Oi. You two ! C'mere!
Not only was the late Les Gray someone who went out of his way to build the confidence of ladies with feline feet, he was a public spirited chap who helped to teach kids in the 70s how to cross the road safely.
His indignation is evident at first. He quickly gets over the anger caused by the reckless attempt at crossing the road he has just witnessed and proceeds to deliver his message.
Alvin Stardust was similarly serious about his Green Cross Code. He chose a stern face and some serious pointing.
This however was in the Seventies in the days before Paedophiles were invented. There was only "funny mannys" back then. Sadly such selfless road safety work would not wash these days. With Les Gray looking like a bizarre mating experiment between Showaddywaddy and a Northern Club comic, coupled with Alvin looking like a half arsed S & M version of Engelbert Humperdink, it just wouldn't work. With the sight of these two wandering the streets, kids nowadays would be safely strapped in the back of the 4 by 4s before their parents could say "media frenzy fuelled paranoia".
Shame really as I am sure Les and Alvin were perfectly nice straight up guys. Indeed, Alvin made the front pages of my local paper in seventies with his frequent trips up to stables 5 minutes from my house to go pony trekking. Despite all his pointing, scowling and attempts at looking hard, these were not big horses. No, it was the kind of pony trekking that girls in my primary class went on.
Kids were safe in the seventies with Alvin and Les. Gary Glitter on the other hand.....
At the same time in the pre punk Seventies, Britain was escaping to the otherwordliness of Glam rock. In the U.S. long hair, beards and mellowness were de riguer in California. There was of course the bubbling undercurrent started by the likes of the MC5 and the Stooges that was getting picked up by the formative Ramones. Mainstream however was long hair and escapism. An undercurrent was picking up in the UK in the shape of pub rock. At the forefront were Dr Feelgood. A couple of songs here from 1975 : All Through the City and Roxette. The context is set perfectly by the slightly effeminate presenter in the powder blue jump suit talking about stotty cake and apparently modelling himself on Jimmy Savile. The picture of Rick Wakeman in the background adds to the period piece feel about the setting.
The footage is a bit grainy, so it's hard to appreciate the intense performance from the brilliant short haired black clad guitarist Wilko Johnson. Singer Lee Brilleaux (apparently a bit of a nasty bastard)looking like he is on the verge of violence tops it off. Short, energetic, a bit skuzzy and to the point. No escapism, only perhaps, a more honest representation of what a shithole, on the verge of economic and social breakdown, that the UK was at the time. Don't believe the nostalgia.
What does it matter, the songs and the performance still stand up in the much more comfortable present.
His indignation is evident at first. He quickly gets over the anger caused by the reckless attempt at crossing the road he has just witnessed and proceeds to deliver his message.
Alvin Stardust was similarly serious about his Green Cross Code. He chose a stern face and some serious pointing.
This however was in the Seventies in the days before Paedophiles were invented. There was only "funny mannys" back then. Sadly such selfless road safety work would not wash these days. With Les Gray looking like a bizarre mating experiment between Showaddywaddy and a Northern Club comic, coupled with Alvin looking like a half arsed S & M version of Engelbert Humperdink, it just wouldn't work. With the sight of these two wandering the streets, kids nowadays would be safely strapped in the back of the 4 by 4s before their parents could say "media frenzy fuelled paranoia".
Shame really as I am sure Les and Alvin were perfectly nice straight up guys. Indeed, Alvin made the front pages of my local paper in seventies with his frequent trips up to stables 5 minutes from my house to go pony trekking. Despite all his pointing, scowling and attempts at looking hard, these were not big horses. No, it was the kind of pony trekking that girls in my primary class went on.
Kids were safe in the seventies with Alvin and Les. Gary Glitter on the other hand.....
At the same time in the pre punk Seventies, Britain was escaping to the otherwordliness of Glam rock. In the U.S. long hair, beards and mellowness were de riguer in California. There was of course the bubbling undercurrent started by the likes of the MC5 and the Stooges that was getting picked up by the formative Ramones. Mainstream however was long hair and escapism. An undercurrent was picking up in the UK in the shape of pub rock. At the forefront were Dr Feelgood. A couple of songs here from 1975 : All Through the City and Roxette. The context is set perfectly by the slightly effeminate presenter in the powder blue jump suit talking about stotty cake and apparently modelling himself on Jimmy Savile. The picture of Rick Wakeman in the background adds to the period piece feel about the setting.
The footage is a bit grainy, so it's hard to appreciate the intense performance from the brilliant short haired black clad guitarist Wilko Johnson. Singer Lee Brilleaux (apparently a bit of a nasty bastard)looking like he is on the verge of violence tops it off. Short, energetic, a bit skuzzy and to the point. No escapism, only perhaps, a more honest representation of what a shithole, on the verge of economic and social breakdown, that the UK was at the time. Don't believe the nostalgia.
What does it matter, the songs and the performance still stand up in the much more comfortable present.
posted by Teuchter at 00:09
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