gigantic/event_gc02_6948. html
But be quick, these are only AVAILABLE UNTIL SATURDAY, and there are ONLY 100!
Cheers!
jazzx
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
CHANGE OF PLAN, ALL ABOARD!!!!!
just been told there's been a change of heart from the owner's who have said we can squeeze more people on the boat!!
so tell you what, anyone who gets to Camden Lock at 3:30 can dance in the Sun on the boat and we'll just squeeze as many of you on as we can!!
THE KING BLUES ON A BOAT IN CAMDEN LOCK FOR FREE, WEDNESDAY 30TH JULY, GIG STARTS AT 3:45
COME ON DOOOOOOOOOOWN!!!!
so tell you what, anyone who gets to Camden Lock at 3:30 can dance in the Sun on the boat and we'll just squeeze as many of you on as we can!!
THE KING BLUES ON A BOAT IN CAMDEN LOCK FOR FREE, WEDNESDAY 30TH JULY, GIG STARTS AT 3:45
COME ON DOOOOOOOOOOWN!!!!
Monday, 28 July 2008
THE KING BLUES - FREE GIG ON A BOAT
Wednesday 30th July will see The King Blues take to the ‘high seas’ of Camden Lock as we play a free gig on a boat on the canal prior to our Camden Dingwalls gig (with support from The Brute Chorus and Luke Leighfield).
If you’d like to come on to the boat and have a ticket for the Dingwalls gig, message us back on our myspace.com/thekingblues
first 20 names will be put on the list, 10 on standby in case we find more room. Everyone else is more than welcome to watch from the side.
Come have fun in the sun!
Boat gig starts at 3:45pm Camden Lock
Camden Dingwalls doors at 7pm
Thursday, 3 July 2008
LETS HANG THE LANDLORD!!!
Here's the video for "Let's Hang The Landlord" the new single by The King Blues out in August.
Big thanks to Ads and the team and everyone who came down and made it so fun!!!!!
THE KING BLUES PLAY THE CAMDEN DINGWALLS ON JULY 30TH.
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW for £6 from http://www. ticketweb. co. uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=268407
Saturday, 14 June 2008
THE KING BLUES vs GEORGE BUSH
THE KING BLUES SOUNDSYSTEM will be down at this event, blasting rebel music through the streets of London town. Live THE KING BLUES set on the street marching towards downing street. Party vibes. Let's send a message to Bush, Brown, future leaders and their parties.
Note reasonable hour too!
SOUNDSYTEMS ARE FUN!!! SEE:
The King Blues xxx
PLEASE REPOST!!!!!
Note reasonable hour too!
SOUNDSYTEMS ARE FUN!!! SEE:
The King Blues xxx
PLEASE REPOST!!!!!
Thursday, 29 May 2008
KING BLUES NEWS
Hello from Devon,
currently in the studio with Peter Miles finishing off the 2nd album.
The first track from it "Let's Hang The Landlord" recieved it's first airing on Monday night on Radio One's "The Punk Show" with Mike Davies.
Many thanks to Mike for his continued love and support!
If you've got a spare 30 seconds (promise it won't take any longer) we'd really appreciate it if you could email Zane Lowe and ask him to also play the track.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/email.shtml If you go there, you can do it really easily, or from your normal email to zane.lowe@bbc.co.uk
We're playing Camden Dingwalls (our only London show for 5 months) with support from Blah Blah Blah and Luke Leighfield.
Tickets available now from
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/31312 for £6! 14+
Off to see Big D, SB6 and Random Hand tonight at The Hub in Exeter!
currently in the studio with Peter Miles finishing off the 2nd album.
The first track from it "Let's Hang The Landlord" recieved it's first airing on Monday night on Radio One's "The Punk Show" with Mike Davies.
Many thanks to Mike for his continued love and support!
If you've got a spare 30 seconds (promise it won't take any longer) we'd really appreciate it if you could email Zane Lowe and ask him to also play the track.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/email.shtml If you go there, you can do it really easily, or from your normal email to zane.lowe@bbc.co.uk
We're playing Camden Dingwalls (our only London show for 5 months) with support from Blah Blah Blah and Luke Leighfield.
Tickets available now from
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/31312 for £6! 14+
Off to see Big D, SB6 and Random Hand tonight at The Hub in Exeter!
Friday, 23 May 2008
DOWNLOAD NEW KING BLUES TRACK FOR FREE!!!
Download the NEW TRACK "LETS HANG THE LANDLORD" from our forthcoming album for FREE at:
www.kingblues.net
Also, we will be out and about this weekend olaying at
SATURDAY 24th 2PM
Dot to Dot Festival
Nottingham Rock City (14+)
SATURDAY 24th 8PM
Strummer Camp
Bowden Rugby Club (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE )
SUNDAY 25th 8PM
Dot to Dot Festival (14+)
Academy 2
jazzx
www.kingblues.net
Also, we will be out and about this weekend olaying at
SATURDAY 24th 2PM
Dot to Dot Festival
Nottingham Rock City (14+)
SATURDAY 24th 8PM
Strummer Camp
Bowden Rugby Club (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE )
SUNDAY 25th 8PM
Dot to Dot Festival (14+)
Academy 2
jazzx
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
new video, new flyer, new comic
check out this comic!!
http://blog. myspace. com/index. cfm?fuseaction=blog. view&friendID=320754663&blogID=375726716
feat.
a comic strip by The King Blues, all profits from the comic go to www. worldlandtrust. org
Friday, 4 April 2008
THE KING BLUES vs TONY BLAIR- the results
As Tony Blair gave a speech on 'faith and globalisation' at Westminster Cathedral yesterday, protestors gathered outside to make noise so he could not be heard. The King Blues soundsystem sounded louder than ever and we were joined by members of Moral Dilemma, The Skints, Honour Among Thieves as wel as Atilla The Stockbroker and Babar Luck.
According to some large news reports, we could be heard all the way to Victoria Station!!
"It's a really new thing for me for people to be frustrated because they can't hear me.
" Tony Blair commenting on the protest outside
Definately a very awkward speech, must be hard telling people your vision of the future and trying to inspire them when the audience can hear a protest happening against your plans already.
Images from Imelda
According to some large news reports, we could be heard all the way to Victoria Station!!
"It's a really new thing for me for people to be frustrated because they can't hear me.
" Tony Blair commenting on the protest outside
Definately a very awkward speech, must be hard telling people your vision of the future and trying to inspire them when the audience can hear a protest happening against your plans already.
Images from Imelda
Saturday, 29 March 2008
THE KING BLUES VS. TONY BLAIR
Tony Blair gives a lecture on ’faith and globalisation’. help us drown it out.
plan: join up with THE KING BLUES SOUNDSYSTEM, bring drums, guitars, whistles etc, mae some fucking noise and drown out the words of the warmongers. all welcome. legal demo.
WALL OF SOUND TO SILENCE BLAIR
THURSDAY 3 APRIL 6.30PM
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL
FRANCIS ST, LONDON SW1P 1QW
JUST SOUTH OF VICTORIA STREET
Nearest tube: Victoria Station
Stop the War Coalition is asking as many people as possible to help create a wall of sound to accompany Tony Blair as he gives a lecture on Faith and Globalisation at Westminster Cathedral in London on Thursday 3 April. (See http://www.rcdow.org.uk/lectures/)
No doubt Blair will be pontificating about the "values" and "morality" of his "faith" and how they guided him in making "difficult" decisions, like the slaughter of up to one million Iraqis and the total destruction of their country in an illegal war. Blair is a war criminal who should have been silenced five years ago by MPs in parliament, when they had the chance to vote against a war which they knew was opposed by the vast majority of people in this country.
On Thursday 3 April, we will meet every hypocritical word he utters with a wall of sound representing the values and morality of that majority, which was against the war in 2003 and wants all the troops withdrawn now. We want people to bring musical instruments and sound making implements of every kind -- drums, trumpets, saxophones, violins, cymbals, whistles, sirens, horns, rattles, saucepans and cans to bang; we want every type of band, choir and musical group to join us, all with the aim of drowning out the speech of a man who should not be in a cathedral pulpit but in the dock of a criminal court.
Please come at 6.30pm. Blair will speak at 7pm. Spread the word among as many people as you can and encourage them to join us on the night we aim to drown out Blair’s shameless lecture.
WALL OF SOUND TO SILENCE BLAIR
THURSDAY 3 APRIL 6.30PM
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL
FRANCIS ST, LONDON SW1P 1QW
JUST SOUTH OF VICTORIA STREET
Nearest tube: Victoria Station
plan: join up with THE KING BLUES SOUNDSYSTEM, bring drums, guitars, whistles etc, mae some fucking noise and drown out the words of the warmongers. all welcome. legal demo.
WALL OF SOUND TO SILENCE BLAIR
THURSDAY 3 APRIL 6.30PM
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL
FRANCIS ST, LONDON SW1P 1QW
JUST SOUTH OF VICTORIA STREET
Nearest tube: Victoria Station
Stop the War Coalition is asking as many people as possible to help create a wall of sound to accompany Tony Blair as he gives a lecture on Faith and Globalisation at Westminster Cathedral in London on Thursday 3 April. (See http://www.rcdow.org.uk/lectures/)
No doubt Blair will be pontificating about the "values" and "morality" of his "faith" and how they guided him in making "difficult" decisions, like the slaughter of up to one million Iraqis and the total destruction of their country in an illegal war. Blair is a war criminal who should have been silenced five years ago by MPs in parliament, when they had the chance to vote against a war which they knew was opposed by the vast majority of people in this country.
On Thursday 3 April, we will meet every hypocritical word he utters with a wall of sound representing the values and morality of that majority, which was against the war in 2003 and wants all the troops withdrawn now. We want people to bring musical instruments and sound making implements of every kind -- drums, trumpets, saxophones, violins, cymbals, whistles, sirens, horns, rattles, saucepans and cans to bang; we want every type of band, choir and musical group to join us, all with the aim of drowning out the speech of a man who should not be in a cathedral pulpit but in the dock of a criminal court.
Please come at 6.30pm. Blair will speak at 7pm. Spread the word among as many people as you can and encourage them to join us on the night we aim to drown out Blair’s shameless lecture.
WALL OF SOUND TO SILENCE BLAIR
THURSDAY 3 APRIL 6.30PM
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL
FRANCIS ST, LONDON SW1P 1QW
JUST SOUTH OF VICTORIA STREET
Nearest tube: Victoria Station
WORLD AGAINST WAR/ ROLLING SOUNDSYSTEM REPORT AND VIDEOS
We’d been planning this for a long, long time to build a P.A. on a trailer, attached to a bike that could be taken throughout the streets of London. A detailed guide on how it was built will be posted soon.The day started early. Fruitbag began cycling the giant tricycle from our rehearsal space in Tottenham to central London at 7am! Fruitbag has never seen 7am before, he didn’t like it. Our wonderful friends at Enterprise Studios let us put it all together there so we swiftly attached the trailer and the speakers etc. We wrapped the banner Gary had made us around it to make sure nothing fell off. This was looking great and we were all very excited. We pushed it through the busy streets to Trafalgar Square. The turnout was great, no need to worry about numbers at all. We set up and started playing and immediatey a good crowd gathered round us. Our new friend Baraka was to be the cyclist for the day. We were loud and people were dancing in the square, it was a beautiful sight. Some of the SWP members came over and started shouting at us to turn it down so everyone could hear the speeches. We argued back that we have nothing against socialists, but this is an anti war march, not a pro socialist march and we have as much a right as anyone to be here. The socialists do not own the movement and they can not control it, only the people can and the people want to dance. The swollen crowd starting singing ’The Sound Of Revolt’ at the top of their lungs til the SWP members sheepishly realised they woud not be listened to and walked off. Once again, nothing against socialists, but this is an anti war march, not pro socialist march. We played a small set, got people hyped up and then had a break for cans and ciggy’s. The march got moving a few hours late and people were enough happy to have a sound system there- helping us push it, dancing in the street, singing along- it was a very moving sight. We (repeatedly) played ’The Sound Of Revolt’, ’Blood On My Hands’, ’Torch Guantanamo Bay’, ’The Streets Are Ours’, ’Call To Arms’ and a new tune we made up on the spot that easily got the best reaction- ’Power To The People’. We stopped outside Parliament and screamed at them to listen to us, that we the people demand to be a peaceful nation and to have politics about making the world a better place, not about making money. It was very empowering and we made a lot of noise. At Parliament Square we joined up with Rhythms Of Resistance (anarchist samba band) and played ’The Streets Are Ours’ in front of Brian Haw’s display. We marched round the square playing a few more tunes until the 3rd and final car battery gave up on us and died. A massively successful day in all. Johnny and Jim did their standard ducking out of load out and left the rest of us to push the system back to Enterprise Studios. We loaded it all down and, absolutely knackered, went and did an interview with Total Rock Radio, giving them the heads up on what had happened.Up til that point we were contemplating whether to go and play a squat party or not, then it became clear we all needed to sleep. Badly. Thanks list: Rob The Rub, Baraka, Christina, Gary, Enterprise Studio & the new breed peace movement.If you have any photos/ video, please send it to us!!
from the BBC NEWS website:
"Muffled reggae beats waft through the crowd from a tricycle pulling a small speaker and mixing desk.
The music mingles with the sound of the fountains, the shouts of vendors hawking placards, and the voices of speakers condemning the war from a stage at the foot of Nelson's Column."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lis1B93rHXE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnKJy34yHQc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiK0MIjqZDk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgxY1JNWiNM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oFZPfamBQY
from the BBC NEWS website:
"Muffled reggae beats waft through the crowd from a tricycle pulling a small speaker and mixing desk.
The music mingles with the sound of the fountains, the shouts of vendors hawking placards, and the voices of speakers condemning the war from a stage at the foot of Nelson's Column."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lis1B93rHXE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnKJy34yHQc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiK0MIjqZDk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgxY1JNWiNM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oFZPfamBQY
Labels:
against,
blues,
king,
punk,
reggae,
resistance,
revoultion,
war,
world
Monday, 28 January 2008
READING CAFE/ SQUAT GIG
I just wanna say a massive thanks to everyone that came along and showed me a brilliant time and to Count Me In for doing the gig and to all the other acts that played. I was gutted Kelly Kemp couldn't make it but it was made great fun by a lively, subversive atmosphere. We started up in a great space called The Global Cafe, a cafe packed full of leftie reading material and the like. I got to do about 4 tunes before time was called, I didn't wanna get the place into trouble but I did want to keep on playing, at which point someone whispered in my ear that there was a squat up the road with a massive garden we can finish off the gig at. Everyone marched together to the squat and we finished up there after a round to the offy for some crates. This empty building had been taken over by squatters who had nurtured a very impressive garden and made it avaliable to the whole community. It had a lovely vibe and I enjoyed myself muchly playing new tunes and jamming with my friend Sam Russo. At the end of my set I crawled out of a whole in the fence to catch a train back to London, accompanied by a handful of brilliant people who kindly walked me the 15 minutes walk to the station to make sure I made the last train and didn't need a place to crash- how often does that happen!! About 5 minutes after I leave the squat and the police turn up (if only my life was like that) a few words were exchanged but as far as I can gather it all ended peacefully and eventually everyone got home- even me!
hope, peace & soul
itch
jamming in the garden
Not sure how I managed to get my bag through the 'exit'
i think they just wanted a sing-a-long
hope, peace & soul
itch
jamming in the garden
Not sure how I managed to get my bag through the 'exit'
i think they just wanted a sing-a-long
THE POLICE MARCH by itch
Picture the scene: Monday 23rd Jan 2008, a protest is being held and despite the turnout not being massive, the press coverage is. The police are everywhere but none of the marchers are being harrased, penned in, photographed, searched or arrested. Almost sounds like we live in a democracy. For once, the Met even overestimated the number of marchers rather than criminally under scoring them! There is one difference to this particular protest however; it is made up almost entirely of policemen, their aim: to demand more pay.
Anyone who has been on a protest in recent years will be familiar with the Forward Intelligence Team (FIT)- police photographers originally set up to gather evidence about football hooligans and the like has turned its eye to photographing anyone who dares disagree with a government policy, photographing nearly everyone who attends protests- legally and peacefully- to gather information.
An anarchist group known as FIT Watch decided to give the police a taste of their own medicine as they exercised the right to protest that they deny to others. Originally they handed out flyers claiming they were from The Met, penning in the police but they soon got found out. Another member of FIT Watch attempted to infiltrate the march but was refused being told it was an “invitation only event, open only to police federation members, their families and friends". This led to the arrest of 2 anarchists originally for breaching the commisoner's regulations, then later in custody it was changed to highway obstruction.
Someone at the front of the march was easily recognised- a thug in a cheap £40 Debenham's style suit? Must be a BNP member. Yep, BNP councillor in Barking and Dagenham and BNP's candidate for Mayor of London '08 Richard Barnbrook was out in full force. To say he's a very confused individual is somewhat an understatement- Barnbrook was previously an artist and made a film called HMS Discovery: A Love Story- which was widely described as gay porn. He's also engaged to Simon Clarke, the 'BNP ballerina' who has a mixed race child from a previous relationship- these 2 parts of Barnbrook's life obviously don't go down well with the rest of his far right supporters and highlight his 'confused' personality, but that's another story altogether.
When the police were questioned about the attendace of the BNP member, the Police Federation's Metin Enver replied “Some of my colleagues saw we had the BNP Mayoral candidate with us. The one thing we want to make clear is we didn't invite him. It wasn't a closed march. He chose to attend by his own accord which is his right in a democracy. It is disappointing if anyone chose to join the march for their own agenda.”
This now leaves an interesting situation. The FIT Watch members who were arrested are challenging the police to take them to court because the police will either than have to admit to lying about the march being an “invitation only event" to the anarchists, or admit to lying about not inviting the BNP member.
We'll have to wait and see what the result is.
In the mean time, FIT Watch will be holding a public meeting on Saturday 8th March, 2pm, at LSE. Their website www.fitwatch.blogspot.com declares: "And, a special invitation to those lovely officers in the Forward Intelligence Team. You are cordially invited to attend this meeting (standing outside, of course), as it will give us an ideal opportunity to start the day with a practical session."
Anyone who has been on a protest in recent years will be familiar with the Forward Intelligence Team (FIT)- police photographers originally set up to gather evidence about football hooligans and the like has turned its eye to photographing anyone who dares disagree with a government policy, photographing nearly everyone who attends protests- legally and peacefully- to gather information.
An anarchist group known as FIT Watch decided to give the police a taste of their own medicine as they exercised the right to protest that they deny to others. Originally they handed out flyers claiming they were from The Met, penning in the police but they soon got found out. Another member of FIT Watch attempted to infiltrate the march but was refused being told it was an “invitation only event, open only to police federation members, their families and friends". This led to the arrest of 2 anarchists originally for breaching the commisoner's regulations, then later in custody it was changed to highway obstruction.
Someone at the front of the march was easily recognised- a thug in a cheap £40 Debenham's style suit? Must be a BNP member. Yep, BNP councillor in Barking and Dagenham and BNP's candidate for Mayor of London '08 Richard Barnbrook was out in full force. To say he's a very confused individual is somewhat an understatement- Barnbrook was previously an artist and made a film called HMS Discovery: A Love Story- which was widely described as gay porn. He's also engaged to Simon Clarke, the 'BNP ballerina' who has a mixed race child from a previous relationship- these 2 parts of Barnbrook's life obviously don't go down well with the rest of his far right supporters and highlight his 'confused' personality, but that's another story altogether.
When the police were questioned about the attendace of the BNP member, the Police Federation's Metin Enver replied “Some of my colleagues saw we had the BNP Mayoral candidate with us. The one thing we want to make clear is we didn't invite him. It wasn't a closed march. He chose to attend by his own accord which is his right in a democracy. It is disappointing if anyone chose to join the march for their own agenda.”
This now leaves an interesting situation. The FIT Watch members who were arrested are challenging the police to take them to court because the police will either than have to admit to lying about the march being an “invitation only event" to the anarchists, or admit to lying about not inviting the BNP member.
We'll have to wait and see what the result is.
In the mean time, FIT Watch will be holding a public meeting on Saturday 8th March, 2pm, at LSE. Their website www.fitwatch.blogspot.com declares: "And, a special invitation to those lovely officers in the Forward Intelligence Team. You are cordially invited to attend this meeting (standing outside, of course), as it will give us an ideal opportunity to start the day with a practical session."
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