Whistle Test 1984 : The Redskins & The Three Johns

Whistle Test feature on The Redskins including interviews with Chris Dean and Jon Langford and a clip of The Three Johns

[@flyingsloth730]

I first heard “Neither Washington Nor Moscow but....” 3 years ago on cassette in Louisville, Kentucky and it blew me away. My Gen Z American ears had never heard anything that said something so boldly radical and yet sounded so good. It totally upended my life. If it wasn’t for their music I would have never picked up the guitar, or even really considered music a viable art form for expressing political ideas. It astounds me how obscure this band is, because how on earth do you go back after this? How do you go back to writing songs about teen love or non-serious songs about anarchism, or benign leftism? You simply can’t. Which is why it is insane that music is so devoid of artist willing to take a legitimate stance on the socio-economic conditions that actually effect our entire lives, outside of a few artist such as Kendrick Lamar no ones doing it, especially not in rock. However even Kendrick wouldn’t say anything as out there as ‘shot their bosses against the wall for a better life for all’.

[@Spectrescup]

Really interesting comment. I could explain *exactly* what happened, in the UK at least, but it's a long answer and I've got a train to catch. Personally I thought the Redskins peaked with Lean on Me, and they'd already started to go off the boil by the time the album eventually came out.

[@lesBijoux88]

Sei giovane ma hai capito perfettamente lo spirito dei loro testi e della loro musica...rivolta!

[@deanlatimer2323]

Great bands both of them i still listen to atom drum bop & my 10 year old daughter loves them too !

[@arianrhodhyde7482]

That interview's fabulous - chris's reaction to the thought of a labour tour made me laugh out loud!

[@Redskins001]

Great stuff! I had the video clip of Keep On Keepin On but not the interview with Chris & Jon

[@TheDocRitchie]

best gigs i ever saw were by those 2 in manchester.

[@mooradchoudhry4035]

Same here! 28th November 1984 Hammersmith Town Hall, Three Johns supporting the Redskins, absolutely blew me away, and it wasn't the first time I'd seen them...but every time I saw them it was inspired and inspirational. An absolutely legendary 78rpm live act. We badly need the spirit of the Redskins today...

[@telsutton]

Fab Martin, thanks!

[@oldmanc2]

Class. Good days

[@misssally4925]

what a fantastic band the redskins were...three johns weren't bad either! :)