No Sugarcoating & No Bullshit: September
Written by Jo Hayes
Sunday, 02 September 2012 04:00
Hello Uber Rockers,
The title of my blog is pretty much my outlook on adult life – what you see is what you get. I’ll give my honest opinion on whatever ramblings I decide to regale you with (always music related, in some way, obviously).
As I’ll be writing this on a monthly basis, I thought I’d tell you some basic info about myself, so you know my rock ‘n’ roll credentials, rather than just ‘blagging’ it…honest.
Born to and raised by two Punk Rockers from Brighton, I was brought up on a musical diet of RAFR (Rock ‘n’ Fucking Roll), and was listening to early Green Day from the age of six, and Backyard Babies and The Clash from the age of twelve. Playing in bands from the age of fifteen, starting off on covering Guns N’ Roses as a drummer, then forming a Punk band as a guitarist and writing my own songs.
I’ve been to more gigs than I can count, started off my adult life on a tour of the UK (admittedly a small tour, but pretty cool when you’re eighteen), worked a small stint as a ‘merch-girl’ on a friends’ tour, and met some of my musical heroes in the process. Plus my Dad has spent years giving me my rock ‘n’ roll education at the dinner table, or in most recent years, over a few beers!
Getting on with the actual blog, the theme for this month is “Rock ‘n’ Roll Charity.” I could rant about which bands I adore or those that make me want to stab both ears with a rusty screwdriver (Nickelback are Bon Jovi are two of those), however I will save that for another time.
Now rock ‘n’ roll charity, what exactly is that? Some could laugh and assume it’s a ploy for bands to get money to go on tour, but I’ve come across two r’n’r related charity acts recently, which are as worthy as any other cause.
The single Devils Jukebox are releasing being one of them. The Sophie Lancaster foundation and the MS Society will benefit from the money raised by this – as you may already know.
I can’t comprehend in any way what Sophie’s friends and family have gone through, and think the work they are doing to try and educate the public is excellent.
I remember growing up as a teenager, and living in a town outside of Brighton which wasn’t quite so accepting of the ‘Alternative’ sub-culture. Even wearing a band t-shirt on non-uniform day would warrant a waterfall of gob being sprayed upon me, from the ‘chavs’ standing at the top of the staircase.
Dying my hair black and wearing eyeliner meant getting a slap from the resident ‘hard’ girl in my year, coupled with threats to be beaten up by her friends (as a result, I used to try and skip assembly at the end of the day, and sneak out of school to get home safely).
I remember the ultimate way to piss off the chavs was wearing a pair of purple, corduroy, baggy trousers, which to my memory did look pretty shit, but at the time I thought they were cool, because they weren’t ‘hipster’ jeans. I was walking back home, and a few ‘chavs’ were following me shouting the typical insults (emo, goth, grunger, satanist…), and shouting: “Shit purple trousers.” With their intellect, I’m hardly surprised at their choice of words.
Being a bit feisty, despite being by myself, I decided to retort back: “Fuck off!” (very eloquent and equally as intellectual), which made them start running after me. I of course ran, surprisingly fast, and managed to out-run them, when the baggy purple trousers should have slowed me down.
Getting to my point, having insults thrown at me and my friends because of the way we looked, dressed and acted, was just a part of every day life. I spent my years living in this town, enjoying rebelling at first, then becoming bored with not being accepted. I’m lucky to live in Brighton, where anything goes (the resident ‘Chavs’ are so accustomed to ‘Alternative’ looks, I’m sure they wouldn’t bat their eyelids at a cross-dresser). It should be like this everywhere, or as much like this as is possible.
Now, with the MS society, this is also close to my heart, as this is something I live with on a daily basis. I won’t go into too much detail here, but all I can say is you do two things in life: live and get on with it, or wallow in self-pity. I took the first option, and it’s got me through some hard times, but I live in hope that one day there will be a cure of some sort. There are people worse off than me that I want this for more than me too.
I am touched that Pilly (Devils Jukebox) has come up with this idea, and that bands donated their songs to help both of these charities (if you buy it, look out for the Humpers cover by some all-girl garage punk band from Brighton, with a dodgy name…)
Lastly, also showing that charity can be rocking (rather than chuggers running after you down the street), a gig is being put on in Brighton in December, in aid of St Peter & St James Hospice. Chris, organises “Rock On” each year in memory of his father, who was an avid rock fan, to raise funds for the hospice which helped care for him. Furyon, Dead Empire & Vier feature on the bill, along with Metal Hammer comedy act Stephen Hill. If you live in or around Brighton, check it out!
Anyway, that is me (nearly) done for this month. I’ll be back with something different next month, but it’ll be decided on at the time, that’s just how I roll (I really can’t pull off saying/typing that).
Until next time…
Jo
(Blog motivation provided by: AC/DC, Turbonegro & Lords Of The New Church, menthol cigarettes & “poncey” cider…)
Band of the month: Role Models
Pet hate of the month: The friggin ‘X-Factor’…don’t get me started…
http://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/