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I find my choice of artists rather less tricky: Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Albrecht Durer. Of those living I’m rather fond of David Hockney and Grayson Perry
Bruegel’s ‘Hunters In The Snow’ : utterly sublime
Durer’s ‘Wing Of A Roller’ is my favourite painting ( when it’s not ‘Europe After The Rain’ ).
Favourite song according to the allseeing Spotify algorithm is ‘ How We Used To Live ‘ by St Ettienne.
Could have sworn it was ‘Permafrost’ by Magazine.Just one record is extremely difficult for me too.
It would probably come from the 80’s indie seen. I was an avid listener to John Peel.
Joy Division are my favourite band, although my favourite tracks of theirs are not the two most well known. Followed by Bundhu Boys (from Zimbabwe) their Shabini and Jit Jive albums outstanding. Sex Pistols everyone knows. So the “one record” may well come from one of those three.However, many did some songs equally as good imo. With Punk alone there was The Undertones and Stiff Little Fingers, Penetration and Freshies. The Clash, particularly liked their punk and reggae crossover on the London Calling album. Ditto with The Police’s Regatta De Blanc. Then Reggae itself and the great Bob Marley and Reggae offshoots Ska and Soca Music and Two Tone. The Specials perhaps my favourite Two Tone group but not much in it. Not forgetting The Jam, The Smiths and Wedding Present early stuff were all magical. Hated rap but loved more poetic music from amongst others Billy Bragg and Ivor Cuttler. The Fall did some crap stuff but some brilliant too; ditto Pulp.
So my record could come from any one of the above, depending on my mood.
Value Is EverythingArt is a big thing for me. Yes living in London gives a big advantage and it has to be seen for real to really resonate
I’ve found that most reknown artists are rated for a reason. There’s nearly always something in their work. Some grow on you too. I was a little indifferent to Francis bacon but the recent RA show blew me away. I got him totally. Brilliant talent
Easier to name totally overrated artists. Mogliadani is a bit of a fraud I’ve always thought
I wouldn’t have a favourite painting but the relatively fighting temeraire by turner is always stunning.
It might be a jackson pollock though. Summertime completely knocked me out when I saw in the moma New York and blue posts is stunning
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/joseph-mallord-william-turner-the-fighting-temeraire
Ging. I saw virtually all the punk bands when it happened. It was a very west London thing. Saw them early too but always missed the pistols who were terrible live anyway. Actually saw the clash countless times and they were a mess too. Buzzcocks were arrogant too.
Stranglers were best live. In a small pub. Bloody hell
That era has dated a lot for me and never listen but would choose down in a tube station at midnight by the jam as the very best, its a mini masterpiece and so evocative of that era and oh bondage by x ray spex as the most enjoyable pure punk
I saw the specials in first London gig at the Nashville too. Johnny rotten and Elvis Costello queuing with us too. Good band
Very close friend of mine worked as stings ceo until recently. Really nice bloke
Joy division. My mate booked their last appearance at Birmingham university (social”secretary) after which ian curtis topped himself. Ive constantly told him it was his fault for stiffing them on the fee
They were too miserable for me though
The act out of that wave that still sounds as good now for me is ian dury. I loved that pure essex accent and brilliant lyrics
Oddly I was listening to some reggae today and Althia and Donna’s up town top ranking is gorgeous
Don’t like much art unless it’s lifelike, although quite “arty” myself in that I have done a few watercolours of racehorses in my youth. However, Dawn Run was started some 38 years ago and still unfinished. Got to get that done!
Value Is EverythingI also saw ian curtis leading a punkish band called Warsaw I think at the Nashville. The audience was chatting **** off **** off and chucking endless beer glasses (plastic) at them. Loved it when we hounded at act and it usually the northerners
Anyway he burst into tears and grabbed the mic shouting something like “you don’t appreciate our music (sob)”
Greeted by an avalanche of more beer glasses. And everyone pissing themselves
Happy days
One of the stranglers pub gigs was in the red lion in hammersmith. “Secret” gig. Invite only
It was absolutely boiling. Tbe band were incredible as you can imagine (I cannot forget GRip)
Anyway. You couldn’t possibly get to the bogs it was rammed. So what did a bloke do? He pissed into the speakers ffs. Like a horse too Noth8ng happened thank god but Christ. What a way to go if it had
We were like. “What the **** is he doing!!!”
So many stories but I’ll shut up now
But one last question. Who is this The best live London act of that era? No one argued with that statement Predated punk a little but blew everyone away. Answers please
Envy you now Clive, although at the time I wasn’t interested at all in gigs. I said it was because they sounded different to the records but think that was just an excuse. My social anxiety wouldn’t allow me to go. But although I loved the music, was never into the look or the people / personalities themselves. They were not my hero’s let alone “nobody’s”. NME etc never interested me, just loved the music.
Joy Division could certainly be a bit (well, ok a lot) “miserable”. Got to be in the right frame of mind to listen. I became interested in them after Ian Curtis’s death although bizarrely – so out of touch -didn’t know he’d killed himself until many years afterwards.
The Police were one of many groups I loved for one particular awesome album. Just weren’t the same after Reggatta – sold out?
If I remember rightly Elvis Costello’s Oliver’s Army was one of the first singles I bought.
Value Is EverythingIt was a special time even though my first love was soul
There was an incredible atmosphere but a real risk too. Often running from beatings and not being served in pubs because of just straight legged jeans. I never went for the full punk look and in fact vet( few actually did
Gigs could often be crap too. It was more the socialising and drinking to teenage excess
Elvis Costello lived round the corner from me. That’s a great single and he was decent live too
If I like something it doesn’t matter how miserable it is, I enjoy listening to it and it doesn’t bring me down at all. Joy Division being a good example of this.
Didn’t remember the name Althea and Donna but do the record.
Do believe (could be wrong) Warsaw were Joy Division before they changed their name and direction away from punk.
Value Is EverythingDoesn’t bring me down richard. Nothing much does really but can’t be bothered with gloom for the sake of it
Some very sad music is within classical and jazz and the Beatles could be incredible melancholy and moving of course
Think that’s right ging and I can see the beer glasses now. Magic It was the overserious northern bands who copped it most but then again yo7 had the rezillos from Scotland who were a great laugh
Unpopular opinion and my interest had drifted back to soul and funk anyway but there was always one band that one couldn’t stand. And it was the undertones for me. I couldn’t bear them and that tosser lead singer
Nothing like a bit of doom and gloom! Must be hereditary, my old man is a big Leonard Cohen fan.
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