God I feel old, I first got involved in politics in 1980 ish.
I find it more depressing now though. After all this time we are no further forward on the left, in fact worse in some ways given the strategies of some. The left is still more preoccupied with point scoring amongst themselves and even good examples of unity such as the SSP has ended in tears.
Also there was some hope that things would be a bit better under Labour (ok, not socialism but something a bit softer than the tories). Its not and the landslide majority was a wasted opportunity. In 1997 there was a mood for change and a disillsionment with the Tories. But New labour and Blair did not want to build on that .
Oh dear, I could rant for hours on this. Will stop .
"the capital was of course in the grip of a bombing campaign mounted by religiously-inspired terrorists."
Oh c'mon Dave you should know better than saying the above.
Are you comparing the IRA to the July bombers of 2005? There are comparisons but there are also obvious differences.
The IRA defined itself in terms of a nationalist ideology who identified with groups which fought against imperialism and supported national liberation struggles (ANC, FSLN and so on). They didn't identify with Catholicism instead they were politicised by national liberation struggles. The Roman Catholic church ex-communicated IRA members.
Were the July bombers politicised by national liberation struggles? No, they are locked in their own fundamentalist religion.
I'm not getting into an argument about the IRA but there was something quite buzzy about 1981 London. The music scene was mainly crap, but it was just after the first Brixton riot and you had a giant squatting movement, Livingstone taking over the GLC, a very interesting crisis in the Labour Party - the Benn deputy leadership campaign - and the defection of the SDP... OK, it was a very long time ago and I'm not misty-eyed, but they were significantly more interesting times than now. I reckon it's time to start thinking about serious popular histories and flogging them to publishers.
"The music scene was mainly crap".
You weren't a New Romantic then, comrade Anderson? Anyway, I was only 11 in 1981 but I do agree, it was a buzzy time. What is exactly happening now?
Agree with you about music scene now, comrade. No, I wasn't a New Romantic: too old. I'm 1976 r'n,'b revival and punk, me.
I was first involved in left politics in 1969.
I am pissed off.
Louise ... I'm joking here, sister. Unusual on a serious political blog, I know. But I'm joking.
Paul
That book idea sounds seriously more fun than another volume on Labour Party financing and another one on Orwell put together.
"Louise ... I'm joking here, sister. Unusual on a serious political blog, I know. But I'm joking."
Well, 'cos I such a serious politico I believed ya comrade. I thought Comrade Osler was engaging in a bit of sloppy thinking instead he's joking.... Yeah, what next on the serious political blog agenda??
Oh and Comrade Anderson.. in 1976 I was 6 so the punk scene kinda passed me by. But there is a lot of crap around at the moment in the music scene (that sweeping statement will annoy some people)
Strophchen: when you write: "even good examples of unity such as the SSP has ended in tears."
Iis there something you know that I don't. As far as i know the SSP is still a good example of unity, and has not ended.
I still get SSV every week, they still have 4 MSPs. They still have the majority of socialist activists in Scotland, inclusing almost the whole of the very impressive youth organisation. They still stand for an inclusive form of party organisation that welcomes socialists of all hues, and still have the inspiring memebrsiup of former labour MSP, John McAllion. And the last opinion poll (taken after the Sheridan split) showed them at 6% in the polls.
Not ended yet I belieice, so spare the tears.
Andy
Well perhaps it may all turn out alright, BUT its hardly good to have a split and public fighting and name calling.
But lets not get into another debate about the SSP, Sheridan etc.
Rather talk about the crap music, who was a punk etc 
Music was crap in 1981?!?
Fucksake, Paul, you should have tried growing up musically in 86-88. Now that was a shite time for music.
And how did I cope? By listening to music from '81.
Cheers
Darren
There is always crap music around at any time. Question is though will there be crap music under socialism 
Don't get the SPGBer started on 'life under socialism', please. We'll be here all day ...
But yeah, I guess that punk revolution had just about fizzled out by 1981.
Now is it just me, or is it really the case that ex-New Roms don't look back as fondly on their yoof as ex-punks?
Logical, really. No doubt which group enjoyed the better soundtrack to their adolesence.
"Don't get the SPGBer started on 'life under socialism', please. We'll be here all day ..."
Well we will be here all day if Andy gets started on Sheridan and the SSP...
Better to argue who has the best musical taste
Darren: "Fucksake, Paul, you should have tried growing up musically in 86-88. Now that was a shite time for music."
Yeah I'm with ya Darren, 3 names which still send chills down my spine... Stock, Aitken and Waterman.
My musical memories of my mid-teens have been repressed. Medication stabilises things. Even now the experience of remembering Kylie, Jason, Rick Astley and so on is making me ask for an emergency appointment with a shrink.
There are so many damaged mid-late 30 somethings out there, you know.
"Don't get the SPGBer started on 'life under socialism', please. We'll be here all day ..."
Sorry, you've got the wrong SPGBer. I never did finish Morris's 'News From Nowhere' and my imagination doesn't even stretch to a daily socialist newspaper (please don't mention the Morning Bore, please. That paper makes the Millies literature seem interesting.)
And there was musical life in '81 - whether or not punk had fizzled out by that point, Dave.
A quick scan of the end of year lists from NME and Sounds for that year make mention of the Specials, Dexys, Soft Cell, Heaven 17, *cough* Haircut 100, ABC, post Craig-Marsh and Ware Human League, Teardrop Explodes etc etc.
Brilliant music you jammy long in the tooth, short of the hair, bastards
Darren: "A quick scan of the end of year lists from NME and Sounds for that year make mention of the Specials, Dexys, Soft Cell, Heaven 17, *cough* Haircut 100, ABC, post Craig-Marsh and Ware Human League, Teardrop Explodes etc etc."
Oh this is a joyful trip down memory lane. It sounds like my early teens record collection.
Julian Cope in leather jodhpurs, *cough* Nick Heywood in those jumpers, ABC in their gold lame suits, and Soft Cell's brilliant debut LP "Not Stop Erotic Cabaret". And Dare by the Human League. They don't make 'em like they used to.....
Music - out with the old, in with new. Chuck anything you have more than 3 years old.
But on the 80s. It would be great if it was that decade again as it would be known what to do - e.g. don't waste time in Labour, the large strikes (e.g. miners, steelworkers) could be won through x and the Provos need to plant a larger bomb in the bedroom of whatever fancy hotel the parasites are staying at in Manchester.
And just what exactly is wrong with Kylie, Jason, Rick Astley, etc?
You know that you ALL dance do it when it comes on at the works disco.
Yes you do. Don't try to deny it, now.
Kit: I would have to be worse than blinding drunk to dance to that crap from the 1980s. Oh yeah, forgot to mention Dross ... sorry Bros.
So you do then...?
Pfft. Talk about denial...
I was a punk, and I think Dave is generous to say it was still going until 1981. Even by 1978 or 1979 people were buying bondage trousers from shops instead of developing their own look with any individuality. And yawn how original a mohican. By 1980 there were just a load of numpties in mass produced punk uniforms listening to warmed over hippies like Crass.
And most of the music was shit. Just quite conservative rock and roll played a bit faster. Let us sell you your own rebellion. And in terms of artistic innovation most of the punk bands that ended up with recording contracts might as well have been selected by X-factor.
Alternative TV are probably the only punk music to have really stood the test of time artistically.
Dave,
I've just seen this post. I had one on my blog making the case that the 1980s was, musically, the exalted decade, as far as live music in the UK was concerned.
I've offered plenty of evidence here:
http://nevertrustahippy.blogspot...ted-
decade.html
.... and given that a lot of very good black music was getting airplay without the bands going on tour in the UK only strengthens this argument, IMHO.
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