Billy Bragg has a new book out. Billy Bragg often has a new book out, and they’re all bloody good.
The Andrew Collins biog is pretty much the Bragg Bible when it comes to the official detail, documenting his forty years or so of being the One Man Clash.
Progressive Patriot is worth a re-read during these times of social division.
The new Bragg book is The People’s History. A grand title for what looks like a grand read.
It’s essentially a scrap book of material put forward by fans and Uncle Bill himself. He adds in the commentary to give each artefact a little context.
I really should have kept my ticket stub from the old Mean Fiddler in Harlesden during election night back in 1997 - probably the best gig I’ve ever been to. I hope the dude who bought it off me on eBay appreciates it.
Bragg is a guest on the latest Word In Your Ear podcast - always a decent listen. He’s on fine form as well, promoting the book.
He describes how the contribution of fan culture has led him to questioning his own understanding of what took place twenty, thirty and forty years ago.
It’s a dangerous game to mess with other people’s memories as you put over your understanding of what actually happened.
Which is why a blog is such a bloody good idea.
Ha, bloody ha.
I confess to making little inroads in the fourteen CD Bragg box set that I bought over the summer.
Blogs, box sets, and Bragg - some projects you never really finish, and that’s often the point.