Billy Bragg live from the South Bank Show, 1984

This clip is from the South Bank Show in 1984 and features the Porta-Stak, a strap-on amplifier that allowed me to do my BB thing on the move. It weighed a ton and was prone to feeding back, but it got me noticed, which was its purpose I guess. Life’s A Riot is 40 today.
The vinyl of Life’s A Riot with Spy vs Spy is back in stock and can be ordered here: billybragg.tmstor.es - Listen to the album on the Roaring Forty Spotify playlist: bit.ly/407rQNt
Website ➤ www.billybragg.co.uk
Spotify ➤ spoti.fi/3wrznYT
Subscribe ➤ / billybraggofficial
/ billybraggofficial
/ billybraggofficial
/ billybragg

[@mascadadelpantion8018]

This was filmed 1 year before I was born. And it is nice to see how the world was before I entered it.

[@g3g.931]

He’s a genius!!! Loved him since I heard him in 86

[@swthirteen]

That's our BB! Punk AF!

[@henrycastle1]

❤ The Joe Strummer fan with the Bergen

[@frankconnor9486]

The first USA tour, doesn't seem that long ago to 1984. We were all young and wide eyed, even the "walk / don't walk" crossing signs were exciting to see in real life.

[@bennyhillschineseblokechar3689]

That porta-stack thing!! Christ!!I Bill, you had some nerve/lack of self-consciousness, to wear that bloody thing in public!!

[@MarkSeton1]

Saw you with this set up playing live at Jumbo Records at the Merrion Centre in Leeds - and they (Jumbo Records) are still going!

[@buscemi0521]

thank you. thank you. I don't want to change the world, I want to change the mind.

[@bennyhillschineseblokechar3689]

I'm just gonna change my perception!

[@gwendolyn3038]

That backpack getup! Committed!

[@flamingicefox01]

you do videos as well now d'ya? VIDEOS ! ooohhh very upmarket. the first world international kung fu free fight championships. well... this is the stuff innit..... I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD-

[@elsiemacdonald]

can't forget about 'anything good in the Ss?'

[@flamingicefox01]

​@@elsiemacdonaldof course of course

[@bennyhillschineseblokechar3689]

Cat Stevens. The Stylistics. Stephen Stills.

[@elsiemacdonald]

you do videos aswell now dyou? VIDEOS? whoooahhh very up market! the first world international kungfu free fight championships!! well... this is the stuff innit... I DONT WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD

[@bennyhillschineseblokechar3689]

Not to mention chess and cooking with limited resources.