The Medusa Fora

Dear Mr. C,
I’m writing a paper on the BBC, British radio in general, and censorship of music, especially in the 80’s under the Thatcher government. This will include the resulting implications for various political views, such as the Irish perspective, and the lack of Irish voices in English media. I’m going to talk about The Pogues, particularly the “Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six” ban and lack of early radio airplay, as with the name “Pogue Mahone” getting banned.

Do you have any thoughts on what it was like being in the Pogues at the time and trying to get airplay in the midst of the media ban, or simply being an Irish musician at the time?
(Or a musician in general… I know songs and videos were always getting banned by the BBC for odd reasons!)

Thanks for your time and help! It’s much appreciated.

great question strummercalling!

strummercalling wrote:Dear Mr. C,
I’m writing a paper on the BBC, British radio in general, and censorship of music, especially in the 80’s under the Thatcher government. This will include the resulting implications for various political views, such as the Irish perspective, and the lack of Irish voices in English media. I’m going to talk about The Pogues, particularly the “Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six” ban and lack of early radio airplay, as with the name “Pogue Mahone” getting banned.

Do you have any thoughts on what it was like being in the Pogues at the time and trying to get airplay in the midst of the media ban, or simply being an Irish musician at the time?
(Or a musician in general… I know songs and videos were always getting banned by the BBC for odd reasons!)

Thanks for your time and help! It’s much appreciated.

Now that the dust has settled, it is clear that Mrs Thatcher was comprehensively outgunned by both the IBA and BBC in the end. Employing actors to "voice" the words of the banned "enemies within" Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness etc was one thing. Printing the lyrics of "The Birmingham Six" on primetime News while an actor recited them over a freeze-frame of the Pogues on stage was quite another. Already unambiguous, never have those lyrics sounded less clear and never did the "ban" seem more absurd. I found it all hilarious.

The strange thing is, it isn't even a pro-IRA song a tall, its just a "Why can't you catch the right people) song.

philipchevron wrote:Now that the dust has settled, it is clear that Mrs Thatcher was comprehensively outgunned by both the IBA and BBC in the end. Employing actors to "voice" the words of the banned "enemies within" Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness etc was one thing. Printing the lyrics of "The Birmingham Six" on primetime News while an actor recited them over a freeze-frame of the Pogues on stage was quite another. Already unambiguous, never have those lyrics sounded less clear and never did the "ban" seem more absurd. I found it all hilarious.

Thank you for that!
I think I have actually seen that particular News clip. Absurd sums it up quite well...

The video for A pair of brown eyes got banned too - I haven't seen it in ages but only remember some soldiery bits - and a lot of weird shit! anyone know why that got banneD?

Anonymous wrote:The video for A pair of brown eyes got banned too - I haven't seen it in ages but only remember some soldiery bits - and a lot of weird shit! anyone know why that got banneD?

I beleive because a scene fearures spitting on an image or Mrs Thatcher. I may have (probably) made that up, but it does spring to mind. Not sure it was officially band though.

DownInTheGround wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The video for A pair of brown eyes got banned too - I haven't seen it in ages but only remember some soldiery bits - and a lot of weird shit! anyone know why that got banneD?

I beleive because a scene fearures spitting on an image or Mrs Thatcher. I may have (probably) made that up, but it does spring to mind. Not sure it was officially band though.

The shots of Spider gobbing at the Thatcher poster were removed by Stiff Records under pressure from the broadcasters. I never understood why. Isn't this what EVERYONE wanted to do to Thatcher posters?

philipchevron wrote:
The shots of Spider gobbing at the Thatcher poster were removed by Stiff Records under pressure from the broadcasters. I never understood why. Isn't this what EVERYONE wanted to do to Thatcher posters?

Or probably to Mrs Thatcher herself ?

philipchevron wrote:

DownInTheGround wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The video for A pair of brown eyes got banned too - I haven't seen it in ages but only remember some soldiery bits - and a lot of weird shit! anyone know why that got banneD?

I beleive because a scene fearures spitting on an image or Mrs Thatcher. I may have (probably) made that up, but it does spring to mind. Not sure it was officially band though.

The shots of Spider gobbing at the Thatcher poster were removed by Stiff Records under pressure from the broadcasters. I never understood why. Isn't this what EVERYONE wanted to do to Thatcher posters?

The uncensored video would be a perfect DVD extra for the box set.
Actually, a DVD with all your music videos, plus...

Adam wrote:

philipchevron wrote:

DownInTheGround wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The video for A pair of brown eyes got banned too - I haven't seen it in ages but only remember some soldiery bits - and a lot of weird shit! anyone know why that got banneD?

I beleive because a scene fearures spitting on an image or Mrs Thatcher. I may have (probably) made that up, but it does spring to mind. Not sure it was officially band though.

The shots of Spider gobbing at the Thatcher poster were removed by Stiff Records under pressure from the broadcasters. I never understood why. Isn't this what EVERYONE wanted to do to Thatcher posters?

The uncensored video would be a perfect DVD extra for the box set.
Actually, a DVD with all your music videos, plus...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pogues-Poguevis ... B000HDR9J0

The Duke of Ingmar wrote:

philipchevron wrote:
The shots of Spider gobbing at the Thatcher poster were removed by Stiff Records under pressure from the broadcasters. I never understood why. Isn't this what EVERYONE wanted to do to Thatcher posters?

Or probably to Mrs Thatcher herself ?

A bit of a hockle on that vicious hag seems rather mild .

Is the previously mentioned news clip available anywhere on the internet?