Guest column: Death To Trad Rock review by Rikki Wright

But that was before John Robb applied himself to the task of bringing this music out from its underground home and squarely back into the spotlight, using all his trademark verve and authority to tell a story that was long overdue in the telling, and who better to tell it than John Robb? He was there as a musician, with The Membranes (currently with Goldblade http://www.goldblade.com), as well as being there as a respected music journo, so is in a perfect position to speak with knowledge about those times, and the pioneering bands that collectively formed the musical genre loosely referred to as 'Post Punk.'
Robb rather dubs it a 'Scene With No Name' due to its inclusion of bands who differ quite widely to one another, but nonetheless, there was a similarity in the abrasive music and idiosyncratic lyrics, and surreal accompanying artworks in album covers, flyers and fanzines, adequately fitting them under the umbrella title of 'Post Punk.' Being chronologically later, and retaining aspects of the Punk ethos of 'having a go' they attracted many of the same fans, alongside fans that were entirely their own. This disparate set of bands loosely coalesced into a scene that was arguably more authentically anti-establishment than the Punk scene of bands like The Sex Pistols, who mostly made noisy easy listening pop with attitude, rather than the grass roots, politically aware music of the Post Punks. Largely excluded from the cynical hype of the music business of the Punk era, the misfit bands in this book made provocative music with edge and intelligence, and an independent spirit that gave it core relevance to the fans who had adopted it as their music, their clarion call to get up and do something to change the world, by being bright and truly rebellious, rather than just swearing on tv and ineffectually kicking out at soft targets.
The relative lack of hype surrounding the Post Punk scene may be the reason that this music is at risk of fading into obscurity. Much of the Post Punk scene was run by small, independent record labels, or the bands themselves, so they are left out in the cold when it comes to being included in megabucks middle of the road compilations and nostalgia drives, which perhaps fools the unwary into thinking that this music was less important than that made by more commercially successful counterparts, where in fact, it is reasonable to state that some of it was more important, more original and more influential of current and future music than the diluted output of the muzzled bands who took the king's shilling and toed the record company line.
Most of those involved are defiantly glad that they never sold their souls to the establishment, and remain fiercely independent, and rightly proud of their political stance that was characterised by their vociferous opposition to Thatcher's Tory Government and legendary benefit gigs played in support of the Miners Strike.
If you weren't listening to and loving this music back in the 80's, and reading the accompanying fanzines, you missed out on something special, but here is a rare second chance to experience it through Death to Trad Rock, and the music that it signposts, with many of the bands still performing up and down the country, still making superbly original and uncompromising music, flying under the radar, and reminding us of who we once were, and can be again.
If you expect this book to be an exercise in musical trainspotting, some dreary account of half forgotten or never heard of bands, irrelevant to all but a few nostalgianauts, you are in for a glorious shock. Death to Trad Rock is a fascinating, insightful collection of interviews with band members such as John Hyatt from The Three Johns http://www.myspace.com/thethreejohns Rob Lloyd from The Nightingales http://www.thenightingales and Phil Wilson of The June Brides http://www.myspace.com/thejunebrides and a host of others, telling their stories in their own way, interwoven with Robb's acutely observed, evocative, and often hilariously funny commentary, and generously illustrated with rare photos, clippings and flyers that really capture the feeling of those heady days.
Whether you missed this music first time round, loved it with a passion way back when, or rarely listen to anything else, just do yourself a favour, and make sure Santa knows just how much you want a copy of one of the best rock'n'roll books in a long time.

ISBN:978-1-9041447-36-1

£14.99 Cherry Red Books 2009 London www.cherryredbooks.co.uk

Reviewed by Rikki Wright www.myspace.com/rikki_wright