Posted: 23 April 2010 at 10:54am | IP Logged

So, Malcolm McLaren was buried yesterday. Not that he was someone I admired in any way, but I pose the question: To what extent did he indirectly influence the music of After the Fire? Would ATF have moved on in a similar direction to Laser Love anyway, or were they actively seeking to survive in the age of New Wave?

Did they ever consider the saftey pin? (that bit wasn't serious, but the rest was!)

Some imput from the horse's mouth (sorry, Banksy) would be good too!

Seagull

Founder (and only) member of Keep ATF Discussion On The Forum, Where It Belongs! (KADOFWIB)

Posted: 23 April 2010 at 4:07pm | IP Logged

I found his funeral quite interesting....a double decker bus with "nowhere" on the front to carry friends and family and a minutes chaos requested to remember him.Sounds like something he would organise himself to get publicity for hims death.

I think if anything,whilst he was a clever businesman, I always felt his actual influence on the music scene was over rated....the same as his acts.

He wasn't a songwriter,stole the influence on Buffalo girls,messed about with opera etc but nothing really new.

I loved the sex pistols and alot of other punk/ new wave bands but would not accredit their music/output to Malcom Mc Laren after all they performed and wrote not him.

Mark 

Posted: 23 April 2010 at 8:55pm | IP Logged

[QUOTE
We never considered the safety pin - ever!

[/QUOTE] I suppose it was more of a case of the security locking pin for your guitar strap, John - but not very punk!

Maybe I'm getting punk & New Wave in general confused. Can't really remember the time-scales. However the emphasis was on "indirectly influenced". I wondered if he was responsible for changing the musical world where you were performing, so that ATF consciously adjusted to the market after SOC, or whether you regard that purely as a musical/artistic progression. I'm not seriously suggesting any direct influence ...(maybe Andy Piercy's trousers?)

Posted: 27 April 2010 at 11:07pm | IP Logged

I suppose the recieved wisdom that came my way was:

M.M. reponsible for punk....punk leads to New Wave....N.W. responsible for musical change of direction by ATF.

Am ready and willing to have this reviewed/debunked etc. Maybe its just not very interesting...?

Seagull