Ferry is not really a Tory – he is just obsessed with posh people: sure, his son is a fox killer but this has more to do with cultural lifestyle rather than any coherent political ideology.

By the way didn’t Cocker cosy up to Blair along with the likes of Gallagher sisters and one or two other so called Brit-pop icons?

Remember Blair fronted a band aptly named ‘the ugly rumours’ and word has it that he could muster a passable imitation of Mick Jagger, another superannuated rocker with Tory sympathies.

This BBC4 doc contains a bit about the politics of britpop and music in the 1990s in general:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b008s9r8/Pop_on_Trial_1990s/

By the way didn’t Cocker cosy up to Blair along with the likes of Gallagher sisters and one or two other so called Brit-pop icons?

Don’t think so.

As far as I know he refused the invite to Number Ten in Blair’s early days…

I think this stands for itself (and his views), unfortunately there never was a video. So, to the tune of Glory Days, here’s Cocaine Socialist. Enjoy!

I know it was a life time ago, Daniel, but I do seem to recall the Yorkshireman was a Tony luvee – this from the BBC:
Among the first through the door of 10 Downing Street to congratulate Tony Blair were stars such as Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher, singer Jarvis Cocker, actor Ross Kemp, Mick Hucknall and Ben Elton.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1319000/1319508.stm

It’s possible that Cocker was too high on coke and champagne to remember much about it, and no doubt feels faintly embarrased nowadays – I don’t think he spent much time rubbing shoulders with Arthur Scargill, though.

Good to see a post on Jarvis, truly an inspiration. He has a point, what would another New Labour Government be for?

More inner city Academies and faith schools? A new FSA doing what exactly? A privatised Post Office? ID cards that no one wants? Tax credits being increased more slowly than tax is?

They are a Zeitgeist behind the times, economically, socially, technologically and they need renewal. Jarvis realises this, I expect he’s been disappointed for some time.

a carefully-worded clarification.

I can’t help but be amused at they way artistic rebels are all desperate to demonstrate that they conform with each others opinions.

He was one of my picks for a “Do they vote Lib Dem?” post on LDV at christmas.

Basically on the strength of the sleevenote from Different Class:

“Please understand. We don’t want no trouble. We just want the right to be different. That’s all.”

We are all so 1990s

@4

Hmm… I’m pretty sure that beeb article is wrong. It certainly doesn’t fit with this:

Cocker on Cocaine Socialism @ NME

Conservative government wasn’t just inevitable but ‘necessary’

And he is right – although most, as the Tory government will be elected by a minority, will vote for another, but that is by the by.

With a Tory government elected then people will see what they fear – and that, for the most part is a good thing.

Then the electorate may be focussed on what they really do want and vote accordingly at the next election. We can only hope, of course.

Listen to a fucking proper band like New Model Army or Levellers

Listening to Different Class right now as I type this on my phone: ain’t technology wonderful?

Agree that Labour need to be relegated to the oposition for a term or two, though not sure I want the Tories in charge.

New Labour need a good reaming at the election so that they come back grovelling for forgiveness before the next one. Blair/Brown shat on everything Labour should stand for.

They should not be accepted back in power until they renounce what they have done.

New Labour need a good reaming at the election so that they come back grovelling for forgiveness before the next one. Blair/Brown shat on everything Labour should stand for.

They should not be accepted back in power until they renounce what they have done.

10000000% agreed!

New “Labour” should be opposed- but not by fucking Tory filth.

I won’t be voting at all. The only appropriate response is to tell them all to fuck off.

“Ferry is not really a Tory – he is just obsessed with posh people:”

Same thing, surely.

“I know it was a life time ago, Daniel, but I do seem to recall the Yorkshireman was a Tony luvee – this from the BBC:”

I think he may also have been the first to bail out. iirc he was quoted slagging off Nu Lab in the NME’s Ever Get The Feeling You’ve Been Cheated issue.

Hey David

You don’t know it but you’re a libertarian!!!!!!

You forget that I cut my teeth during the miners’ strike when I was part of an independent association fighting against Thatcher’s henchmen- paid agents of the state trying to deny us our livelihoods while their followers in London talked bollocks about “freedom”, aka their freedom to exploit us.

Yes- I hate those fucking Tories who call themselves libertarians. But if you mean someone who mistrusts state power over workers, then I am that way.

According to the usual sacks of fucking shite, economic “freedom” is all they care about. But I am with these civil liberties marchers now- that is why I am on this site.

Why the fuck is it that people like Tony Benn have persisted in supporting socialism but are against stacking up police power and fucking shite like ID cards- because it is a consistent pro-working-class position to support policies which promote our welfare and oppose fucking shite that oppresses us.

Aye- I’ll believe you’re the real thing when you advocate repealing anti-union laws.

I think we can settle this straight away, with a video for a track from his recent solo album:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=monyiOsoKxg

I think we can settle this straight away, with a video for a track from his recent solo album:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=monyiOsoKxg

Cunts are still running the world…

So nobody’s had a go at me for dissing Ocean Colour Scene yet. Looks like I might’ve dodged a bullet.

@ The Judge, Fellow Traveller

Cunts are still running the world…

I wondered how long it’d be before someone posted that.

@ Alix,

He was one of my picks for a “Do they vote Lib Dem?” post on LDV at christmas.

I did wonder at the lack of Lib Dem love, particularly considering their strength in Sheffield (for the leader of a national party, Nick Clegg is fantastic on local issues). But then I remembered that sightings of Jarvis Cocker around Sheffield are as rare as spotting someone canvassing for the Tories.

David

Aye- I’ll believe you’re the real thing when you advocate repealing anti-union laws.

I agree Tony is a great guy- left and libertarian.

The problem is that most unions were and are run by a bunch of totalitarian arseholes. You had to be one to get to General Secretary.

They almost all lack Tony’s imagination and vigour.

So nobody’s had a go at me for dissing Ocean Colour Scene yet.

Well as controversial statements go, Ocean Colour Scene being shit ranks just below Gordon Brown not being a very good PM and Mel Phillips occasionally being prone to hyperbole.

Jarvis’s mum was a Tory Party activist back in the 1990s. I remember Melody Maker gleefully reporting it.

“Listen to a fucking proper band like New Model Army or Levellers”

Yes!

Re: Cocker. He writes some witty lyrics about social class, but he doesn’t seem especially articulate about politics or particularly passionate about it. Has he ever got involved in any campaigns, performed any benefit gigs, etc?

Some musicians aspire to be political without having the dedication to become politically explicit and involved. The usual result is a tendency for cynical references to how depressing they find politics. I suspect this is what Jarvis Cocker’s about.

Not necessarily a criticism! I don’t think all musicians have to be paid-up members of a political party or have detailed suggestions of how the House of Lords should be reformed to have opinions about politics. But it maybe means we shouldn’t take their political views too seriously.

Pulp were AMAZING. One of my fav bands of all times and Jarvis is a lyrical genius.

About New Labour. Isn’t it telling about the electoral system that Britain is becoming a country where governments change colour every 15 years on average? Surely, no matter where you stand politically, you may agree that can’t be good for democracy,

NL deserve to be mashed at the elections. The risk is however, that the Blairite/Milburnite faction may take over again- inflicting more of the same.

The music scene is almost entirely middle-class. Rebellious middle-class youth always flirt with the Left. Most grow up eventually and vote Tory. Contrast that with working-class footballers who bar a few cunting Mancs, vote Tory, as its the party of the aspirational lower classes.

“The music scene is almost entirely middle-class.”

Only if you’re so fucking ignorant that your music taste is entirely composed of whatever is on the radio.

Funny you should mention OCS.

Mr Brown

Mr Brown, you promised us the earth
So you can’t let us down
So for what it’s worth
Mr Brown
It’s just the last one there
Said he didn’t think it very fair
It’s up to you to turn it round
So come on Mr Brown, Mr Brown
Mr Brown, come on, come on Mr Brown etc…
And when the whole world’s screaming, scheming, cheating
Mr Brown won’t care
He won’t be lying, stealing, dealing, deceiving
Mr Brown’s most fair
But now he’s not there
Because it’s you who wears the crown
But one day and it won’t be fair
They will come and cut you down, Mr Brown
And we all know it’s true
There’s no-one who could follow you
There’s no-one who can touch you

Cunts are still running the world…

Do you have to use a derogatory word for the genitals of an underclass in order to be abusive? Says a lot.

Ocean Colour Scene did make one or two decent records (in 1996). That’s more than could be said for many a band.

100 Mile High City? You know you love it.

I always preferred the slightly winsome guitars of The Bluetones.

“Listen to a fucking proper band”

Learn to play an instrument
to express yourself.
Nah nah na-nah na.