@Harry__England
@joshua_pieters
Iโm aware people say those things, but Iโve genuinely never heard anyone actually say them before. In public. In front of cameras. Genuinely the most awful, racist tirade Iโve ever witnessed. Itโs like Iโve lead a sheltered life. ๐ท๐ท๐ท
Interested in
#2Tone
/
#Ska
? Follow me on the trail of
#TheBodysnatchers
! In this episode I remember being taken to buy my first ever single - My Boy Lollipop!! ๐ค๐ฅ๐ Xx
Today my Mum would've been 102. She had her last birthday at 72, so she's missed a lot of my life. She never met my children, my proudest achievement. From her I inherited my razor tongue and my lovely hands. She was very bright, but lacked education, leaving school at just 14.
Anyone organising a music awards ceremony this year? Then please invite me. Never been to one. Not asking to be nominated, but I have 1 silver and 7 gold albums and released my first single in 1980. No need to pretend you canโt see me anymore!
Everything rotten in Britain stems from this period. Everything.
Landlord rents. Shit in the rivers. Zero work hours. No British industry. Gas, electric bills through the roof,
No affordable housing.
All of it.
My dad - a soldier in the British West Indies Regiment in WW1 and a club owner and musician in London in WW2. They were world wars, though they started in Europe, they drew in so many POC from outside.
Apparently, itโs 2 Tone Tuesday and also the 42nd anniversary of The Bodysnatchers first single release, Rocksteady.
This cover is from our first photoshoot. I still have that coat, that top and those boots!!
#hoarder
Remember these guys, Chuka and Dubem Okonkwo, dubbed the Rudeboy Twins back at the start of 2Tone?
I bumped into them at the
@BarbicanCentre
, but when I suggested they had been Rudies, they insisted they had always been Mods!
Btw, new single here:
๐๐ฃOn this episode of 'On The Trail Of The Bodysnatchers' I visit the former home of legendary Brixton music venue the Ram Jam Club. The legacy of clubs like this paved the way for multiculturalism and 2Tone! ๐ชฉ๐ค
I went swimming today for the first time in 5 years. Itโs not entirely because of my new
@soulcapofficial
, but being able to easily get ALL MY HAIR in a swimming cap for the FIRST TIME EVER was transformational! How come itโs taken this long??
Released today Letโs Do Rocksteady @ 45 Ft. Aimee Interrupter!!
Available on all the usual streaming platforms - get yours here:
Iโve been a fan of
@AimeeIntrrupter
and
@Interruptweets
ever since I first saw them play in London back in 2015!
๐ผ๐คThis is where The Bodysnatchers started! Audition, first rehearsals, where we finally decided on a name and where we wrote our first original song, The Boiler! ๐ท๐ธ
Back on tour with
@TheSelecter
each night paying tribute to
@RankingRoger
who should have been there. Support his book, so his thoughts are with us this Xmas. A great stocking filler! From all good bookstores/online retailers.
#No1inBrum4Xmas
Went to see
@TheSelecter
supported by
@holliecookie
on Friday at
@KOKOLondon
!
Great evening, brilliant gig. Bumped into lots of lovely people!
My photos will need Photoshop to rescue them, so I got this one from Hollie.
God Save The Queens!! Sheโs not wrong!
Me and Steve English, legendary security man / minder for the Pistols, the Clash and 2Tone. Here we are at the Electric Ballroom after Sid and Nancyโs gig!
#NewProfilePic
Iโve got a single out you know! Itโs the best ever Reggae cover of Bowieโs The Man Who Sold The World! Complete with a wicked dub b side by the Sidewalk Doctor himself,
@lenny_bignell
!
You can play / pre-order via the link:
Physical release coming soon!
Walked round Beyond The Bassline exhibition at the
@britishlibrary
yesterday. Was perusing the
#2Tone
tower and what should start playing? Yes, โRocksteadyโ!!
Get the new version featuring a very good friend out on 27 September!
Hereโs your link:
The Specials with Rhoda Dakar performing at the Hope and Anchor, London, 1980. L-R Horace Panter, Terry Hall, Lynval Golding, Rhoda Dakar.
All the best to the gang
@horacepanterart
@RhodaDakar
Last week was 5 years since Pete Shelley died and promoting my single seemed crass. But, getting on with it so please buy a physical copy of my Pete Shelley/Buzzcocks cover, โI Donโt Mindโ, out in Feb โ24 on
@SundayBestRecs
on pink vinyl!
Hereโs the link:
๐ On this episode of 'On The Trail Of The Bodysnatchers' I visit our old post rehearsal haunt in Camden Town... Stella's Caff! Where that brilliant combo of welcome and disdain was served along with great food and excellent coffee! ๐ณ๐โ๏ธ
Happy
#WindrushDay
! This is the National Windrush Monument on Waterloo Station photographed today.
My dad was asked to come from JA and fight in WW1, like many other WI and African servicemen who fought for this country in two world wars.
#windrushgeneration
#compensationnow
This is a completely frivolous post. I have just found the shoes I want to be buried in. Theyโre by
@CarelParis
and I might just start a crowdfund to afford them!!
Youโre welcome!
PS
@sassycali88
Iโm looking at you!! ๐
First 2023 gig - a
#DanceCraze
tribute at
@hmvempire
in Cov on Saturday! Me with my cardi off. Finally. Coldest indoor gig ever! Luckily the crowd was very warm and literally drank the bar dry by 6pm!
Played new
@SundayBestRecs
single What A Wonderful World! Didnโt we do well!
#BloodySunday50
marks half a century since the British army opened fire on a civil rights march. 26 unarmed protestors were shot during a demonstration against internment without trial.
Tremendous performer, remarkable man. I only met him once and had no qualms about asking for an autograph! Thank you for the music Wilko!
#wilkojohnson
OMG! OMG! WE DID IT!! Finally, after I stopped looking, Pork Pie & Mash Up has made it to NUMBER ONE IN THE MIXCLOUD SKA CHART!! Thank you all soooo much for your support!
Listen here:
Look out Lewisham, weโre on our way!!
TONIGHT is our Leap Year gig at the Fox and Firkin! Once every four years we come out and play for you and wish happy birthday to my cousin Carolyn and all those of you who miss out!!
Tickets here:
I waved my daughter off this morning to watch
@ChelseaFCW
v Man U at the Bridge, as sheโs a big follower of the womenโs game! Whilst I stay home and read the interview with
@JonesysJukebox
in
@onlyapound
, as heโs True Blue, even in LA!
@RhodaDakar
Just received my Blu-ray copy of โDance Crazeโ
I canโt believe Iโm in my 60th year, and havenโt seen it until now.
The Bodysnatchers were my favourite of the film.
Awesome! ๐
Itโs 50 years since Ziggy Stardust came to visit! As part of my tribute to
#davidbowie
we have echoed his flaming red hair on the vinyl. The Man Who Sold The World available to play / pre-order via the link:
#davidbowie75
#ziggystardust
#coversong
NEW SINGLE ALERT!!
From today, my new single โAs Tears Go Byโ is available for pre-order on
@SundayBest
!
Weโve done it in a Rocksteady/Early Reggae style and
@PeteMcKee
has produced a beautiful cover!
Listen/pre-order here:
๐ธ Liela Hamilton-Dakar
Finally! Heโs not the messiah, but heโs a bloody sight better than the other lot! Our job now is to work to hold this government to account. Roll up your sleeves people, the workโs about to start!!
#LabourParty
#NewGovernment
#Change
#Hope
Last gig of the year last Friday at
@100clubLondon
! A sold out show; people came from far and wide and it was truly lovely to see you all!
Itโs been a good year, with a top 10 album, Version Girl, and itโs not over yet!
Next stop, Paris - see you in January!
๐ธ Trevor Walker
Two things happened on the tube yesterday (1/2):
I told a young mum (kids 5 & 8 approx) how wonderfully she spoke to her children and she thanked me for the encouragement!
Note to self - do that again!