Young Chris and The Archives

A drizzling night over in Archway and I meet the lively and enthusiastic Chris Lowe. The character in “Bash The Rich” who pops up as the 14 year old drummer of The Apostles and writer of the theoretical Class War paper “Angry”. Chris presents me with a scrapbook deep of newspaper cuttings, stacks of copies of the original Class War magazines, and a bundle of other punk and anarchist zines from the early eighties.

Amongst these many gems include the original copy of “Fuck Off”, the magazine that preceded “Class War”, which displays many of the same outspoken and confrontational characteristics.

Also featured below is a copy of Richard Parry’s “Logo”, the magazine mentioned in Ian’s book that ripped the piss out of Class War in an article entitled “The Alcoholic Road To Anarchism” as well as ripping the piss out of the rest of the Anarchist scene. Everyone was up in arms over it except the members of Class War who defended it. Alongside it is Ian Slaughters zine “Pigs For Slaughter”.

The most exciting part of my current research is immersing myself in the zines and countercultures of the late seventies / early eighties. The language and design of the underground press and D.I.Y zines is really influential. While the film will be the story of Ian’s life told through his eyes it will also be heavily driven by the political and cultural context of the period it is set, so it is great to flick through old paper cuttings, copies and peeling pamphlets collected by Chris over the course of fifteen years. For a more thorough collection of “punk” stuff check out Kill Your Pet Puppy.

Archiving documents from the time of the books setting is a major source of inspiration in able to get to grips with the script and its backgrounds. The images above are from the London Anarchist Youth Group (On left) and the London Workers Group (Right) both of which feature heavily in the book.

As well as the bundle of research Chris also gave me a dvd of treats including archive footage of the Class War conference in 1985, during the books setting, with the main figures reflecting back on Henley, Bash The Rich, Miners Strikes, Inner City Riots and the continuing Thatcher Tory Government. The above clip is the infamous hypothermia speech by Ian, as referred to in the book, at the Class War conference 1985. Chris jokes that Ben Elton must have seen Ian and ripped off his “anarchic” style of delivery. But unlike Ian, Ben Elton is a complete fucking sell out.

This clip above, again from the 1985 conference, is archive footage of one of the leading characters Martin Wright talking about the future of Britain, class struggle and an Anarchist revolution. Being able to see this footage is fascinating when trying to create a film that is based around real people and real events – although I am not making a strict bio-pic – it is great to get a taste of the characters persona’s.

This clip above is the final section from the 1985 conference with both Ian and Martin Wright talking about the Class make up of Class War, the writing and approach of the paper and building a wider movement while trying to break out of the Anarchist ghetto.

Having put a fair few beers away, Chris shares stories about the fun times at Martin Wrights old place in Duncan Terrace as a rebellious youth, which could make there own film. Having spent more and more time with Martin, walking the back streets of north London and reliving the old routes he use to walk as a road sweeper, I get a great understanding of Ian and Martins friendship. Both sharp, well read, witty, passionate and down to earth. Two men that would never compromise an inch of their integrity. And both great rabble rouser’s. This final clip is after the setting of the film/book, from 1998 and the Movement Against The Monarchy, it just goes to show that whenever Ian and Martin are together a rebellious mob is always close behind and trouble never too far away.