Rock Against Racism
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Rock Against Racism (RAR) was a campaign set up in the United Kingdom by Red Saunders, Roger Huddle and others in winter 1976. It was founded in response to allegedly racist comments and gestures made by David Bowie and Eric Clapton.[1]
RAR was first conceived as an idea for a one-off concert against the rise of racism in the early 1970s. According to Huddle, "it remained just an idea until August 1976," when Clapton made a drunken declaration of support for former Conservative minister Enoch Powell (famous for his anti-immigration Rivers of Blood speech) at a concert in Birmingham.[2] Clapton had said that England had "become overcrowded," and implored the crowd to vote for Powell to stop Britain from becoming "a black colony." Clapton went on to voice his opinion to the audience that Britain should "get the foreigners out, get the wogs out, get the coons out" and then repeatedly shouted the National Front slogan "Keep Britain White". [3] [4] Huddle, Saunders and two members of Kartoon Klowns responded by writing a letter to NME expressing their opposition to Clapton's comments, which they claimed were "... all the more disgusting because he had his first hit with a cover of reggae star Bob Marley's 'I Shot the Sheriff'". The letter continued: "Come on Eric... Own up. Half your music is black. Who shot the Sheriff, Eric? It sure as hell wasn't you!". At the end of the letter, they called for people to help form a movement called Rock against racism, and they report that they received hundreds of replies.[5]
Further support for RAR came after David Bowie stated in a Playboy interview that "Britain is ready for a fascist leader", and by allegedly making a Nazi salute while riding in a convertible.[citation needed] Bowie later retracted the fascist comment, claiming that the statement was a result of substance abuse. He denied making a Hitler salute, arguing that a photographer caught him in the middle of waving.
RAR's first activity was a concert featuring Carol Grimes as lead artist, and the group also launched the fanzine Temporary Hoarding.[citation needed] In spring and autumn 1978, RAR organised two major music festivals with the Anti-Nazi League, to counteract the growing wave of racist attacks in the UK. It has been reported that 80,000 people marched six miles from Trafalgar Square to the East End of London (a National Front hotspot) for an open-air concert.[6][7] The concert featured The Clash (as seen in the film Rude Boy),[6][8][9] Buzzcocks, Steel Pulse, X-Ray Spex, The Ruts, Sham 69, Generation X and the Tom Robinson Band. An audience of 25,000 came to the Northern Carnival in Manchester, for a concert featuring Buzzcocks, Graham Parker and the Rumour, and Misty in Roots.[citation needed] In 1979, a concert was held at Acklam Hall in London featuring Crisis, The Vapors, and Beggar.[10]
The original Rock Against Racism crew launched a new website on April 27, 2008.[11]
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[edit] Love Music Hate Racism
RAR was reborn in 2002 as Love Music Hate Racism, with a concert at The Astoria in London, England featuring Mick Jones, Buzzcocks, and The Libertines.[citation needed] Other acts involved in the campaign include Ms. Dynamite and The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. With a goal of counteracting the activities of far right organizations such as the National Front and the British National Party, it has held high-profile concerts in Trafalgar Square.
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Blood and Glory, The Observer, Sunday March 4, 2007
- ^ Socialist Review
- ^ Virgin Media: 'When Pop Stars Talk Politics: Clapton's Shocking Rant'
- ^ The Ten Right-Wing Rockers, The Observer, Sunday October 14, 2007
- ^ Socialist Review
- ^ a b Hazan, Jack; David Mingay, Ray Gange, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Nicky Headon, Buzzy Enterprises, Epic Music Video. (2006). Rude Boy [Documentary, Rockumentary]. New York, NY, United States: Epic Music Video. Retrieved on 2008-01-09. ISBN 0738900826. OCLC 70850190. "2nd edition digitally restored and remastered sound."
- ^ Virtual Festivals, news, reviews and listings for Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds, V Festival, T in the Park, Download, Isle of Wight, Bestival and other UK and International festivals
- ^ Letts Don; Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, Terry Chimes, Rick Elgood, The Clash. (2001). The Clash, Westway to the World [Documentary]. New York, NY: Sony Music Entertainment; Dorismo; Uptown Films. Retrieved on 2007-11-26. Event occurs at 47:42. ISBN 0738900826. OCLC 49798077.
- ^ Green, Johnny; Garry Barker [1997] (2003). A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with The Clash, 3rd edition, London: Orion, pp. 63-68. ISBN 0752858432. OCLC 52990890.
- ^ Rock Against Racism benefit with Crisis, Beggar and The Vapors, riot at Acklam Hall, Ladbroke Grove, London, Friday June 29th, 1979
- ^ Rock Against Racism
