Monday 7 July 2014

Women in punk

The Culture Show have done it again - with another excellent special, this time a feature about women in punk.  It was broadcast last week but is available on iPlayer until tomorrow night (8th July).

New interviews with Viv Albertine (her autobiographical book is perhaps at the core of this programme) alongside eminent others, including Gaye Advert and a rare one with Jordan, feature amongst archive footage of the Slits and X-ray Spex, etc.  I was going to wax lyrical on the subject as it's one that's close to my heart and the influence these women had on me was so significant, but I haven't left myself enough time to waffle on here today.  Perhaps another post!

In the meantime, if you didn't see it and you're interested, then take a look while it's still up there:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b048s4tj/the-culture-show-20142015-7-girls-will-be-girls


My 1970s home-made screenprint of Jordan!

21 comments:

  1. I agree, a great programme that could've (should've) been a lot longer. The archive footage alone was worth the price of admission.
    Viv's LP was one of my favourites of 2012 and her autobiography is high on my list of must reads. She presented a 2 hour show on 6Music at the weekend that's also available on the iPlayer at the moment.

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    1. Yes, I would have liked to have seen a few more faces in a longer version!
      I have to say, I'm not keen on what I've heard of Viv's own music (admittedly not that much) and found Home Sweet Home at the end of the documentary rather irritating (don't know if this will make sense but reminded me of Crass and I just can't go back to all that now!) but perhaps that's just me.

      What I've read of the autobiography (on Amazon preview pages!) looks fascinating and has rave reviews... a must read for me as well. Thanks for the heads-up about the 6Music show too!

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  2. Been meaning to watch this. Will try later, Cheers. Much love for Viv.

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  3. I'm not sure I CAN prove I'm not a robot.

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    1. You are a robot.

      Of course I ain't allowed to watch it...so I refuse to believe that it actually exists.

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    2. We are the robots.
      We're functioning automatik.

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  4. I love the screen print though...the thick outlines. Excellent.

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    1. Thanks, Erik. It's only small - postcard size. I must've been about 16 - it took supreme effort to make, using a cheap screen and squeegee bought from a craft shop and having to cut out paper stencils for each colour. Quite glad I kept it though.

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  5. Agree it was too short and the archive footage of the Slits was ace. Viv's solo stuff is worth spending some time with- idiosyncratic could be a word to describe it. Confessions of a Milf is fuller on the album than the one played on the show

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    1. Thanks SA, perhaps I'll have to give Viv's music another try - I do find sometimes things that don't grab you instantly can slowly work their way in and end up being longer lasting!

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  6. Just watched it. Great show. The classic footage was amazing and it all makes me want to run off and play the records. Just need to point out to Chrissie Hynde that if she wouldn't do anything that they'd not expect of Lemmy, how come she feels okay making such horrible MOR rawk? Love your Jordan screenprint.

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    1. Glad you caught it and enjoyed it too - afterwards I found myself thinking about lots of things to do with women in music, society, punk, what is different now, what can never be repeated, etc. and I wanted to write loads or perhaps discuss it with someone but just not had enough time...!

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  7. Hello again. Well done to you for highlighting the programme to others. What struck me about the Viv Albertine song at the end was how it could so easily have been a song by the Poison Girls, if you remember them?
    I wonder if you've watched She's A Punk Rocker, made by Zilla Minx (Poison Girls' Vi Subversa's daughter) of Rubella Ballet? If you've not done so then I'd recommend it to you. Essentially it's the same subject matter as Miranda Sawyer's film. It's up on You Tube if you're interested.
    Really like your blog, by the way.

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    1. Hi again and thanks. I wanted to mention it here and wanted to write loads more but unfortunately have been short on time this week.
      Your mention of the Poison Girls is absolutely spot on - I mentioned Crass in a comment above (thinking of Eve Libertine and Joy De Vivre!). I have seen snippets of Zillah Minx's film but not the whole thing, must make time to do so, thanks.

      I have a strange ambivalence to that whole scene perhaps because I was so immersed in it at one time that I just can't carry it on now, it was almost too much - but at the same time have a certain sense of loyalty and appreciation - oh it's difficult to explain... (By the way, I'm assuming from your knowledge that you've also seen 'The Day The Country Died'?)

      Glad you like the blog, thanks again.

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    2. PS - Like your blog too! Now over on the right ->

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    3. Like the blog too mr serpico reminds me of home ! Heard but didn't see viv last summer (I was pulling pints) but by all accounts the show was more than the music.

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    4. Nice part of the country you're both in!

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    5. Thank you for your compliments re Art Of Exmouth. Much appreciated. Yes, I watched The Day The Country Died some years ago - watched the film of the same name too.....
      And thank you for including me in your blog roll. If I can return the favour somehow then please do just ask.
      Take care.

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    6. Thanks John, and I really look forward to reading more over at Art Of Exmouth.

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  8. Probably the most interesting period for woman in music...great fashion and even their music was right there

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