Heads Up Fellow Brits
 

Do it Yourself: The Story of Rough Trade
13 Mar 2009, 21:00 on BBC Four

Synopsis:
The Rough Trade story begins more than thirty years ago on 20th February 1976. Britain was in the grip of an IRA bombing campaign; a future prime minister was beginning to make her mark on middle England, where punk was yet to run amok; and a young Cambridge graduate called Geoff Travis opened a new shop at 202 Kensington Park Road, just off Ladbroke Grove in West London. The Rough Trade shop sold obscure and challenging records by bands like American art-rockers Pere Ubu, offering an alternative to the middle-of-the-road rock music that dominated the music business.

In January 1977, when a record by Manchester punk band Buzzcocks appeared in the shop, Rough Trade found itself in the right place at the right time to make an impact far beyond that of a neighbourhood music store. When Spiral Scratch was released in 1977, the idea of putting out a single without the support of an established record company was incredible. But Rough Trade was to become the headquarters of a revolt against this corporate monopoly - it was stocking records by bands inspired by the idea that they could do it themselves.

But selling a few independent records over the counter was not going to change the world. Early independent labels had to hand over their distribution to the likes of EMI or CBS. But one man at Rough Trade challenged that monopoly. Richard Scott joined Rough Trade in 1977 and became the architect of a grand scheme that was nothing short of revolutionary: independent nationwide distribution.


Rough Trade at the BBC
13 Mar 2009, 22:30 on BBC Four

Synopsis:
Since 1978, indie label Rough Trade has been backing ground-breaking artists of every sensibility. From the post-punk girls who sound like they've been overheard singing to themselves at a bus stop, to the raw rock'n'roll of the Strokes and the Libertines, this compilation of BBC performances draws together some of the music that has made Rough Trade the institution it is.

Includes the Smiths, Robert Wyatt, Violent Femmes, Pulp and Antony and the Johnsons.




Looks like it should be interesting

Wow that looks amazing. Will that be on (American) BBC cable broadcast as well do you think? We have a BBC channel here on comcast.

Thanks for posting!

-NN

If it's on iPlayer i'm all over it.

I'd be very surprised if it is. Most of the stuff that gets aired by the BBC in the U.S. tends to be the more popular mainstream shows. BBC4 is only a small niche digital arts station aimed at a specific audience.

I think you may be right but I will look tonight just as well! Wish we could get real BBC here; that would be awesome. We don't have a satellite ant. anymore for digital satellite TV I think maybe that would be the only way.

Excellent stuff! and if you don't mind me encroaching on your post mate there is also this next weekend. (Apparently some mod quite likes his music :D):




[John Martyn] From the John Martyn Website

"Johnny Too Bad BBC Documentary

This documentary is to be broadcast again on the BBC4 television channel along with an Old Grey Whistle Test performance. Broadcast times (GMT) are -

Friday 20th March 10:00pm to 11:00pm
Saturday 21st March 01:20am to 02:20am
Sunday 22nd March 10:00pm to 11:00pm

Followed by Bob Harris introducing John in concert at the Collegiate Theatre, University College London. It's just John, a bottle of beer, his guitar and Echoplex in a trademark concert recorded in 1978. Songs include Couldn't Love You More, Small Hours and May You Never. Broadcast times -

Friday 20th March 11:00pm to 11:30pm
Saturday 21st March 00:50am to 01:20am"

So did anyone catch the documentary? It was almost a microsm of the UK music industry in the 80's. An enjoyable watch and it was great to hear classic stuff- Television Personalities, subway Sect etc. I must dig them out for a revisit.

I have a 30 years of Rough Trade shop double CD if anyone wants an up:

http://www.roughtrade.com/site/conte...0thpage_1.html

Hmmm... There's a Holger Czukay cover on there, might want to give it a try.

Go for it, it was a great doc and made me crave for a good music shop around here even more. I haven't watched the performance one yet but judging the footage in the first one i'm going to have to. The whole of that Smiths gig is on youtube for anyone interested.

Links sent. Anyone else- just holler and i'll link you up.