NME 1978 Anti Nazi League

Pics: DENTS O'ñËâAN (crowd), CHnß L. URCA Ger gl Dm2.50 Malaysia 10 Spn Q5pts s'R k I \o ù þ !â L F $ s sÈ- so\ s -j t:' - 'i ;., ", l- Page 31 May 6th, 1978 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS Reporter: Chris Salewicz Pics: S HE STOOD AT THE Denis O'Regan, TOP OF TVHITEHALL Ghris L. Urca A at 10.35last Sunday (here and over pagel morning gazing -impassively towards Nelson's Column, the Desprte tne bands appearing for free, optimism of Commander however, the event still cost I10,000. Save for a handful of largish donations to the Anti-Nazi Walker of Scotland Yard's "4" League by anti-fascist business people, this sum Division seemed possibly more 'was raised entirely in individual donâtions of the variety. than just media cool. 10p One early boost came when Pink Floyd - The man in charge of the policing of last who share the management of Steve O'Rourke Sunday's anti-National Front Rally, March, with TRB - offered the use of their PA as a Carnival and Festival didn't seem at all worried contribution to the gig. This, though, was nixed that the giant bloated effigies of Front leaders by the Floyd,'s not having a permanent crew Martin Webster and John Tyndall might turn the capable of swinging their giant rig into place, march from Trafalgar Square to Hackiney's thus forcing RAR to become involved in their Victoria Park in the East End into some kind of biggest item of expense in hiring a PA from bloody left versus right confrontation. Europa Sound. "The organisers seem to want a nice peaceful This late addition to the schedule perhaps demonstration," he smiled dutifully, bouncing explains the at times fairly dire sound u ith which up and down on his heels as if aware of the need the 80,00 strong audience had to contend. for self-parody. They didn't really seem to object too much, . "It's early days yet, though," he added, however..After all, what with the bouncing though his general ease which was reflected clowns, stiltmen and street theatre that had been throughout the ranks of -the Metropolitan and provided by the Tower Hamlets Atts Projects City police one encountered for the rest of the (the Tower Hamlets Movement Against Racism was and Fascism and the Hackney Campaign day suggested thê afterthought more the increasing attacks on non-whites durlng !hal - is now heading for its third edition, with 8,000 Against Racism), plus the occasional whirling from habit than genuine fear . long hot summer, and (b) Eric Clapton's copies sold of each of itstwo predecessors). dervish troupes of Turkish Socialists, as well as Tariq Ali, the enfant terrible of the '60s British apparenily racist remarks at a Birmingham Many of those involved, claims the punk and reggae still blasting off one of the Left who ten years on from May'68 edits Holborow, concert although there are those who have not previously been politically active. carnival floats in the distance . well, it did Socialist Challenge (just cne of the muhitude of maintain- that Clapton was actually making a He also poured scorn upon the frequently sometimes make the concert proper seem just a revolutionary sheets being hawked on Sunday), humorous reference to the vast numbers of rich expressed view that the National Front should little incidental. appeared to be conside¡ing some bygone era as Arabs to be seen everywhere in London. be allowed to expose themselves as the absurd X-Ray Spex hit the stage somewhere around he stood on the base of Nelson's Column and Whatever the t¡uth of that, it is perhaþs worth fatuities they certainly are. and not be dignified 1.30. Their set had few high points, few low watched, almost nostaligically it seemed, the pointihg out that a grey worthy lack of humour with the kind of near-Establishment credibility points. Just the usual very excellent mixture of tail-end of a body so enormous that the last appears to characterise a large percenlage of the which they are given via events like last sometimes quite Roxy Music-like sound piclures marchers were still leaving the Square as those members of both Rock Against Racism and the that Poly and her lads like to provide. in ils vanguard were actually arriving in-Victoria Sunday's. This themè was reiterated from rhe Anti-Nazi League... Trafalgar Square platform by Ian The Clash followed with the worst sound of Park some three and a half miles to the East. Mikardo. Linking themselves rvith the positive elemenr "In the East End," said the MP, explaining any group that afternoon seemingly an Wasn't the National Front, he was asked, jirst - of punk hence last Sundai's billing of X-Ray why Hackney and not Hyde Park had been occupational hazard with -them. Though a mere ugly pimple just the slightest slimy Spex, The- Clash, Steel Pulse and the Tom - chosen as the march destination, "fascists have Strummer complained over the microphone of a facade of all that is rotten in this currently Robinson Band RAR has put on gigs all over - done their traditional work of dividing sore throat, at least his skin had changed from confused island? one the country since- its formation. group of workers from another group the hepatitis yellow it had been the last time I'd Don't worry. As Tariq sees it, events like last of Considering the historically war) even, at workers. There are too many people in seen the band, at the beginning of the year in Sunday's which, depending whose estimate the times, bigoted stance by much of -the hard - Labour movement who believe if you leave Coventry. Also,.the energy level uas far you prefer, drew an astonishing 50-80,000 it, it party line British- Left towards rock, RAR is in will go away. healthier than on that occasion and, for those people to Victoria Park are just the fact fairly unique. "For some reason or other," - "There is only one way to fight ir head close up by the stage, it was possible 1o ignore beginnings of a little lateral head-opening for onl" says one RAR organiser, "the British Left have Said Holborow the next day: - five years the dire sound and concentrate on the sheer Britain's youth. "Lots of people will come for "For always thought that anything eleclric couldn't the Front have been ignored and nolgone put out by the outfit. Rock Against Racism today," he suggested, away possess any true political awareness and that Power and grown instead. In Germany before New numbers like "Tommygun", "Bang "And see that it should be Rock Against The the acoustic folk was the only possible music they war- people used the same argument. Bang", and "The Last Cang In Town" flexed Stock Exchange lomorrow. It was the same with I think could ally themselves with." yesterday's fantastic receplion we're their muscles, though the sound mix only hinted Vietnam." showed Rock Against Racism measures its strength . right." at lheir real strength. Interestingly enough, in the 45 minutes of f¡om the fact that it has sold 30,000 RAR badges For some time now in the East Considering the setting and the fact that only speeches from assorted politicians Labour Enil of in this country. MP Ian Mikardo, former Young Liberal- Peter London, racial violence particularly by early the chorus line was cléarly audible,one might teenage white youth which presumably reasonably have expected "White Riot" to have Hain, Ernie Roberts (prospective Labour - gives -fHAT, candidate for Hackney North and Chairman of Sunday's predominantly youthful gathering an INDEED, uas the figure the caused some confusion- With Sham 69 r'ocalist the Anti-Nazi League) and stock celebrities even greater significance - has been increasing I orsanisers ootimisticallv estimated would Jimmy Pursey taking over the lead vocals, like Miriam Karlin and -Tom Robinson (short to such an extent lhat Asian mothers collect turn ío for Sunäav's event, and uas the cro\r'd however, it turned instead into the most stirring bul sweet: "Hands off our people: black, white, their kids from schools half an hour early to cstima'te offered tô the Greater London number of The Clash's set, and possibly of the together and forever"), Vishnu Sharma, prevenl them being beaten up. Council. day. President of the Indian Workers' Association. It was for ¡easons such as these, along with the Coitrarv to popular rumour, and not With "Ku Klux Klan" predictably the best was the only speaker to mention the immoral added factor that it is in Hackney South that wirhstandiig the b.00 curfew the GLC put on received number, Steel Pulse played their and anachronistic, and obviously inter-related, Front Chairman John Tyndall is standing as a the event (cõncerts in Hydè Park, which have a customary enthusiastic set of British rockers. exploitation of blacks in countries like South parliamentary candidate at the next election, lone-established precedent, traditionally close After both the march anrlthe high energy level Africa by British multi-national corporations that Victoria Park was decided upon by the aroúnd eight in tñe evening), County Hall did of the white rock bands who preceded them, the like ICI. Sharma even, somewhat optimistically Anti-Nazi League as an appropriate setting for not. says RAR, cause them an¡ unnecessary reggae came almost as something of a relief . suggested that the youth of Britain could defeat an anti-racist festival. hassles. The Tom Robinson Band came onstage at thesecompanies..

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