There and Black Again: The Autobiography of Don Letts

by Don Letts, Mal Peachey

social commentator, husband and father – has always defied conformity. A British-born son of Windrush parents, he seamlessly pivoted between London’s punk and reggae scenes – earning his reputation as the ‘Rebel Dread’.

In There and Black Again, Don Letts looks back on his exceptional life, which has seen him befriend Bob Marley after sneaking into his hotel, join The Clash’s White Riot tour as manager of The Slits and become one of the UK’s most highly regarded video directors just as the MTV boom hit.

Told in part as scenes from a movie shot on location in London, Kingston, New York City, Los Angeles, Windhoek, Salt Lake City and Goldeneye, There and Black Again co-stars a cast of hundreds, including Joe Strummer, John Lydon, Bob Marley, Chrissie Hynde, Chris Blackwell, Paul McCartney, Nelson Mandela, Keith Richards, Patti Smith, Chuck D., Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood.

With reflections on the Black Lives Matter movement and the highs and lows of personal relationships, this impactful book includes moments of civil unrest, live music, humour and political struggle. There and Black Again is the refreshing and often unexpected story of a man who has never been afraid to tread his own path.

‘The Don’s tale, upgraded, expanded, marinated in

Genres: Music, Memoir, Autobiography, Punk

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2024

About the author

Don Letts is a British DJ, musician and film director. He co-founded Big Audio Dynamite in 1984 with former Clash guitarist Mick Jones, and was a member of that band until 1990. After the release of his first film, 'The Punk Rock Movie' in 1978, he has directed several others, as well as television features and music videos.

Reviews

[Brie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yessssssssssss!

I am so glad I saw this book mentioned on social media and got it 2 days after it's release. It is well worth the read.

And, yes, "human beings....what fucking wankers" is the perfect ending. Not that the book was anger filled or wanker filled. Just a good line summing up being tired of human beings being stupid.

Glad I read this book.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Letts is fantastic, so is this book. It gives you all the additional highlights that aren't covered in the documentary Rebel Dread. Don was in the mix of all of it and is still going. I will say this, I went through some difficulty to get Culture Clash: Dread Meets Punk Rockers only to discover that this book is just an add on since 2006. I am so glad Don was around to bridge the gap between reggae and punk and to keep the evolution of the scene happening. Who can imagine Big Audio Dynamite not existing?

[Rayne Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book- so interesting!

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many interesting tales in this one about growing up black in 60s/70s London, witnessing the birth of the punk scene there, hanging with friends of the day who became and remain cultural icons (members of The Clash, in particular), creating a career as music video maker at the dawn of that innovative era (including anecdotes about filming Rock the Casbah in my home town of Austin), becoming a “musician” with 80s college radio faves Big Audio Dynamite, along with many more enjoyable stories from his long career in the business.

If you like The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite, you’ll definitely enjoy this memoir. If you have a general interest in alternative music from the 60s through 80s, especially the fusion of reggae into modern day songs, you may like it as well.

As someone who enjoys music generally, and especially from the that era, I really liked this one. Greatly expanded my Spotify playlists as well thanks to the many musical influences he cites throughout. I feel a vinyl LP shopping binge coming on….

[Peter Baynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. I live rock autobiographies, social comment and history. And of course I was a Clash fan and a teenager in the 70s, so this ticked a lot of my boxes! Obviously I knew of Don Letts but had not fully realised how central he was to the punk culture. This gives a story of that time from a different perspective which I really enjoyed, and deals with 'punk' as an attitude, not a fashion, that continues to this day, and is even more relevant/needed! When you read here how much punk and that movement changed attitudes, educated youngsters, encouraged social and political activism, and was tolerant and inclusive to race, colour, gender and class differences, I think Where are the Don Letts and Joe Strummers for today's world?

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and well overdue

This one checked all the boxes for me, but I would recommend it to any music and film fan. Don Letts, a serious badass who never took shit from anyone, and despite living with constant suss in his life the man is an optimist. The fact that my adolescence is documented in here, and that I’ve met a lot of the characters in the book made it extra special for me. Don can do music and film, but I would love to read more writing from the man. Highly recommended.

[James McNally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don's lived an amazing life, and I mostly enjoyed this except for two things: his habit of starting every chapter with a "scene" written like a screenplay, including very detailed descriptions of what everyone was wearing. And a stretch near the end of the book where he alludes to a very serious incident during the Big Audio Dynamite reunion tour and then just...doesn't tell us what happened. It was something that caused someone in the band to have to be replaced on tour, but he doesn't mention who it was or what they did. Baffling.

[Ray Smillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read of a man I was well aware of due to his well documented links with the Roxy and the punk scene of the late 70s. Don Letts is provably one of the main reasons that I discovered and grew to love reggae. Strongly linked to John Lydon and the Clash going on to be a member of Big Audio Dynamite but it his filmed documentaries of the music scene from punk/reggae onwards he is most renowned. Knew it would be interesting and it most decidedly is.

[Jackie Mcwilliams · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely wonderful read. I have looked up to Don Letts for years and this book, written so honestly, with very little held back, has only strengthened my regard. I hope to be skanking to another of his fabulous sets in a field or dance hall again soon. All credit to you for this book sir, please keep up your amazing work.

[Russell Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read telling the story of a fascinating life. Don has ducked and dived his way through some pivotal cultural moments but seems to have kept his feet firmly on the ground while doing so. The book tells more stories than just Don’s and has insights into punk, London and black history in equal measure.

[Daniel Cushnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this a lot more than I did, but it wasn't reflective enough for me. The tone he took in the final couple of chapters was the tone I'd been longing for throughout. I greatly enjoyed the chapters with John Lydon in, and hearing about PIL. Honestly, if he ever feels like writing a whole book about PIL, I'd snap it up.

[Chris McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed learned about the varied life of someone I've known of for years but known very little about.

Can highly recommend.

[Kurt Dahlke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, fascinating, invigorating - a great bio, feeling extremely timely as Covid delays allowed Letts to add a powerful coda. One to own, for sure, from the Rebel Dread.

[Brent Bonet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy. Don Letts. What life. What a legend. Somehow the epitome of cool. I definitely want to see all of his work.

[Steve Gillway · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very engaging read. Short concise sections with insight and thoughtfulness that tells you a great deal about the Black perspective/experience in the UK.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few months ago I attended an evening with legendary filmmaker, DJ and musician Don Letts telling stories from his life and career ranging from sneaking into Bob Marley’s hotel room for an ‘audience’ to his more recent work as a presenter and DJ on BBC 6Music, all in the aid of promoting both the upcoming film about his life, Rebel Dread, and autobiography, There And Black Again, which I read at the soonest opportunity.

Generally speaking the book takes on a fairly standard format tracing Letts’ life largely chronologically from his childhood in South London in the 1950s and 60s and on through his work from early days running a clothes store on the Kings Road and on through working The Clash in various ways and so forth...

https://tommygirard.wordpress.com/202...

[Alasdair MacCaluim]

I bought this book as I am a big fan of Big Audio Dynamite and was keen to find out more about Don Letts. I’ve always loved BAD’s multicultural, inclusive and DIY vibe and having read this book, it’s clear that Don is a living embodiment of their philosophy. However, his life story is a lot more than this.

Driven by his love of music, Letts is a true polymath – from DJ at the Roxy club, chronicler of punk music, band manager, member of BAD, to acclaimed filmmaker, broadcaster and friend of the stars
.
Growing up black in 1960s and 70s London, Letts details his upbringing and gives a real flavour of the time, complete with discussion of the racism he faced. Becoming obsessed with the Beatles at an early age, Letts was later lucky enough to see the Who live in 1971 as a teenager which left a lasting impression. Probably his greatest influence is reggae, an interest which he shared with a lot of other punks. In BAD he was able to bring all of these influences – and more – together in their music.

Letts became a film director by accident by filming the punk scene on a Super 8 camera and being inspired to edit his clips together in long form after hearing a rumour that he was planning to make a film. This led to a career in film including a large number of music videos and films – mostly related to music, including many Clash videos and films.

The description of the punk era is particularly interesting as Don was highly involved and knew all the main characters. Essential reading for punks young and old.

In short, this is a great summary of the life and work of Don Letts and has inspired me to check out many of his films. Likewise, If you have come to this book as someone who has followed Don as a filmmaker, I’d highly recommend checking out some of his musical output with Big Audio Dynamite.