I'M NOW ON FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Attila-the-Stockbroker/20550602416
As someone who once worked there I reckon I'm better qualified to deal with the usurous scum who are destroying people's futures than Gordon Brown....who's just appointed a former hedge fund manager as an 'advisor'!
ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER CLEANS UP THE CITY
I was a clerk there: I’ve seen the greed
How wealth and power eat hope and need
Now they’re eating each other but they’re still screaming
‘No interference’ – I start dreaming…
‘Self regulation?’ OK, I say
‘I’m a stockbroker – let’s do it my way’
And that’s the beginning of this little ditty:
Attila the Stockbroker cleans up the City!
Each gets a red nose so everybody knows
Just who they are and where all our money goes
No more speculate, no more accumulate -
This is a lifestyle we’re going to eradicate
Dealers on the floor meet squads of the poor saying
‘Here’s the twist, Oliver – we want more
Work for us or we take the whole kitty’
Attila the Stockbroker cleans up the City!
‘Hello Mr. Hedge Fund, have a cup of tea.
Financial Services Authority? Me…..!
You’re a parasite on the population
Convicted of criminal speculation
Time to atone for a life so greedy -
Twenty years working for the poor and needy.
Want to appeal? Try the Central Committee…’
Attila the Stockbroker cleans up the City!
Sit down Mr. Banker, you’re in for a shock.
We’re taking much more than just Northern Rock!
All the banks nationalised – Stock Exchange too.
Utilities, railways, grabbed from the few.
Mr Billionaire? You just lost your money.
(Hey there, Chelsea fan, isn’t that funny!)
The future’s brown. The future’s shitty.
So Attila the Stockbroker cleans up the City!
Capitalism is a John Cleese parrot.
Let’s give it stick and not a single carrot!
Bollocks to the dealer, the broker, the lender -
Social justice back on the agenda
Radical solutions going on here
Smoked Mammon sarnies and bloody good beer
For the poor no fear, for the rich no pity
When Attila the Stockbroker cleans up the City!
'Most people ignore most poetry because most poetry ignores most people'
(Adrian Mitchell)
I want to change all that!
Welcome to my main MySpace site. This is the one to leave messages on, contact me about gigs, etc. Here you will find a selection of my poems and songs, solo and with my band Barnstormer. The lyrics are up there too (lyrics are very important to me!) And I'm currently writing my autobiography - snippets of it will appear from time to time here in my blog.
If you want to hear more of my poems, which are 50% of what I do, please go to my spoken word site myspace.com/attilathestockbrokerpoetry - you can get to it easily by clicking on my picture in the first 'friend' space below.
If you enjoy this site and my poetry MySpace site there is loads more stuff (poems, free downloads, interviews in English and German, posters and photos to download, links to my favourite fellow artists, an online merchandise shop, etc) at my long established website www.attilathestockbroker.com
So who/what is Attila the Stockbroker? I'm a high energy rebel performance poet, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist bandleader - first gig 8th September 1980, about 2500 so far! My themes are topical, my words hard-hitting, my politics unashamedly radical, but I aim to make you roar with laughter as well as seethe with anger......
Solo, as well as doing countless gigs on my own I tour a lot with the brilliant US songwriter David Rovics, and from time to time collaborate with my old mate John Otway and with celebrated classical guitarist and neighbour Richard Durrant. In addition to my solo and band gigs I am now once again playing bass in CONTINGENT, the incendiary Brussels band I co-founded in 1979, now reformed 28 years later! If you want to hear some stirring melodic punk with French lyrics go to myspace.com/contingentbelgiumpunk or click on the Contingent 'friend' space below.
My new poetry book 'My Poetic Licence' is just published (May 2008) BUY IT & ALL MY OTHER CDs, BOOKS AND DVDs HERE!
NB: ALL MY ALBUMS & SONGS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON ITUNES. .......with my band Barnstormer here and solo here
In the UK and other English speaking countries, I perform the vast majority of my gigs solo, doing a mixture of poems and songs in a set which can vary between 45 minutes and 2 hours depending on circumstances. (In November 2004 I did a ten and a half hour sponsored gig at my local pub, the Evening Star, in aid of my beloved Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club - but don't worry, my shows don't normally last that long!) I play with my band Barnstormer predominantly in mainland Europe, especially Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where we have done well over 300 gigs to date. Barnstormer feature Dan Woods (guitar, backing vocals) David Beaken (bass, backing vocals) M.M.McGhee (drums) and Attila (vocals, electric mandola, fiddle, recorders)
Here's some footage of me with the band... there is more band footage from our film appearance in the other column, and two solo poetry videos further down this one, along with the one immediately to the right of this. BARNSTORMER LIVE: 'This Is Free Europe' (well, most of it!) recorded at the AK 47 in Dusseldorf, Germany in Dec 2007. It's very rough and ready but it gives a fair idea of what we're like on stage...
Nearly all the songs I have written since forming Barnstormer in 1994 have been recorded with the band and released on our 3 Barnstormer albums, though I continue to release solo spoken word/music albums and poetry books in addition to band recordings, and I do stripped down versions of band songs at my solo gigs.
Incidentally, if you liked the Adrian Mitchell quote at the top you can get a T shirt of it from www.philosophyfootball.co.uk
Influences
The Clash, Hilaire Belloc, Rancid, my wife Robina, Half Man Half Biscuit, Jacques Brel, Tom Lehrer, Monty Python, Newtown Neurotics, John Pilger, Karl Marx, T.Rex, New Model Army, Noam Chomsky, various sussed rappers...and my father Bill, who was an amateur comic poet himself and fired up my interest in words (he died when I was 10)
And those are just the principle ones.....
I'm constantly looking for new music and new poets to listen to! Here are a few who I think are really good (all half my age or less..) King Blues, Frank Turner, Luke Wright, Milk Kan, Al Baker, Gecko, Chris T-T...
Ultimately, though, I do as the Redskins say: 'Take no heroes, only inspiration!'
Sounds Like
THIS!!!!!!!!!
'My Poetic Licence' - the opening number of my set, filmed by Tyler (cheers mate!) at the Monmouth Theatre, South Wales, in 2006. At the beginning I ask the audience 'How's Geoffrey?' and am met with bemusement, with the penny dropping just as I start my first poem, so I have to restart twice!! (Geoffrey of Monmouth. Played centre half for Newport County in 1972-73. Or maybe not. Google him if you're not sure...)
At my solo gigs, I am a loud, angry, witty, energetic, impassioned performance poet and songwriter (on my songs I accompany myself on the mandola, a larger, deeper version of the mandolin)
My band Barnstormer sound like a cross between a 16th century peasant band and The Clash (though more like the Clash and Rancid on our 3rd album 'Zero Tolerance'!!)
I don't mess about. I've got lots to say, and I'm out there saying it. To those whining head-in-the-sand types who moan 'politics has got nothing to do with music' I have one response. 'Politics' affects the lives of every single person on this planet. Music and words, when combined effectively, can do the same and can inspire people to take control of their lives for the better. That's where I start from.
SPIRIT OF THE AGE! This poem sums up how I feel, and have always felt. about what I
do. Recorded on a pier in Port Townsend, USA, during my 2005 tour over there with fantastic US radical singer/songwriter David Rovics.
One more poem - written for my 50th birthday
TOO MUCH PRESSURE
This angry young man is still angry, but older
And now Father Time has just pissed on my shoulder.
‘You’ve got to grow up, John -
you’re way past that stage
You’ve reached the condition they call ‘middle age’.
It’s time to be quiet, say ‘yes’, watch TV -
High spot of the week, a nice dinner party.
Polite conversation until you doze off
The topics: house prices, taxation and goff.
(That’s golf, by the way, in case you’re unsure
Not pale folk in graveyards obsessed by The Cure)
Now just look at you in your Seventies gear
With your punk rock and football and microbrew beer
Political poems and loud, angry songs
You still want to change things and right the world’s wrongs?
You stand up and shout and you get in a rage:
It’s really not right in a man of your age.
On top of all that, and I don’t mean to frighten -
Worst of all for your blood pressure:
you support Brighton!
They’re not very good and you don’t want to die
So sit on the couch and watch Chelsea on Sky....
Sure, I’ll take the tablets, and drink a bit less.
If you fancy a game, I might play you at chess.
I hope that I’ll make it till I’m ninety - five.
But one thing’s for sure, Death - you’ll take me alive!
If you like these, there is vast amounts more information on my website
NEW! You can now buy all my CDs, books and DVDs listed below online from a new independent Brighton-based company (ironically called Corporation Records)
You can also get all my songs, singly and as albums, from Itunes. The link here is to two of my albums with my band Barnstormer, 'Zero Tolerance' (2004) and 'The Siege of Shoreham' (1996). The other Barnstormer album 'Just One Life' is on there as well, but it doesn't come up on this link: type in 'Attila the Stockbroker's' and you'll get it. The link here is to my solo albums 'Live in Norway' (the latest and most up to date, 2007) 'Live in Belfast' (2003, more from my current solo set) 'Poems Ancient & Modern' (older poetry anthology 1981-1999) 'The Pen & The Sword' (older solo songs 1981-1999) and 'Sawdust & Empire' (a very old folky solo album, 1983!)
A few are here for free download, 'cos for me that's the right thing to do - but this is my living, so feel free to buy stuff as well and support your local/global ranting poet/songwriter....
Here are three more poems, 'Russians in the DHSS', 'Asylum Seeking Daleks' and 'Attila the Stockbroker cleans up the City' live at Cherry Red Records' 30th anniversary party in October 2008.
.. .. >
'MY POETIC LICENCE', MY FIFTH BOOK OF POETRY IS out now! It contains my best work from the last ten years - 41 poems and song lyrics plus two autobiographical pieces - and is available from the online shop here, from my website attilathestockbroker.com and of course at all my gigs. It's being published alongside a 73 minute compilation CD 'Spirit of the Age' featuring selected highlights from my 28 years as Attila, and the two are selling for a tenner all in plus around postage. All details on my blog and at the online shop featured on this page.
Here's my biography!
Inspired by the spirit and the Do It Yourself ethos of punk rock, and above all by The Clash and their overtly radical, political stance, I started as a punk bass player in 1977 and took the name Attila the Stockbroker in 1980, blagging spots for my poems and songs in between bands at punk gigs. I quickly got a couple of John Peel radio sessions, a deal with London independent label Cherry Red Records and before very long was on the cover of Melody Maker. I haven't looked back since!
The 25th anniversary of my first gig as Attila was September 8th 2005: I celebrated with a massive tour of the UK and Europe and a half hour programme on BBC Radio 4 called 'Giving It Lip' and I'm currently writing my autobiography! I have done countless gigs across the world at literary and music festivals, rock venues, arts centres, pubs, universities, schools, folk clubs and punk squats in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the US, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Belgium and the Basque Country - and more improbably in Romania, Bulgaria and a hotel basement in Stalinist Albania. I've released about 17 LPs/CDs, about 10 singles/EPs and 5 books of poems over the years: the best of the early LP stuff is now on the Best Of CDs listed below..
As well as all my solo gigs, where during my songs I accompany myself on mandola, I play violin, bass guitar and a variety of early music instruments and from time to time gig with my band, BARNSTORMER, a unique and energetic mix of punk and early music!
BARNSTORMER have 4 songs and live footage in a major German feature film, 'DoppelPack' which was released across the German cinema network on August 17 2000.
Here is part of our four song contribution to the film, 'March of the Levellers' and 'Old Teenagers'. You can read a 'synopsis' of it in my blog(!)
A new Barnstormer DVD, recorded/filmed live in Ulm, Germany, has just come out (December 2006) My third album with Barnstormer, 'Zero Tolerance' was released in April 2004, following on from 'Just One Life' (2000) and 'The Siege of Shoreham' (1996) In addition to my new solo DVD, 'Live at the Heartland Cafe' recorded in the US, and album 'Live in Belfast' I currently have two solo Best Of CDs on release, 'Poems Ancient and Modern' (A Live Anthology 1980-1999) which is my definitive spoken word release to date, and 'The Pen & The Sword' (Selected Songs 1981-1995) which documents my best songs up until the formation of my band, now the main vehicle for my songwriting.
If you want to buy any of these, go to one of the two 'To Buy Attila's Stuff Click Here'
points further up on this page.
Like this T shirt?
You can get your own at www.philosophyfootball.com and, like me, make a stand against the money-obsessed, rich-get-richer-poor-get-poorer farce that modern UK football has become.
I am P.A. Announcer and Poet In Residence at my local football club, Brighton & Hove Albion. On 9 January 2005 my hastily put-together band 'Seagulls Ska' got to Number 17 in the UK Top 40 singles chart with 'Tom Hark (We Want Falmer)' a song about our club's continuing battle to secure a new stadium. You can hear the Hit and read all about the campaign at www.myspace.com/seagullsska
Here is the banner I made for Brighton's last ever game at the Goldstone Ground...
I've published 5 books of poems: Cautionary Tales for Dead Commuters (Unwin, 1985) Scornflakes (Bloodaxe, 1992) The Rat Tailed Maggot (Roundhead, 1998) Goldstone Ghosts (football poems, 2001) and My Poetic Licence (2008)
I gig constantly all over the UK, mainland Europe, the US, Canada and anywhere else that will have me and am constantly on the lookout for interesting new places to visit!
So if you fancy organising a gig, in the UK or anywhere else, please get in touch....
Attila The Stockbroker (RIP Seething Wells!!)'s Friend Space (Top 40)
Attila The Stockbroker (RIP Seething Wells!!) has 6620 friends.
attila is the best thing on myspace, up here in scotland we have statues of our national poet (robert burns) everywhere and virtually none of any monarch! I'm really proud of that, is says a lot about this country! I hope one day they have statues of attilla all over england! what a poet, fantastic. keep on keeping on pal. all the best from the fighting 69th.
greetz to all other musicians from barnstormer... specially to dan... hope he remember me...norman from flensburg (germany)...at least he will remember marianne... :) best wishes and greetz from thailand where i currently live...
Check out our site for THE+GUARD UNDERGROUND "GASMASK STYLE" STREETWEAR
Sunday 5 July - Stand Up for Journalism comedy benefit in Stockport Irish Mancunian Sean O'Shaugnessy. Julia Brosnan from Mish Mash cabaret, Wafik Nasralla from Canada and Greg Cook - the new Les Dawson. Punk/ska DJ. £5 waged - £3 unwaged. Proceeds to journalists who strike against cuts. Music 7.30pm, Comedy 8.30pm Baker's Vault, Market Place, SK1 1EU.
I'm DJing - set in first hour will incude Specials, Anti-Nowhere League, Beat, Only Ones, Dead Kennedys, Buzzcocks and many more.
Hi There, We've got some great slots at glastonbury this year, please come down and support us if you're on site.
Fri 9pm, Chai Wallahs (nr Meeting Point) Fri Night 2.15am, Small World (Green Futures) Sun 1pm, Croissant Neuf (Green Fields) Sun 4.15pm, Arcadia (nr Shangri-la) Sun Night 12.30am, Avalon Cafe (Field of Avalon)
Many thanks for the connect. Earliest memory would be "Willie Whitelaw's Willie" on the Oi! Oi! That's Yer Lot album. Ahhhhh, happy days. Come up to Scotland for some gigs. Stay Free.
hi atilla. how u doing ? dunno if u remember i have met u a couple time before, once at glastonwick, once in nottingham, i'm sure u meet loads of people. anyway i like ur work alot. if u get time, pls can u chk out my page as i wud really appreciate some feedback, and advice from you. thanks .
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