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Great picture of London’s clean up operation
08.09.2011
10:18 am
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Among all the pictures of burning cars, buses, warehouses and shops coming from the UK’s capital right now, here’s something from the other end of the spectrum - a great image from Operation Clapham Clean Up (#riotcleanup) proving that Londoners can come together to do something other than destroy.

Via Lawcol888 on YFrog.

 

Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
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08.09.2011
10:18 am
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Independent music distributor PIAS lose entire stock in London riots
08.09.2011
09:46 am
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Sad news for fans of independent and alternative music - among the worst hit in last night’s large scale rioting in London were the very popular independent distributor PIAS (né Play It Again Sam) who look to have lost all their stock when the Sony warehouse in Enfield was burnt down. If you are a fan or collector of independent music you probably have a couple of releases brought to you by the company already - they distribute labels like Mute, Rough Trade, One Little Indian, Warp, Ninja Tune, Kompakt, Domino, FatCat, Soul Jazz, Rock Action, Chemikal Undergroud, and lots lots more. It’s estimated that PIAS handle around 30% of independent music in Europe.

PIAS have issued this statement via their website:

There was a fire last night at the SonyDADC warehouse which services the physical distribution for [PIAS] in the UK and Ireland. [PIAS] is working closely with SonyDADC who are implementing their emergency plans. [PIAS]‘s UK offices in London and all other areas of our business are unaffected.
More information will be communicated shortly to all our labels and partners.

A campaign has already begun to help the company, with suggestions that records or downloads from PIAS distributed labels be bought today in solidarity. A Paypal account is also being set up by Twitter user fionchadd (hashtag #labellove) for people to donate money through, which will be distributed among the labels affected by the loss of stock.

Via Drowned in Sound

Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
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08.09.2011
09:46 am
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Google map view of the spreading riots in London
08.08.2011
06:57 pm
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OK, so this is getting serious - very serious. The riots in London have now spread across an area roughly 40km by 30km. To see the actual Google map page, click here.

Thanks to Paul Shetler.

UPDATE: 5:06 PM PST

Scrap that - the rioting has now spread beyond the confines of the city, past the N406 ring road and into suburbs like Ealing, Romford and Croydon. And that’s not to mention riots breaking out in Liverpool, Birmingham and Leeds. Keep looking at the Google Map for updates (zoom out if you want to see the chaos spreading around the country). This is going to be one interesting night…

 

Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
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08.08.2011
06:57 pm
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Tottenham Riots: Time-lapse of the fires over North London
08.08.2011
01:08 pm
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(via TDW)

Posted by Tara McGinley
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08.08.2011
01:08 pm
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Grilled Friend in a Korma: Morrissey Eats Meat?
07.29.2011
01:39 pm
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Now wouldn’t this be ironic, especially after his recent comments?

Back in March 1996 under the headline “Meat Is Magic!Select magazine ran a story that claimed celebrated vegetarian, “Mozzer eats meat!”

Morrissey eats meat?

Yes, Mozzer eats meat!

But how did they know?

How do we know? Because he does so at George & Niki’s in Camden. It’s also caff-by-appointment for Björk, Meanswear, Goldie and Blur…

George & Niki’s? What’s that then?

Forget The Good Mixer, George and Niki’s Golden Grill caff in the heart of cosmopolitan Camden has become the palatable place to be for London’s pop glitterati.

“There’s this place in America where the five states meet,” says George. “This is its London equivalent. we get regulars, nutters, kids and then we get the pop stars.”

The Golden Grill has stood on the same sight for 50 years - three generations of the Georgio family - serving roasts, fry-ups and quality vegetarian alternatives. Select, in an attempt to unveil the covert culinary habits of pop celebrity, spent an afternoon in the company of Niki, George and their rocker-coiffed assistant of 13 years, Vange (“Just call me Vange. That or Elvis.”) The results…

Vange: “Yeah, this bloke called Morris…Morris? The rocker bloke. Lovely man.”

Morrissey.

“That’s him! Comes in about once a month. A roast he has, yeah a roast dinner!”

Er…not the vegetarian option?

Vange: “Nah! Roast dinner. Lots of gravy.”

“Roast dinner”? “Lost of gravy”? Incredible. One can only imagine what the tabloids would do for a picture of Mozzer with his mouth chockfull with meat.

But surely Vange was obviously confusing Mozzer with er, Morris….Morris… Hm. Not many pop stars with Morris as a first name.

Click on the above image to see larger version of the article.
 
Previously on Dangerous Minds

Back to the nineties: Fabulous scans of ‘Select’ music magazine


Morrissey compares Norway massacre to KFC


 
With thanks to Tommy Udo and Tara McGinley
 

Posted by Paul Gallagher
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07.29.2011
01:39 pm
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Charlie Gilmour, son of Pink Floyd guitarist, given 16 months in jail for role in student riots
07.15.2011
01:21 pm
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Charlie Gilmour, the adopted son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, admitted violent disorder in court today in London, after joining thousands of students demonstrating in London’s Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square last year.

During the riots, Gilmour was seen hanging from a Union Jack flag on the Cenotaph memorial for Britain’s war dead. He was also seen leaping on to the hood of a Jaguar that formed part of a royal escort convoy and throwing a garbage can at the car. Gilmour was one of approximately 100 students who attacked a convoy escorting the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall during last year’s student riots. The Prince and his wife were on their way to the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium theater when the mob surrounded their car shouting “off with their heads,” “Tory scum” and “give us some money.”

The Royal vehicle’s back window was smashed and lime green paint was thrown on the car, although there is no evidence that Gilmour had anything to do with that. He was, however, also photographed attempting to start a fire outside the Supreme Court by lighting a bunch of newspapers on fire.

Gilmour, a 21-year-old Cambridge University student, was told he must serve half of his 16-month jail term behind bars. From The Telegraph:

Shouting slogans such as “you broke the moral law, we are going to break all the laws”, the 21-year-old son of the multi-millionaire pop star went on the rampage during a day of extreme violence in central London.

Video captured by police officers outside the Houses of Parliament showed Gilmour, from Billingshurst, West Sussex, waving a red flag and shouting political slogans. The judge watched one clip in which he was shouted: “Let them eat cake, let them eat cake, they say. We won’t eat cake, we will eat fire, ice and destruction, because we are angry, very f———angry.”

As the clip was shown in court on Thursday, Gilmour sat in the dock giggling and covering his face with his hands in embarrassment.

On another occasion he could be seen urging the crowd to “storm Parliament” and shouting “arson”.

In addition to attacking the Royal cars, he was also part of a mob that smashed the windows at Oxford Street’s Top Shop as staff and customers cowered inside.

What most of the reporting on this matter wants to remind you is that young Mr. Gilmour is the son of a multi-millionaire pop star. Fair enough, we wouldn’t be reading about him if he wasn’t, but from reading this article and some of the others—his swinging from the Cenotaph aside—I couldn’t help feel that his actions a) took guts and b) the students were right.

I don’t think Gilmour should feel like he has to hang his head in shame at all. It’s the job of intelligent young people to behave this way from time to time, if you ask me!

Something that’s often getting left out of this story is that Gilmour’s biological father is none other than anarchist poet, actor, playwright and graffiti polemicist, Heathcote Williams. Williams, who once served as the anarchist “Albion free state” of Frestonia’s ambassador to the UK, is a rabble-rouser of the first rank. His grandmother was a Major in Mao’s Red Army. Rebellion is in this kid’s DNA. Although he and his son are supposed to be estranged, given his own past, surely Williams must feel some paternal pride in his son’s anti-establishment hijinks?

Posted by Richard Metzger
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07.15.2011
01:21 pm
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Fantastic rendition of ‘Waterloo Sunset’ by Queenie Watts
06.19.2011
08:41 am
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It doesn’t get more Lahndan Tahn than than this. Taken from a 1979 BBC TV Play For Today drama written by Barrie Keeffe and directed by RIchard Eyre, this clip sees Ray Davies’ mid-60s paean to young romance belted out on a rickety ole joanna by Queenie Watts. Watts was a well-loved Cockney performer who appeared in such classic British TV shows as Dad’s Army and Steptoe and Son. She and her husband Slim also ran the Rose and Crown pub in London’s East End, where they would perform with a band, entertaining a mixed crowd of locals, celebs and gangsters. Queenie’s take on The Kinks’ classic makes the connection between the swinging 60s and the city’s earlier music hall history, and it just drips Cockney charm. Cor blimey!
 

Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
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06.19.2011
08:41 am
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Controversial professor Chris Knight arrested over planned ‘Right Royal Orgy’ against Royal Wedding
04.28.2011
06:46 pm
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News reaches Dangerous Minds that one of the organizers of tomorrow’s Government of the Dead’s Right Royal Orgy / Zombie Wedding has been allegedly arrested for “potential breach of the peace.”

The Metropolitan Police is concerned over professor of anthropology, Chris Knight‘s intentions, to be-head of effigies of the Royal Family with a guillotine. Last year, Mr Knight, a professor of anthropology, made national headlines over his support for the student demonstrations at Tory HQ. In 2009, he took part in the “Hang a Banker” demonstration.

The Right Royal Orgy which will take place in London, at the same time as the Royal Wedding is advertised on Facebook as follows:

The Government of the Dead requests the pleasure of your company at The Right Royal Orgy mass bed in, love in and touch up in the shadow of the working guillotine!

Bring sumptuous trappings, extravagant and outre costumery, and duvets decorated with ‘blessings’ and ‘wellwishings’ for the royal nuptials.

We will gather from 10am in Soho Square, and process via Eros statue Piccadilly to bare our tidings of great joy to one and all in Westminster!

Yes folks, there will be a spanking new working guillotine on hand! The Hell’s Grannies’ team of tricoteuses will be directing the entire operation! Remember this is YOUR celebration! We’re paying for the party, so it’s OUR party! The invitations must have been lost in the post what with CUTS to the ROYAL MALE!

Suggested costume themes: Bunga Bunga bloc; Hieronymous Bosch bloc; Bloody Naked/Sluts v Cuts bloc; Big Penis bloc; Sheela-na-Gig bloc; Executioners bloc; Hell’s Granny Tricoteuses bloc (bring your knitting needles); Bunny Girrrll Bloc (is the year of the Playboy Bunny’s revenge!); Werewolf bloc; Balaklava Body bloc…and more than you can ever imagine!

casting couch auditions for Marie Antoinette (with cake!) and naked BUTTlers now on…
all genders need apply to the bunny boss!

For details of the event check here

Below is a video of Chris Knight’s arrest.

Update:

The Guardian confirms that Chris Knight has been arrested, along with Camilla Power and Patrick Macroida. The 3 activists were arrested outside Mr Knight’s home at 18.15 hours on April 28, as they were preparing to drive their theatrical props, including a home-made guillotine and effigies, into central London when three police cars and two police vans drew up near Knight’s home in Brockley. Fellow activist Mike Raddie told the Guardian:

“Chris was arrested first. He lay down on the pavement opposite his house to make the arrest difficult,” said Raddie. “He was pulled up by four police officers and two bundled him into the back of a van.

“Camilla was put in the back of one of the police cars. Patrick was dressed up as an executioner when he was arrested.”

Raddie said the police also seized a van containing the group’s props, which included a wooden guillotine. “It’s a working guillotine but it doesn’t have a blade – just wood painted silver,” he added.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “This evening, 28 April, officers arrested three people – two males aged 68 and 45, and a 60-year-old woman – in Wickham Road, SE4 on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance and breach of the peace.

“They are currently in custody at Lewisham police station.”

A Channel 4 film crew were present during the arrests, filming for the Unofficial Royal Wedding,which is due to air at 19.10pm on Monday May 2. Some of their equipment, which was in the activists’ van, was also confiscated.

Read the full article here.
 

 
Previously on DM

Students demonstrate outside Tory H.Q. London


 
Bonus clip of Chris Knight on ITV Daybreak explaining plans for Right Toyal Orgy, after the jump…
 

READ ON
Posted by Paul Gallagher
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04.28.2011
06:46 pm
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Another Michael Jackson sculpture unveiled
04.06.2011
07:32 pm
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This one is controversial for very different reasons to Mohammed Al-Fayed;s Michael Jackson statue. Fans of the King of Pop have been bombarding Premises studios in East London with hate mail after it unveiled the new work by Swedish artist Maria von Köhler, a recreation of Jackson’s infamous “baby dangling” moment. This makes me wonder if these same fans were angry with Jackson for the incident itself, or just upset at being reminded of it. Ironically von Köhler said she intended the work to be a commentary on fandom. Personally, I think it’s better than the other one, even if it makes MJ look more like Naboo from the Mighty Boosh.
 
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Via the Daily Mail, of all places.

Previously on DM:
Soccer fans can go to Hell, as Michael Jackson statue unveiled

Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
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04.06.2011
07:32 pm
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New York Dolls release new album with exclusive gigs in London
02.25.2011
08:13 am
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The New York Dolls are playing two nights in an “exclusive London venue” on the 30 and 31 March 2011, to promote their new album Dancing Backwards in High Heels.

MOF Artist and Events ltd have teamed up with the Old Vic to produce a series of events “in a raw and outstanding space below London’s Waterloo station.” The events will take place in the Old Vic Tunnels, a series of red brick tunnels running underneath the main railway station. From here, MOF and the Old Vic will be showcasing a range of “profile artists, with one off shows, album releases, secret gigs & afterparties.”

To launch our unique event series, we are excited to present, original punk/glam instigators The New York Dolls promoting the UK release of their new album: Dancing Backwards in High Heels (produced by Jason Hill of the Killers, released Monday, March 14th)

These intimate shows are the only London dates of their short UK tour. (their last small venue show in London’s 100 Club sold out in 4 minutes)

Legendary guitarist Earl Slick, best known for his spectacular guitar work on David Bowie’s albums David Live (1974), Young Americans (1975) and Station To Station (1976), has officially joined the New York Dolls as the bands new guitarist on their exclusive London shows.

The New York Dolls’ fifth studio album, Dancing Backward In High Heels has received some very positive reviews:

New York Dolls are back on fantastic creative form with their wonderful new album, Dancing Backward In High Heels, which was recorded and mixed in sunny Newcastle – miles from their home in New York City…

The Dolls have proved that they can still produce an enjoyable, rocking album that does not show off their age at all. In comparison, they make their younger counterparts sound dull and dreary. With an upcoming UK tour, there is no stopping the original New York punk band.

Here are four tracks from the new album, and one golden oldie. For more information on The Dolls’ London gigs, check here.
 

New York Dolls - “Streetcake” (2011)
 

New York Dolls - “Round and Round She Goes” (2011)
 

New York Dolls - “I Sold My Heart to the Junkman” (2011)
 

New York Dolls - “Baby Tell Me What I’m On” (2011)
 

New York Dolls - “Jet Boy” (1973)
 
Previously on DM

All Dolled Up with The New York Dolls


 

Posted by Paul Gallagher
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02.25.2011
08:13 am
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The changing face of London during the Swinging Sixties
02.21.2011
07:36 pm
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These two short films from Rank’s classic Look at Life, hint at two of J G Ballard’s preoccupations - high rises and cars.

“Rising to High Office”, made in 1963, examines the development of high rise corporate life; while “Goodbye Piccadilly” looks at the planned redevelopment of the famous London landmark at the start of the sixties that intended to create a “double-decker” Piccadilly Circus, with a new pedestrian concourse above the ground-level traffic. The plans were lasted for most of the decade, but were killed off in 1972 when it was discovered the plans would not help the required increase in traffic flow.

Amazing quality and in fabulous color, they capture a little seen aspect of the changing face of London during its most famous decade.
 

 
Previously on DM

London in the sixties: 2 groovy films on fashion and cafe culture


 
High Rise London in the swinging sixties, after the jump…
 

READ ON
Posted by Paul Gallagher
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02.21.2011
07:36 pm
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Jody McIntyre: Man Attacked by Police Interviewed on BBC News
12.13.2010
07:07 pm
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“You are blaming the victims of violence for the violence.” - Jody McIntyre

BBC interview wheelchair user and cerebal palsy sufferer Jody McIntryre after he was dragged from his wheelchair by police on two seperate occasions at the anti-tuition fees protest on the 9th December 2010 in London.

 
Previously on Dangerous Minds

Footage of British Police Brutality Against Disabled Journalist


Not Just Berkeley and London The International Student Movement is on Fire


 

Posted by Paul Gallagher
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12.13.2010
07:07 pm
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Footage of British Police Brutality Against Disabled Journalist
12.13.2010
03:19 pm
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Jody McIntyre is a blogger, journalist and political activist. He is also disabled. Last week, Jody took part in the demonstrations against the British government’s hike in university tuition fees. During the demo, Jody was dragged from his wheelchair in an “unprovoked” attack by police, as he explained to East London Lines:

“I was in Parliament Sq with my brother and we saw everyone running to one of the corners so we ran and made our way to the front.

“One policeman hit me with his baton in the shoulder then suddenly four or five of them picked me up, and dragged me from my chair. They carried me quite violently and against my will and put me on the pavement.

“Eventually after about 5 minutes, my brother was let through.

“What was even more shocking though, later on I had moved to the other side of Parliament Sq and I was sitting in my wheelchair in space in the middle of the road. A policeman recognized me from the earlier incident and came running over, pushed me out of my chair and dragged me across the road. This was completely unprovoked.”

Jody has yet to decide if he will pursue a complaint against the police, but was eager to highlight this was not an isolated incident.

“I’ve been to a lot of these protests and people are always violent with me,” he said.

“Even though I’m in a wheelchair, I like to think we’re all equal human beings. There was plenty of violence towards students yesterday, and even though I’ve had media attention, all of this violence is equally disgraceful. But this is standard police behavior.”

 

 
Previously on Dangerous Minds

Not Just Berkeley and London The International Student Movement is on Fire


London Riots Not Quite Anarchy as Prince Charles’ Car Attacked


Students Demonstrate Outside Tory HQ London


 

Posted by Paul Gallagher
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12.13.2010
03:19 pm
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Not just Berkeley & London: The international student movement is on fire!
12.11.2010
01:06 pm
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Demonstration against the privatization of education, New Delhi, December 2, 2010
 

As our UK-based Dangerous Mind Paul Gallagher has noted, London students have taken the issue of educational democracy off the campuses into both the city’s freezing streets and the faces of lines of cops. Of course these have been paralleled by media coverage of a couple of years of anti-tuition hike protests at the University of California. But they’re just the tip of the iceberg.

Turns out the international student movement that’s been brewing is on the way to becoming the primary dynamic popular movement of our time. From Manila to Santiago to Jakarta to Marrakech to Milan to Prishtina, students have been hitting the capitals to protest the privatization, commodification and militarization of education and research. Their fight against the fee hikes, budget cuts and other politricks affecting access to education is already the most effective and wide-reaching youth movement you’ve ever seen. Period.

To state the sweepingly obvious, the global financial industry played a huge part in causing the worldwide educational crisis. And democratized education will be key to defending humanity against the most powerful wave of greed we’ve seen in a while. That makes the global struggle for free, emancipatory education the key struggle of our lifetimes.

You may think I’m overstating it. Hell, maybe I am. But just in case, do yourself a favor: keep an eye on this movement and support it in whatever way you see fit.
 

 

Posted by Ron Nachmann
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12.11.2010
01:06 pm
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The Bugle is the goddamn funniest satirical podcast you’ll ever hear
08.06.2010
07:45 pm
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If you appreciate intelligent political humor, especially when delivered by Brits, you’ll pee your pants for The Bugle, the free weekly Times Online comedy podcast. Daily Show correspondent/writer John Oliver calling in from New York City and fellow Brit comedian Andy Zaltzman in London deliver an excellent 40-minute fake news show, replete with grandiose trumpet fanfare, horribly stretched-out puns, and a lot of schoolgirl-style giggling. Plus zingers like these:

Bush admitted that standing under a banner that read “Mission Accomplished” was a mistake—which is like apologizing for spelling someone’s name wrong on the birthday cake you made them out of shit.

Here’s some highlights from the audio newspaper for a visual world:
 

 
After the jump, the Bugle asks an American…
 

READ ON
Posted by Ron Nachmann
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08.06.2010
07:45 pm
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