mending cardboard boxes, smiling at babies, collecting drinking straws (used and un-used), eating cress in cupboards, depicting scenes of the Battle of Spion on shoe-laces that I can sell in the market........OH I DON'T FRICKIN' KNOW!!!! Whadever....
Music
SPAGHELLI & THE DOGBYTES, Godspeed Y!BE, Simon & Garfunkel, Greydon Square, Calexico, Dwarves, GBH, Dead Kennedys, Miriam Makeba, King Sunny Ade, Pepe Kalle, Voodoo Glowskulls, Indicator, Oi Polloi, Transplants, Cousteau, Marvin Gaye, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Israel Kamakawiwole, Rancid, Tito Puente, Brezhnev, Flat Pig, Active Minds, Neck, The Pogues, Pavement, Roots Manuva, Geto Boys, Soulfly, Badly Drawn Boy, Blade, Public Enemy, Jimmy Cliff, Nine Inch Nails, Zero 7, Faithless, Roni Size, Otis Redding, Pantera, Randy Crawford, Roberta Flack, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Elvis Costello, The Beatles, Die Totenhosen, MIA, Bob Dylan, Jeffrey Lewis, Elliott Smith, Philip Glass, Short Bus Window Lickers, Bottlejob, Anita Baker, Blak Twang, Louis Jordan, Anti-Flag, Redman, Mozart, Chopin, Handel, Samuel Barber, KRS-one, GG Allin & The Murder Junkies, Billie Holiday, Fela Kuti, Modest Mouse, Nina Simone, Sizzla, Kandia Kouyate, Iron & Wine, Elvis Presley, Anthony & The Johnsons, Buju Banton, Manu Negro, Stubborn All-Stars, Active Slaughter, Intensive Care, Nick Drake, Motorhead, Sonic Youth, Bad Brains, Jehst, Muse, The Bastard Fairies, Lord Finesse, Eminem, Capdown, Snow Patrol, Keane, The Bayonets, Los Skeletones, Flict, Familiar Trees, Imperial Leisure, MC 900ft Jesus, Mogwai, Jonathan Richman, Acker Bilk, The Wurzels, Monophobia, soundtrack to 'The Beach'.....
Movies
The Beach; Misery; This Is England; Dead Man's Shoes; The Bridge; Koyaanisqatsi/Powaqqatsi; Requiem; A Taste Of Cherry; 1408; Carandiru; Football Factory; Babel; What's Eating Gilbert Grape?; Breaking The Waves; Right At Your Door; 28 Weeks Later; Deliverance; Bagdad Cafe; The Audition; Hostel I & II; Saw I, II, III, IV; The Anarchist Cookbook; 9/11; Dog Day Afternoon; Mullholland Drive; Man On Fire; Life Of Brian; Green Street; Bombon: El Perro; Wolf Creek; Dodgeball; The Anchorman; Bowfinger; Zoolander; anything by Pedro Almodovar; Three Burials of Malquiades Estrada; Zidane; Me and You and Everyone We Know; Borat; Tony Takatani; United 93; Gregory's Girl, Shaun of the Dead; A Short Film About Love/A Short Film About Killing; Citizen Kane; Idiocracy; Cannibal! The Musical; The Plague; BangBang:It's Reeves & Mortimer; anything that features Agya Koo; any action/thriller/history/docu/rom-com/classic/horror/Ealing/spoof etc. Also particularly bad martial-arts movies (bad haircuts/fights/dubbing/dialogue).
Can you see what is happening here? My movies are UK, USA, Australian, Argentine, Polish, French......can someone lead me into 'Bollywood'?
It almost goes without saying that the mighty film industry transcends globally, but there is a divide in my community, which I imagine must be like in many communities. We get used to what we are used to. As much as I relish another senseless 'Hollywood' escapade, I wish to be enlightened to the fruits of other imaginations that I can not find at my local 'Blockbuster' shop. Go on, lend me a copy of something........
Television
The Simpsons; Garth Marenghi's Dark Place; Father Ted; Brass Eye; The Day Today; Blackadder I, II, III, IV; The Office; Curb Your Enthusiasm; The Day Today; Knowing Me, Knowing You; I'm Alan Partridge; Peep Show; Bo Selecta; Curb Your Enthusiasm; Fawlty Towers; The League of Gentlemen; The Two Ronnies; Terry & June; Laurel & Hardy; and any of those documentaries that has a reporter roaming about in weird and/or dangerous places (e.g. Sean Langhan, Bruce Parry, Bear Grylls, Ben Anderson); or scientific programmes (presented by David Attenborough, Jim al-Khalili, Iain Stewart etc.); news/footy/documentaries..........
Books
BASH THE RICH (Ian Bone) -from the founder of Class War;// THE GOD DELUSION (Richard Dawkins) -yep, mostly everything he says is right!;// JACOB TWO-TWO MEETS THEW HOODED FANG (Mordechai Richler) -my fave childhood book;// GUNS OVER KIGALI (Henry Kwami Anyidoho) -an account of the Rwandan genocide from a UN brigadier;// CARCASE FOR HOUNDS (Meja Mwanghi) -the Mau Mau rebellion;// WEETZIE BAT (Francecsa Lia Block) -totally off-the-wall kitsch/camp/humour and still really nice/soppy/sad etc;// ON THE GRINGO TRAIL (Mark Mann) -true account of a lad travelling/back-packing/ with his sweetheart and with extra added sadness;// WUTHERING HEIGHTS (Emily Bronte) -classic!!;// JEWS, GOD & HISTORY (Max I Dimont) -even the Gentiles should be enthused by this exploration of Judaism;// CHILD OF THE DARK (Caroline Maria de Jesus) -this lady lived many years in a Brazilian favela and she hated it, so she kept a diary that propelled her to fame. This is a really depressing read with no happy ending;// THE RETURN TO BEIRUT (Andree Chedid) -fictional coverage of the troubles in Lebanon;// SIDHARRTHA (Herman Hesse) -heavy account of a life!!;// ON THE ROAD (Jack Kerouac) -Kerouac's finest;// BREAKFAST FOR CHAMPIONS (Kurt Vonnegut) -my fave KV book (fiction);// WHEN WE WERE ORPHANS (Kazuo Ishiguro) -beautifully written, goes nowhere for a long time then pinches you in the last few pages, but his descriptive/anecdotal style is so warming;// A LETTER TO DANIEL (Fergal Keane) -A wonderful account of the BBC's correspondent in South Africa/Northern Ireland/Rwanda.....it's really harrowing so beware! I was about to cross the border into Rwanda in 1998 but the curfew was still strong in those days so I just put the book down on the table! Much later I picked it up again;//CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN (Louis de Bernieres) -it's beautiful and funny;// ONE NO, MANY YESES (Paul Kingsnorth) -this is a guy who seems to travel a lot globally and reports upon the issues we never get to hear about in mainstream media. It's been tried before but PK does it well;// THE TIGER IS FREE (Lyn Cooper) -it's some crap about a relationship breaking down to the extent that the rejected male becomes an obsessive stalker, it's a true story (names are changed) with an added twist, not the kind of thing I'd normally read....but the fact remains it is a great read!
anything by Maya Angelou, Stephen King, Dan Brown, Paul Theroux, Pablo Neruda, the collective works of Sir Francis Turner Palgrave, Paulo Coelho, James Joyce, John Pilger, Mark Thomas, VS Naipul, Frank Zappa, Naom Chomsky, Daniel Guerin, Neil Sheehan, William Shakespeare., JD Salinger....
Heroes
I'd need a sharp pencil and a few hours to write the names of heroes of mine. Some are public figures, some are those whom I know personally. I salute all those in any non-violent struggle against wars, racism, corruption, fundamentalism, poverty, famine, sexism, human/animal/nature abuse, homophobia, bigotry, hatred etc etc etc etc etc. We are all students and we are all teachers. We are all vulnerable and we are all strong. A few of those who have inspired me into further escapades and altruistic challenges, are those unknown peoples whom I have met by chance who utter a few nonchalant words, critical or reverential, and set me on my path into the unknown.
I salute all those whom are not just 'anti-something' but those who will strive to create a better alternative..........x
About me: I've given up writing blogs, by the way!! Besides which MySpace won't allow me to post anymore blogs anyway, nor feature my own music on my own page (no, they won't say why!), but they have responded to my queries by saying they will delete my account if I try!
Hello peoples.........The video-clip below should be 'Antifa Hooligans', a great sing-a-long by Los Fastidos, and some fuckin' superb footage! If it ain't 'Antifa Hooligans' then MySpace have made an error!!
I'm in South London, UK. It's alright here.
Anyways, I'm behind some trashy/speed-rap/hiphop/punk-poet load of guff that's been mulling in my head for years, congealing under the thought-disordered layers of cakey-pastey crap that fudges my neuro-receptors at every opportunity!! The lyrical themes evolve around anti-fascism, secularism/agnosticism, global trade, anti-war animal rights, psychiatric oppression, sleep paralysis, etc etc.
This has now taken off into a band called Spaghelli & The Dogbytes We've only done one gig! We need more! I've gigged before with A Space & A Half (Watford based punk-funk in the early nineties), Sonic Jihad (Peckham based heavier-punk-funk in the mid-nineties) and CopCarPileUp (fast-angry-ska-punk from 2002-2004)
............................................I've travelled a bit (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany -where I used to live-,Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, UK, Yugoslavia, Israel, Thailand, USA, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania -where I worked-, Uganda, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama.....coming up soon, will be Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria). Travel is my main thing and I will not tire from it!! People like me are toss-pots because we can not wait to tell the next unsuspecting fool our latest oh-so-hilarious travel-gaffes! "You will never guess what happened to me when crossing the border.....etc etc" However, people like me have the most nicest-est ever intentions! Honest, guv...........................I'm into reading anything ANYTHING, creative writing, football, red wine, gigs, festivals, pubs, books, film. I've worked as a charity fundraiser, call-centre op, bar-man, double-glazing shite, roadie'd for bands & comedians & orchestras, graphic designer, mini-cab controller, a million-and-one different factory jobs. I now work in the housing/mental health sector with vulnerable adults..................
Anyways, I'm the baldy-beardy lanky-streak-of-piss that you will see & hear at WWW.COPCARPILEUP.COM.......................Maybe you are thinking, "I don't hear any music whilst I'm on this page!?".
It's not a good marketing point, I admit. However, it's like this, after a hard day of work, when I'm feeling a bit brain-dead and it's nice to just surf through the billions/millions of MySpace peoples (great social life, eh?!) and I might wish to put in a Billie Holiday CD, sit back, light some incense and open a bottle of Shiraz, but then I click on someone's site and I got some raw-punk suddenly blastin' the room....NAH!! Okay then, call me a weekender/wanker....................................................Raw-punk when it's ripe, not with the slippers 'n' pipe!!..........You can click on various things to hear all my band/solo stuff.....try these, it should work http://www.mp3.com.au/track.asp?id=105952 http://www.mp3.com.au/track.asp?id=105950
Who I'd like to meet: Blair, Bush & Bin Laden for just five minutes with a bicycle pump, a jar of Marmite and a disposable camera...........
ICH - Arguably the finest punk band to come out of East Anglia, they are deservedly headlining the Man on the Moon on Saturday 27th June. The last 5 years have seen this band become a local phenomenon and they’ve just secured a slot at the prestigious Rebellion punk festival in 2009. Mere words can’t describe their live performances, you have to see the band for yourself! ICH have been known to blow ageing punk bands off the stage and even incited stage diving at their unplugged gigs. With sharply observed lyrics and a barrage of guitars ICH’s punk anthems will have you punching the air and shouting along ‘til the cider runs out. www.myspace.com/ichcolchesterpunx
TONY REBELATION TRIO - Rocksteady rebel 3 piece band featuring Rebelation members old and new. A very rare and exciting opportunity for all ska and reggae fans featuring stripped down versions of Rebelation classics from their long career as kings of the UK ska scene. Definitely one not to be missed! www.myspace.com/rebelationuk
THE GRIT - They’re back! The UK’s best Punk Rock’n’Roll band storm back into Cambridge by popular demand. Now a 5 piece with a fatter sound and a cracking new CD release, The Grit will leave you begging for more. Their unique sound splices punk, ska, psychobilly, rockabilly and a whole lot of spirit. You’d be a fool to miss their live show, they’ve blasted audiences at all the major festivals at home and across Europe and this is your chance, so don’t miss it! www.myspace.com/thegrit
LEFT ALONE - Hellcat Records’ Los Angeles based street punk crew Left Alone will be playing their first Cambridge gig as part of this amazing double-header. Hard work, great songs and energetic live shows have seen this band move up to a Hellcat Records staple. Combining 3 chord punk with ska and a dash of country, Left Alone have developed a sound all of their own, with contributors and guests including Tim Armstrong (Rancid) and Patricia Day (Horrorpops). www.myspace.com/leftalonepunx
DEBT COLLECTORS - Stevenage trio who mix street punk with ska and 2Tone. www.myspace.com/dcuk08
LAST GANG IN TOWN DJs - Punk & Ska www.myspace.com/thelastgangintownuk
Sat 30th May Man on the Moon, Norfolk St Cambridge Doors 7:30pm £7 on the door Ticket reservations lastgangintownuk@yahoo.co.uk
INNER TERRESTRIALS - Formed in south-east London, the Inner Terrestrials have been together since 1994 mixing hardcore punk, dub, ska and more to create a powerful and eclectic sound. The band have gigged and toured extensively playing venues, festivals, squat parties, demo's and protest sites all over the UK and Europe. Founder members J (vocals & guitars) and Fran (bass & vocals) teamed up with drummer Paco of Conflict in 1996 and haven't looked back since. www.myspace.com/innerterrestrials
FAINTEST IDEA - Faintest Idea mix sing-along, fist-in-the-air punk rock with 2 tone ska and catchy brass parts courtesy of Dan, and Stash from the Dead Pets. www.myspace.com/faintestidea
Online Now!
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