Steve Ignorant’s Feeding of the 5000 gig
If you’re into punk, especially if you’re in the UK, you’ve probably heard by now that former Crass vocalist Steve Ignorant is a couple months off from performing his old band’s debut album The Feeding of the 5000 in its entirety as the culmination of a giant full weekend show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Playing in his band will be Gags of Dirt (who also partnered with him in Stratford Mercenaries) and Lars from American Clash-revivalists Rancid. Support groups are a who’s-who of the UK anarchist punk scene of the early 80s: Conflict, Zounds, and even a reformed Flux of Pink Indians. Reaction is, needless to say, mixed.
Some fans/former members of said scene think that charging a good bit of cash to play such an event and venue is sidestepping punk morals and ripping off old nostalgists (and kids who couldn’t see it the first time). Others think that Steve Ignorant is going to have a hard time delivering anti-Clash lyrics in the face of inevitable hypocrisy. And still others – apparently Crass mainman Penny Rimbaud included – think it’s a Sinatra-esque romp down memory lane for the sake of empty nostalgia, at best corny and at worst devoid of meaning.
What do you think? Is it a great thing that I (American and barely old enough to appreciate a good poop joke, let alone the Falklands War at the time) could have the opportunity to see this rehash? Or is it a travesty?
Myself I do agree that it is a “sell-out” of sorts, but not the kind that you normally hear shouting about. It’s a sell-out of the work itself, a night of placing the music higher than the message and trotting it out for nostalgia when the exact opposite was supposed to be the case – as if to admit that it holds no meaning anymore. Maybe I’m idealistic that the whole thing makes me a bit sad, but should we all just turn cynical and pretend we never thought Crass and co. mattered? Maybe it’s this line from the epic “Yes Sir, I Will,” that seems just a little too specific.
Punk has spawned another rock and roll elite,
Cheap Rotten Vicious imitations thinking they’ll change their world
With dyed hair and predictable gestures. Nouveau wankers.
There’s a thousand empty stages waiting for their empty performances,
A thousand empty faces waiting for their empty stances.
How many times must we hear rehashed versions of Feeding of the 5000
By jerks whose only fuck off to the system has been one off the wrist?
It’s the Feeding of the 5 Knuckle Shuffle.
Check out this discussion on the Southern Forums to hear people more eloquent than me, most of whom were “there” the first time, wax on the subject.
UPDATE: YouTube user JANER64 (among others) has put up quite a few videos from Ignorant, Zounds, and Flux of Pink Indians. Here’s “Big A Little A,” complete with a bass player from oi band The Business (guess he never listened to “Hurry Up Garry” or “Greatest Working Class Ripoff”), rockstar-esque guitar player (who’s that, anyone know?) and – get fucking ready for this – a full brass section.
- Mike
November 30th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Ok the scene needed somethn and this was it a good night i had but i was told eve libertine didnt sing on shaved women bah humbug and that the bands kept the proceeds or the donated thm 2 the rnli wots true ????????
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:20 am
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December 3rd, 2007 at 11:05 am
as far as I am aware, sick chick, at least some of the money did go to the RNLI, but I haven’t been able to find much specific info on that.
Eve libertine definitely did not sing; she still performs with Penny Rimbaud, occasionally as Crass, and they did not give their official blessing for the event (though some people who went apparently saw Gee Vaucher and Phil Free). The woman singing those songs was BBC presenter and singer Sadie Nine.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:00 pm
in answer to a question posted in the main of this article, Igg’s guitarist (black spiky hair) was Gizz Butt, git-ar hero of English dogs & later the prodigy…….. and another bloody East Anglian, did you notice that there was a strong Norfolk contingent on the bill, that’s cos they live punk rock in the backwaters (as ENT said of punk ‘in it for life!’
December 4th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Once i heard members of RAncid were involved that ficking killed me. Hate the clash but not rancid? as crass themselves once said what the fuck?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Thank u mike my feelings of bein used arent so great knowing the money went somewhere but if one thing perturbs me is steve shouldnt have included the crass wimmins material in2 the set as he didnt write it he didnt sing it thank fuk 4 conflict eh!
December 4th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Nathan, I don’t believe Rancid’s Lars or Dirt’s Gags ended up being involved, since they apparently got guys from English Dogs and the Business. Make of that what you will I suppose.
Sick Chick, don’t think he wrote much of any Crass tunes, which is why a lot of people can argue it’s ok… it’s a “tribute” kinda thing. From watching the vids it does look weird seeing someone sing Eve Libertine’s parts though, and I’m guessing Ignorant sang the Pete Wright parts too which might sound odd.
I saw him play with Stratford Mercenaries both US tours, and the first time they had so few songs they played a pile of Crass tunes (some twice). And I have to admit, stuff like “Big A Little A” was inspiring. The guy sounds like he means it, and I understand the desire to see him do it. But then again, there were a hundred people there, I paid 10 bucks to get in, and there wasn’t a brass section (which has sorta become the symbol of meaningless rock and roll revivalism in my head).
December 5th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Yeah 2 true mike i suppose i was a bit hard on steve maybe he does mean it but he could have done it more wisely i mean wer the battle do we wana end up a sex pistol type extravaganza
That we gotta watch out for
February 19th, 2008 at 1:50 am
Eve libertine definitely did not sing; she still performs with Penny Rimbaud, occasionally as Crass, and they did not give their official blessing for the event (though some people who went apparently saw Gee Vaucher and Phil Free).
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I think you guys are being a bit harsh here.
Perhaps the performance was a little cabaret, a bit too much like nostalgia.
Perhaps.
But if the predominantly 30/40 something audience went away from it feeling empowered and motivated, perhaps it’s worth overlooking some of the other emotions which it appears to have evoked in those of you who have felt the need to speak up.
No doubt old friends made contact again for the first time in years, new alliances were made, everyone got the warm fuzzy feeling of not being alone in their anger & alienation, and that stuff truly is priceless.
Steve Ignorant, to my mind, appears to have been the host at what was a rallying point, a meeting place, a celebration of defiance & survival, a party.
As someone who lived through the shitstorm of being a Crass member, and was involved in the creation of the music played, he has every right to perform these or whatever other songs he chooses.
He has EARNED that right.
It’s still agit-prop, and the fact that we’re talking about it shows that it served it’s purpose.
Now let’s get off our arses and go & do something more constructive instead.
Anyone fancy disassembling the corporate machinery of modern capitalism tomorrow?
I’ve got the day off, meet me at midday.
May 26th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Is that invitation to revolution open or will you be going back to work after your 30 minute change