The BBC Archive (1978) - Don't Quote Me: Rock, Pop and Press

#OnThisDay 1978: The Clash’s Joe Strummer and Rick Wakeman from Yes discussed the press with music journalists Nick Kent and Ray Coleman.
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[@mccarthy5825]

Nick is off his trolley but he is still absolutely wonderful to watch. His book about the 70s is a phenomenal read. I've read many books about the whole punk explosion in London from 75-77,biographies of the Stones, Who, Hendrix, Clapton, Pistols, Bowie, Iggy, Ian Curtis, The Clash, Sid, John etc... You'd be reading Ozzy's book and he mentions Alan Wakeman and Yes recording the Topographical Oceans album, meeting Jimmy Page before joining New Yard birds, or you read Nick Mason's book and there's a story about any number of 70s faces...even Boy George talks about punk and getting a mohair jumper from Vivienne Westwood & Malcolms shop... But Nick's book is a year by year autobiography mixed with opinions, anecdotes, thoughts in hindsight, lots of humour and at the end you get a very vivid portrait of the whole music scene, especially in London as seen through the eyes of someone as talented as Nick who can conjour incredible mindscapes with just a few sentences. Hightly recommend getting that book and there's a book of his best articles and pieces too which is a delightful read if you like his work and want to read some very creative exaltations and condemnations!

[@bungle3912]

I've read all Nick Kent's books, they're brilliant. Though his whole persona is just a Poundshop Keith Richards.

[@sexobscura]

@@bungle3912 facts

[@sexobscura]

His compilation of essays of various bands/people (The Dark Stuff) is worthwhile (for music geeks), though I wouldn't go as far to as calling it 'phenomenal' (if that's the one you're referring to)

[@marky1974]

​@@sexobscura think hes referring to 'apathy for the devil'..its a good read..

[@sexobscura]

@@marky1974 Sure, I'll concede Kent writes some insightful, knowledgeable pieces (especially when it's passionate), but he can also swing way back to monotonous dreck (especially when it's dispassionate)

[@paulcampbell1596]

this is priceless! Joe strumer and rick wakeman....lol

[@jack0609]

I could be wrong but I read somewhere Joe quite liked Yes and other prog rock bands so did Johnny Rotten that’s how Sid Vicious got his name he was named after a Vicious hamster named Syd after Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd

[@WelshVegan]

Amazing that there's only 3 years age difference between Rick and Joe.

[@Guedingen]

Great, many thanks.

[@juveale29]

You tell ‘em Joe. And Nick Kent. The best dressed man in town….

[@sexobscura]

that's just one reason why Vicious whacked him

[@sexobscura]

This seems like nothing more than an upper-class debate in the cafeteria over lunch at Cambridge/Oxford

[@jmcortesl80]

This is gold!

[@sexobscura]

more akin to nickle

[@synysterjazmyngates]

Joe was a beautiful man ahhhh

[@douglaspouch5313]

Rick the grammar school middle class boy dreaming about meeting the Queen and Joe the private school bourgeois dreaming about machine gunning his House Master. Classic.

[@thirdcoast5755]

Funny how Kent acted like a rock star.

[@mick5137]

Yes, looked it too.

[@67psych]

He thought he was Keef Richards

[@67psych]

@@mick5137 Heroin chic!

[@hoha78]

Joe is so handsome!

[@frlango6082]

I knew you would say that. Looks like he’s just pampered himself in the bath whereas Nick Kent acts out like some erudite Johnny Thunder. All them years gone by when TV was worth watching and Music worth listening to

[@jimbeans2466]

I saw the full version of this the other day. I can't find it now. Anyone know where it is?

[@SoinRodion]

I don't know... somewhere see on the bbc sources..

[@topskek9786]

Joe strummer the rich kid

[@sexobscura]

criminally vulgar

[@revol148]

@Top Skek with a Daddy who was a bankrobber (but he never killed nobody)

[@mick5137]

The boorish slack-jawed gum chewing is very studied.

[@revol148]

@@mick5137 What's interesting in later life Strummer gave up with the cock-ern-nee accent and resorted back to the middle class, public school boy he really was. In the clip above both him and Nick Kent were very much the rock'n'roll epitome of cool.

[@frlango6082]

Love Joe boy but he is struggling’ here with a whole pack of the hardest gum ever. Rick Wakeman looks like he s going to a wedding. Well worth watching and if anyone knows where to get the whole show I wanna watch it pliz thanks

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

God he looks like Pete Doherty

[@mjh5437]

"Joe Strummer who didn`t go to The Royal College Of Music",but did go to a very expensive English Public (Private) School and is here desperately trying pretend he didn`t...Such a fake.

[@leeherring8880]

Yawn.

[@sexobscura]

the Class System is insidiously entrenched over there it seems

[@revol148]

@MJ H Strummer never comes across well in situations like this

[@misterslats]

Who gives a fuck what school he went to or how much his daddy earned each year. Just listen to his music and either like it or not. The music is the only thing that matters certainly his position in the British class system doesn't mean dick all.

[@M1tjakaramazov]

The music reporter is a despicable personification of all that was wrong with the musical press back then. They were so spoilt for choice and propped up by a privileged system they began to act like rock stars and musicians themselves. Bands like Queen and Duran Duran were habitually hounded and berated for the dumbest of reasons, while later utterly inconsequential "hip" bands were lauded to the skies. Compared to this intoxicated judgmental poser Strummer comes across almost like an academic.

[@user-jp5nc8zf7m]

I think there is a wide variety. The problem is mentioned by this editor, much of the press became much like the most popular acts they were reporting on. But like ALL music, there was press you hardly ever heard of. Chris Welch is talked about fondly by almost all the musicians back in the day. Probably the best written stuff on music was done by writers in papers we've never even heard of, just like how a lot of the best music is discovered. And compared to today, when all you read or hear about most of these acts are that they are god almighty and the most brilliant people who ever existed, at least there was somebody there to 'knock them down a peg'.

[@blairmcquarrie6070]

What was "consequential" about Duran Duran?

[@M1tjakaramazov]

@blairmcquarrie6070 Oh I don't know. Apart from epitomising both the 80s sound and quintessential fashion, and writing a string of hits that actually stand the test of time outside the customary nostalgia value... I guess in no way at all.

[@blairmcquarrie6070]

@@M1tjakaramazov 🤣😂🤣

[@davidbolger2000AD]

Why isn't Rick Wakeman wearing his Wizard Robes?????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He should really be wearing his Wizard Robes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@sexobscura]

wash day (they where at the cleaners)

[@SuperNevile]

In '78 'Prog' is dead and he is here as a sober commentator on the rock scene as befits a former Royal College of Music attendee and soon to be national treasure and Commander Of The British Empire. The times had moved on and John Graham Mellor and Nick Kent are now the preening peacocks.