XTC In Concert – 1981 – Nights At The Roundtable

XTC – It would not be the 80s without them.

Click on the link here for Audio Player – XTC In Concert At Hammersmith Palais – February 7, 1981 – BBC In Concert Series – BBC Radio 1

You can’t have a week of 80s music without including a concert by XTC. They pretty much defined the decade (at least the first half) for me. One of the most instantly identifiable and influential bands to come out of that period. XTC were labelled all kinds of things – but they insisted on being considered a Pop band.

They embodied the craft of tight, well-executed song-making. From brilliant lyrics to instrumental lines, XTC were one of the most competent and successful bands of the period.

Listening to this concert, recorded on February 7, 1981 at the Hammersmith Palais in London, every song carries with it an indelible mark. And it’s amazing how many memorable hits they had during their tenure, and the energy level borders on Mach One. This goes under the heading of “Classic Concert”.

So as a reminder of how great this band was, here is XTC in concert as recorded by the ever-present BBC for their In Concert series for Radio 1.

I don’t think I need to tell you to crank this one up very loud.

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A Word From Stephen Biko – (Dec. 18, 1946-September 12, 1977) Past Daily Reference Room

His death sparked outrage and a renewed sense of purpose.

Click on the link here for Audio Player – An interview with Stephen Biko – August 1977 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection

Among many other things on this day, September 12th in 1977 was also the day it was disclosed that Anti-Apartheid activist Stephen Biko was murdered while in custody by Police in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Biko was one of the leading lights in the Anti-Apartheid movement. Organizing in peaceful protest, Biko had been very involved in the movement  since the early 1960s. On a Pop-Culture note – it was Biko who coined the term “Black Is Beautiful“, which went on to become one of the iconic phrases in Black Consciousness raising in the 1970s.

This interview, done within a day of his arrest by police, was conducted under less than ideal circumstances. Music plays in the background as a way of preventing eavesdropping by police bugging devices. He explains the history of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and his role in attempting to bring together groups, both black and white, to change the oppressive polices of the Pretoria government.

And this would be the last interview the world would hear. He was arrest in late August of 1977 and by September 12th he was dead.

And the struggle continued for many long  years after.

In case you always heard about Stephen Biko, or read his books, here is an opportunity to hear the voice of the man himself.

And another reason not to forget that struggles exist throughout the world and that there are many Stephen Bikos among us.

 

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• Do you remember Steve Biko, anti-apartheid activist who died in ’77? (holykaw.alltop.com)
• This day in the Yesteryear: SOUTH AFRICAN ANTI-APARTHEID ACTIVIST STEVE BIKO DIES IN POLICE CUSTODY (1977) (euzicasa.wordpress.com)
• Today in 1977, brotha Steve Biko’s life was snatched from him in Azania / South Africa by the racist Apartheid regime (iamniiteiko.com)
• Video: Biko – a rare TV interview (iol.co.za)

Wearing Black For The Man In Black – September 12, 2003

On top of everything else; the loss of an icon. (photo: Jan Olofsson)

Click on the link here for Audio Player: BBC Radio 4 – PM – September 12, 2003

News for this day ten years ago had much to do with a world in turmoil, but the loss of an American Music icon added a poignancy to September 12th.

On this September 12th in 2003, news of the lifting of UN sanctions against Libya, in place since the terrorist bombing of PanAm Flight 103 over Lacherbie Scotland and the killing of 243 passengers and 16 crew had many in the White House skeptical over the vote. Libya was still considered a major player in the “War on Terror” and aides to Bush were quick to point out the sanctions lift didn’t really change all that much with respect to the U.S. position on the Khadafi regime.

And the situation in Iraq dragged on with news from Fallujah that 8 Iraqi security personnel were mistakenly killed by U.S. troops. And new agitation was going along with the anxiety over the allegations of an Iranian Nuclear program and what that would mean for the region.

Since the newscast for this day comes via the BBC, much news was spent on the comings and goings of the Green Party in the UK, and their plans for the rest of Europe in the coming elections. Also, the economic situation with the EU and the problems with some member nations.

But the sad news came from Baptist Hospital in Nashville, with word that American music legend Johnny Cash had died at the age of 71 from complications associated with Diabetes.

The tributes poured in and this episode of PM offered a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Man In Black who was extremely popular in the UK.

And that’s part of what went on in the world this day, as reported by BBC Radio  4’s PM program for September 12, 2003.

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• Did you know? Johnny Cash died on this day in 2003.. (downinthegroovemusic.wordpress.com)
• Johnny Cash on Grooveshark (grooveshark.com)