The Rest is Propaganda

by Steve Ignorant, Steve Pottinger

Story of the punk band Crass.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

344 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Steve Ignorant is a singer/songwriter and artist. He co-founded the anarcho-punk band CRASS with Penny Rimbaud in 1977. When CRASS finished he played in various bands and is currently performing with his own bands Steve Ignorant’s Slice Of Life (Post Punk) and the Steve Ignorant Band (Anarcho Punk).

Reviews

[Jules Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just a honest and gritty journey through the revolutions of Punk and Crass et al. Its also a first class tale capturing the feeling of the pure desolation of the no-hope horizon offered to a working class child in 60's/70's Dagenham and the yearning for more than a xerox copy of their parents' life sentence. Not a desire for status or money but just to be yourself and the endless hard graft to do that. Inspiring.

A reminder you should always thrive to keep alight that spark which first put you on the District Line to travel out of the grey...

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the life of an artist, and no need to worry your pretty little heads about it, Steve Ignorant IS an artist. In fact, he's one of the greatest rock and roll singers for one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time. If you want to talk punk rock, then I'll say Crass is the ultimate and leave it at that.

Yes there are great Crass stories here, but for me the most interesting part is Steve's childhood and adolescence. I felt like I was there with him pacing around that empty little apartment wondering what to do and where to go, and if anything different from that boredom was even possible. I felt it because I did the same thing and so did you.

This is a story about being inspired and opening yourself up to great art. For Steve it was the Angry young men writers and crucial, life-changing encounters with good people and kindred spirits, like hearing Toots and the Maytals and having that precious first glimpse at cool style and attitude. Love and listen to his beautiful enthusiasm. The kid knew a good thing when he saw it, heard it or felt it.

Steve tells about the great freedom and spontaneity of Crass, but also about the pressure of sudden and unexpected fame and the inevitable comedown when it's over. But he never stopped. Punch and Judy professor, reader, listener, student, and always ready to hit the road with a new band: Conflict, Schwartzeneggar, The Stratford Mercenaries and continues to this day with guest appearances, Paranoid Visions and a new band called Slice of Life.

All Steve's bands worked basically for no money but the music endured and will always rock and will always mark a moment in time with true freedom and true greatness. They had to sleep on a lot of hard floors and use some toilets unfit for humanity but looking back on it, that makes the triumph all the greater. We wouldn't have our rock and roll any other way would we?

A current of violence runs through the whole book: pointless aggression that comes from the great confusion of being alive, and being too scared to show love. It's a long road from our animal origins to the promise of humanity. Are we even halfway there? Have we even started moving? Crass did. Try to catch up to them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSP8_...


CRASS-"Big Man, Big M.A.N." Lyrics:

They're telling you to do it, grow up and tow the line, they tell you if you do it, everything will turn out fine. Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes, what a wonderful life, god, queen, country, colour telly car and wife. Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes, what a wonderful life, god, queen, country, colour telly car and wife. It's great if you can do it, it doesn't take a lot, just means you must destroy what sensitivity you've got. Well, that's an easy bargain for the things you're going to get, you can treat the wife like shit, own a car, a telly set. Slip off in the evenings for a little on the sly, and if the wife complains, fuck her first, then black her eye. There's lot of worthwhile jobs for the lad who wants to know, lorry driving's fun, you're always on the go. One hand on the wheel, the other up some cunt, or jerking off to penthouse with the motorway up front. The police force offers chances for a bright intelligent lad, to interfere with anyone cos they're there just to be had. It offers quite a range for aggression and for spite, to take out your frustrations in a justifiable light. It's a mans' life in the army, good pay and lots of fun, you can stab them with your bayonet, fuck them with your gun. Look smart in your uniform, that always pulls the skirt, then when you've fucked them good and proper, tell them they're just dirt. Cos man is spelt big M.A.N. it's the letters of the law. Man i s spelt big M.A.N. that's who the law is for. You see there's lots of chances in this land of hope and glory, try and make your own rules, that's a different story. If you're a man, you'd better act like one, develope your muscles, use your prick like a gun. Fuck anything that moves, but never pay the price, steal, fuck, slaughter, that's their advice. Are you a man enough? Ask the posters on the walls, have you got what it takes? Guts and balls? Keep your myth of manhood, it's been going on too long, a history of slaughter is the proof that it is wrong. Big man, big M.A.N. Big man, big M.A.N. Big wrong. Big man, big M.A.N. big man, big M.A.N. Big man J.O.K.E. big man, what a fucking joke.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Steve Ignorant's autobiography rather than a book about Crass. As such it is split into 3 sections: BC (Before Crass - 113 pages), DC (During Crass - 74 pages) and AC (After Crass - 110 pages). Though most people (myself included) would initially want the DC section to be longer, after reading the book I think that Steve got it right. In a way the AC section is the most interesting as Steve explains how he coped after the end of Crass.

The book is written by Steve with help from Steve Pottinger and ain't no literary gem - but then that is what adds to the appeal as it is Steve's story not the official Crass line. It's in his words, effing and blinding throughout.

I read Penny's Shibboleth when it came out and Berger's book from a couple of years ago and I think Steve's book adds an extra dimension to the story. Penny's book was ok but a little unsatisfactory. The Story of Crass was an interesting book and well-written whilst Steve's book adds the personal touch.

After finishing the book I listened to some Crass records again and as always I'm slightly bemused that I still find the whole Crass phenomena interesting. Although the music is generally crap (Penis Envy was and still is my favourite Crass record as it is their best musically) it still holds a certain fascination. I think it is the whole package of music/art/politics and the fact that they meant what they said. The air of mystique around the group together with the anarchist politics and fascist imagery only seems to add to whole experience - for some strange reason!

In short if you like(ed) Crass then you should find this book a goodread. There are plenty of photos as well.

p.s. For anyone interested in furthering their Crass studies then check out the hour-long Crass documentary on YouTube titled, There Is No Authority But Yourself.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was great to read detailed accounts of all the old CRASS gigs. Steve Ignorant played in Dublin two years ago, so I went to see him in a book shop when he was talking about this book and the history of CRASS. And of courses I went to see him play that night, what an amazing gig!

I deducted a star from this book because of the last chapter. The things said about Colin Jerwood are untrue, as I had guessed they would be. Steve Ignorant has since apologised to Colin Jerwood and thankfully the two lads are good mates again. It seems to me that someone was trying to get in the way of their rock solid friendship. Thankfully it didn't work.

This is a well written book and a must read for all CRASS fans.

[Keiron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A far better read than "The story of Crass". Having supported and met Steve numerous times on and off stage, he comes across a very genuine and open fellow. Steve Ignorant gives a wonderful narrative of his before, in and after his exploits in the anarcho-punk Crass. coming from a working-class background and discovery punk rock, the book is often humorous in places but there is a serious side to Steve's writing, as he coped with depression after the breakup of Crass and the frustration of trying not to become a cog in the machine.

The book goes for a bit now (mine was signed by the man himself, and he knocked off a tenner) but not so from the man himself. give it a read.