LONDON SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE - 25/11/07
OK you can forget yer shoddy filthy lucre that reared its ugly head with the Sex Pistols reformation, this was the real deal. Steve Ignorant, Crass singer was going to put in a rare public performance and recreate the bands seminal 1978 album ‘Feeding Of The 5000.’
This was his first live appearance since the Gathering Of The 5000 show at the Brixton Academy in 1987, a night that ended in a full scale riot. Colin from Conflict had told me just before doors opened tonight that it was going to be Show Sec, the same security on that infamous night, who were going to be ‘governing’ the Empire.
The supports spread over two nights (I only attended the first) included others that had evolved around the same heady era (Flux Of Pink Indians, Zounds both unfortunately on the 2nd night) as well as other like minded agitators, full of the spirit of punk rebellion.
Speaking of which, the promoter ignored my mails asking for a photo pass (hence no photos and in fact I only saw 2 people taking them during the supports) so I was more than happy when the side door to the venue was opened and a glorious Mohican popped out and shouted, “quick anyone wanna get in for free.” Cheers, I was more than happy to oblige and even had some beer in my pockets!
London err upstarts The Restarts were doing their thang and grooving away and getting the lubricated audience into full party mood. I had been chatting to people outside the venue and many had travelled from abroad to this and everyone was making the most of things, united and pogoing like crazy to numbers like the manic ‘Big Rock Candy Mountain.’ Going right back to the ‘life on the dole’ Jobclub demo we got ‘Frustration’ complete with some high squawking backing vocals that would have given Napalm Death a run for their money. Those just entering the venue were immediately caught up in the infectious skanking rhythms and the rebellious gang shots rattling round the venue. There were people hanging off the balconies of this big old concert hall, a place that has not witnessed many events like this one.
The one band that I had never heard of playing this weekend were The Disrupters, a Norwich anarcho group who had also been inactive for 20 years. My first thoughts and words scrawled appear to have been “muggy punk” and “UK Subs” well I can deal with that. The first number was a mid-paced bass chugger that sped up with some riffs that virtually threatened to go into Ruts classic ‘Babylon’s Burning,’ yet vocally much more uncouth in execution. It certainly took me back, these was gobby sniffing glue kind of anthems, the sort that originally made punk pissed and proud and not giving a flying one what anybody thought of it. ‘Gas The Punx’ was the sort of rebel rousing number with the power to make people take to the streets behind it. Musically they were uncomplicated and unpretentious in their simplicity. Final number ‘Napalm’ which originally caught the attention of Crass and appeared on their 1st ‘Bullshit Detector’ comp, was the only way to bow out and went down a storm.
Conflict simply had to be on this bill. They are the band that musically fight the fight and have continued to do so ever since their first EP ‘The House That Man Built’ appeared on Crass records in 1981. The threatening collage of sounds with snatches of ‘London Bridge is falling down’ some Strauss and a huge patina of political samples had us on tenterhooks. Nuclear War approached, with the words, “never mind the bullshit here’s the facts” the Pressure was duly Increased. Then it was a case of ploughing through an ugly Thatcherite snarl of discontent, which I happily took in pressed against the barrier whilst the pit behind literally exploded. And plough they did, not only did they seem to get a nice long set but the group literally romped through so many numbers I lost track. It seemed like one flew into another and with guitars squealing like stuck pigs (probably not a good metaphor for such an animal rights orientated band0 they literally took no prisoners. Newer numbers like ‘No Power Without Control’ sat well with the older songs and they were joined on stage by Fear Of Fear singer Sarah. Particularly making an impact tonight of what has to be said was an excellent set were ‘Tough Shit Micky’ with its rousing and indeed liberating chorus, ‘A Piss In The Ocean’ and ‘This Is The A.L.F.’ Riot, no thanks that actually felt like getting hit round the head by a brick as it was. Now any chance of a new album?
The place was rammed now, it really did feel like there were 5000 here and at least 2500 were trying to get to the toilets which already had 1000 people in them smoking. Getting right down the front again was going to be impossible.
Right, let’s get things in perspective. Steve Ignorant was the only member of Crass in this band tonight. Others were apparently at the gig watching it, some such as Penny Rimbaud had apparently given permission for use of the material but not particularly been happy about the idea. So joining Steve on stage were, Gizz Butt who was a Goth a couple of months ago with Fields Of The Nephilim and has been with everyone from The Prodigy to English Dogs, a drummer from Die Toten Hosen and Bob Butler from Ig’s other group Schwarzenegger.
As ‘Feeding’ is only about 30 mins there were going to be some additions, also there was one that fell by the wayside, the first number a spoken word with distortion monologue the incredibly blasphemous ‘Asylum.’ Good, it would have been disrespectful for anyone other than Eve Libertine to do this. I think that this was by far the best album that we could have had from Crass output, thank Christ ‘Yes Sir I Will’ had not been picked. The crowd was instantly won over by one of the group’s biggest anthems ‘Do They Owe Us A Living’ and everyone was more than happy to yell out “Course they fucking do”. There was actually an instant mini riot when they burst into this and I ended up wearing about 10 pints which had flown from hands as everyone jumped up and down.
The now bald singer certainly can still fling his vocals out as fast as ever, seriously those in the rapping world have nothing on his speed of delivery. Squalls of white noise as ‘They’ve Got A Bomb’ was literally dropped on us and another classic ‘Punk’s Not Dead’ was one nobody here was disputing. It may long have since been knocked down but ‘Banned From The Roxy’ was still as obnoxious as ever (and at this point it should be mentioned that I saw absolutely no probs with the security).
‘Fight War, Not Wars’ was going to be interesting and a lady apparently called Sadie came on to do the female vocals. She had the necessary shrill, indignant pitch to carry them off too. ‘Securicor’ had the barmy army mentality about it and ‘So What’ was particularly excellent. Leaving the album as expected there were some surprises including the shock of ‘Shaved Women’ with its Greenham Common anti war screaming babies message. A young girl got on stage to take us on to the nursery rhyme start of Big A Little A and Schwarzenegger song ‘The Way Things Are’ was given an airing.
With a final 2nd assault of ‘Do They Owe Us…’ ringing in ears we trundled out into the night with some shit eating grins on faces, happy to have witnessed this slice of history. Hell I was so pleased I even nodded and said evening to the group of police standing around looking somewhat bemused and very much outnumbered outside the venue. Things change indeed.
For those interested in the history of Crass, an excellent recent hour long documentary can be viewed here (hit the Stem button to play Dutch documentary but in English)
CLICK HERE FOR THE DOCUMENTARY
Pete Woods