Westwoods

The passing of Viviene Westwood  "The Queen of Punk" has triggered this long overdue post. I was too young to experience punk in its heyday. But for the imagery/styling of the Sex Pistols , Adam Ant etc alone,  I think Viviene Westwood deserves her place in the history books.

 Sid Vicious died young, Jonny Rotten/Lydon like so many hero's has lived on to disappoint. Viviene Westwood however managed to navigate commercial success and retain her artistic credibility. 

Which brings me to the other Westwood , I think  most hop hop lovers who listened to the  DJ Tim Westwood show did so with some mixed thoughts abouts his "persona"  but most dismissed it as harmless or excused it due to their interest in the music he played. But even as his caricature became increasingly embarrassing few realised he would become the next  in the long list of Radio 1 djs to be accused of abusing vulnerable young women.

 Which brings us full circle to the Sex Pistols  and the politics of punk it was they who were amongst the earliest to call out Jimmi Saville for his paedophilia, but  their voice was silenced.

Viviene Westwood RIP

Ricky's

 Ricky Butcher - East Enders

Ricky Haynes - Hackney Judo Club

Ricky Martin - Latino Singer

Ricky Leung - Japan Arts Centre Judo

Ricky Lyte (Ricardo da Force) - The KLF/JAMMS

The Specials

 

When I was a kid my older brother introduced me to reggae and ska through Bob Marley, UB40 and The 2 Tone label specifically The Specials and Madness. I remember the long hot summer that Ghost Town was number 1 . We went to a vintage car and traction engine rally with our parents.We stayed in the caravan like many other families and on the Saturday night their was a huge party in marquee my brother and I were much too young to go to the party  but sneaked out of the caravan window. I remember dancing to Ghost Town in the shadows outside the marquee between the guy ropes. They played Ghost town over and over again.

Times moved on, The Specials split up,  my brother started listening to lighter sounds of Bananarama and Madonna  and I explored  heavier punk , metal and goth sounds perhaps more rebellious but certainly less musical.

During the rave days I always felt the emerging UK Jungle sound had at least some roots in the sounds of Two Tone.

 Years later when I met the girl that is now my wife  we went to the Rise Against Racism festival. A friend advised me to check out The Dub Pistols who proceeded to bring the house down with a blinding set as they invited members of the Specials including Terry Hall to join them on stage to perform a few of the classics.

 The music always evoked so many thoughts and feelings it was a privilege to hear it live.

#RIP Terry Hall

Traps

Trap Queen

Trap House

Trap Anime 

Trap Door

Helicopters

 AirWolf

Blue Thunder