Billy Bragg

Birthday: 20 December 1957, Barking, Essex, England, UK

Birth Name: Stephen William Bragg

Billy Bragg - the so-called 'Bard of Barking' - came to widespread attention as a sort of one-man Clash, busking around Britain, with a guitar and portable amp. Having briefly joined the Army, Bragg formed a punk band, Riff Raff, but it was not until he released his first mini-LP, "Life's a Riot" on the small Utility label, that he first troubled the UK charts with the protest EP, "Between the Wars". Further minor chart success followed (including an unlikely number 1 with a charity cover version of the Beatles' "She's Leaving Home" and a collaboration with members of REM) and critical acclaim was never far away. Bragg was a founder member of Red Wedge, the music coalition which supported the Labour Party in the 1987 election, and a supporter of many humanitarian and left-wing causes, but has since withdrawn overt support for New Labour. Settled down and with a small son, Jack, Bragg has completed the "William Bloke" LP and toured. Show less «

Now I realize I was naive to think The Clash could change the world by singing about it. But it wasn...Show more »

Now I realize I was naive to think The Clash could change the world by singing about it. But it wasn't so much their lyrics as what they stood for and the actions they took. That became really important to me. Phil Collins might write a song about the homeless, but if he doesn't have the action to go with it he's just exploiting that for a subject. I got that from The Clash, and I try to remain true to that tradition as best I can. Show less «

One of the great things about the 1980s was that there was a return to lyrics. Bands like the Smiths...Show more »

One of the great things about the 1980s was that there was a return to lyrics. Bands like the Smiths were writing more literate pop. Sometimes too much emphasis is put on hook and melody. Some bands' songs are totally vacuous. Show less «

It is often the songs that have less meaning that people tend to attach their meaning to.

Everything that was cool about British rock in the '60s, everything from The Beatles, The Stones (Th...Show more »

Everything that was cool about British rock in the '60s, everything from The Beatles, The Stones (The Rolling Stones), The Who, The Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, all those guys learned to play music by playing skiffle. It was open to everyone, it was utterly democratic, it was three chords and the truth. Show less «

It's really a comment on the amount of information we get now; I mean, the ubiquity of the Internet ...Show more »

It's really a comment on the amount of information we get now; I mean, the ubiquity of the Internet of the 24-hour news cycle - it's constant information all the time, trying to make sense of it. What does it mean if they do find the Higgs Boson? I don't know, you know? They tell us it's incredibly important. Is it incredibly important? So it's really a response on that, talking about the hectoring of the hexperts you know, there's someone every night on telly telling you emphatically what their truth is, how do you weigh that up? Show less «

"Kiss me or would you rather live in a land where the soap won't lather" (lyric)

This is not a time for celebration. The death of Margaret Thatcher is nothing more than a salient re...Show more »

This is not a time for celebration. The death of Margaret Thatcher is nothing more than a salient reminder of how Britain got into the mess that we are in today. Of why ordinary working people are no longer able to earn enough from one job to support a family; of why there is a shortage of decent affordable housing... of why cynicism and greed became the hallmarks of our society. Raising a glass to the death of an infirm old lady changes none of this. The only real antidote to cynicism is activism. Don't celebrate - organise! Show less «

[on Levon Helm] The greatest singing drummer that ever lived.

I think Tony Blair shocked a lot of people when he said if your heart is with Jeremy Corbyn you need...Show more »

I think Tony Blair shocked a lot of people when he said if your heart is with Jeremy Corbyn you need a heart transplant. I'm not interested in a Labour Party that doesn't have a heart. We need politics of the heart. That to me is compassionate politics. Show less «

The Internet allows me to write a topical song on a Friday, debut it on a Saturday, record it on a S...Show more »

The Internet allows me to write a topical song on a Friday, debut it on a Saturday, record it on a Sunday and make available for a free download on a Monday. Show less «

The first lyrical poetry that moved me was the final verse of Mr Tambourine Man. That is such a grea...Show more »

The first lyrical poetry that moved me was the final verse of Mr Tambourine Man. That is such a great line of poetry. Show less «

This year I think I'll be voting Liberal Democrat because they've got the best manifesto. I like wha...Show more »

This year I think I'll be voting Liberal Democrat because they've got the best manifesto. I like what they're saying about proportional representation, I like what they're saying about Europe... if I was a floating voter I'd be floating towards them. I think Labour have taken the white working class vote for granted. I think the idea of a three party race is more interesting than a two party race. (In 2010) Show less «

Billy Bragg

Billy Bragg's FILMOGRAPHY

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