The Redskins are in this months Mojo magazine (issue 151 June 2006). The article is on page 29 and is a feature on the 'Bring It Down' single as part of Mojo's One Hit Wonders section.
Below is the email I got off the Mojo writer Lois Wilson. The article that appeaers in Mojo is more or less the same apart from the fact I didn't get a mention despite putting Lois in contact with members of the band. Also the part about The Tube & Norman Strike was missed out as well.
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Hi Bazza,
Martin got back to me last night. He was very
interesting. Thanks again for your help. I've put a thanks to you at the bottom of the article. I've included it here for your interest. It should appear in the next issue of MOJO - issue 151.
Lois
The Redskins’ fourth single, Bring It Down (This Insane Thing) hit the number 33 spot in June 1985. A potent mix of SWP politics – lead singer Chris Dean calling for the downfall of Thatcher’s government – exhilarating pugilistic horns, and a blaring punk funk beat, it sounded as if Leon Trotsky was heading the
new soul vision.
The Redskins – Dean aka NME journalist X Moore (guitar/vocals), Nick King (drums), Martin Bottomley aka Militant (bass) - had evolved from the ashes of punk group, No Swastikas. On signing to Leeds’ CNT they delivered their debut single Lev Bronstein in
July 82. A John Peel session quickly followed, “it was the first time we got to play with a brass section,” explains Martin, today a music lecturer, “Chris knew Paul Weller from working at the NME. He was a good contact, we got Steve Nichol and Lloyd Dwyer to play trumpet and sax through Paul Weller.” Songs such as
Unionise and Reds Strike The Blues unfortunately made them a target for the far right. “You have to consider the 'shock value' of a bunch of left wing skinheads (ie The Redskins) ranting on about the 'revolution'! At London’s GLC Jobs For A Change festival in 1984 we got attacked by 50 nazis. Nick got a nasty lump on the
head. Our equipment was trashed. We started going on stage with baseball bats after that! In Germany our van was set alight and two guns were confiscated at the door!”
Undeterred, as vehement supporters of the miners strike, they took Durham miner Norman Strike on TV programme The Tube. As he started to speak the sound cut out. They were further thwarted when Nick departed during the recording of Bring It Down. “One of the producers was very difficult. He was especially
demanding of Nick and he walked out,” says Martin.
The Style Council’s Steve White was drafted in. “I was working on a Style Council session,” recalls White. “Paul (Weller) said, ‘do you want to go and help out and be on this Redskins track?’ It was all very last minute. I went up to Camden’s Roundhouse studios, the drums were set up, they said this is what we want, do this and it was all over really quickly. I didn’t play the track more than five times, we worked out the bit that sped up at the end and that was it, I was gone.” Chris and Martin performed the song on children’s TV show No 73, “me performing whilst Mathew Kelly danced behind me!” laughs Martin but after three more singles including Artists Against Apartheid benefit record Kick Over The Statues and a compelling album, *Neither Washington… Nor Moscow the band, now featuring ex-Woodentop Paul Hookham on drums, split.
“When I left everything was ok but unfortunately it soon became acrimonious. Chris owed me money, still not paid, and disappeared off the face of the earth leaving me with the band's tax bill of over 16 grand. As he was the only one that ever made money from the band, I would suggest his behaviour was a little out of order!”
Lois Wilson
Thanks to Bazza at
www.redskins.co.uk
