Excellent review of the Carnival in The Independent
by Nick Hasted
Monday, 28 April 2008
Another clash between rock and racism as Simonon returns to the front line
Thirty years ago, The Clash headlined the Victoria Park part of a concert which became a defining moment in Rock Against Racism’s successful stand against The National Front’s late 70′s spread. The Clash’s Paul Simonon was back yesterday, alongside Damon Albarn with their band The Good The Bad And The Queen, Hard-Fi and many more to restate the case against fascism.
Persistent rain had possibly kept the crowd below 1978′s 100,000. But the spirit in the park felt like a return to those times, as many thousands of Londoners mingled with union representatives, Socialist Worker sellers, and socially committed pop stars.
This is Hard-Fi’s only festival of 2008. “It strikes us as the most important,” explained singer Richard Archer, shortly before Suburban Knights’ rallying cry stokes the mosh pit. “Cash Machine” gives electronic ballast to their appropriately Clash-style guitar pop. The sentiment of “We Need Love” seems to embarrass the crowd, when they were asked to join in; but its vulnerable idealism suits the day.
The union leaders and politicians ?
