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Why was British music in the late 1970s and early 80s so tribal and so violent?

If going to a musical gig now is about having fun and enjoying a 鈥減arty鈥� atmosphere, it used to be very different. It was an era when music was taken very seriously. For many, it defined who you were. Writer Paul Morley says: 鈥淏ack then, the music you liked was a matter of life and death."

It was common for musical differences to end in violence. Peter Hook, of Joy Division and then New Order, says, 鈥淭here were riots all the time at gigs."

And it was a time when politics played a much more prominent role in popular culture. Neville Staple of two-tone group The Specials recalls the havoc caused by the far-right National Front. 鈥淲e used to get a lot of conflict at our gigs.. .we always used to get the NF," he says.

Adrian Goldberg looks back at a culture divided by haircuts, clothes, class and politics.

What did this tribalism say about Britain then?

Featuring:

Peter Hook of Joy Division and New Order;
Peter Hooton from The Farm
Pauline Black of Selecter
Neville Staple of the Specials
Clare Grogan of Altered Images

Plus music journalists Paul Morley, ex New Musical Express, and Garry Bushell of Sounds.

There's also a stellar soundtrack from the era.

Producer: Jim Frank

First broadcsast on 成人论坛 Radio 4 in September 2015.

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