Love Music Hate Racism

Tom Robinson is today best known as a popular presenter on the BBC's digital station 6 Music. But in 1978 Tom fronted the Tom Robinson Band, headlined the 30th April Victoria Park ANL/RAR Carnival, and was a driving force in Rock Against Racism. He talked to LMHR about the anniversary and need to keep fighting racism.

Amongst news of supermodels, drugs and run-ins with the police for front man Peter Doherty, there’s a side of the band Babyshambles which remains largely untouched by the press. It’s a cause supported by all of the band, but particularly bassist Drew McConnell - the commitment to a better world without prejudices. Appel talked to him about racism, music and the double-edged sword of the media.

LMHR organiser Lee Billingham was interviewed by MA student Pedro de Barros for his thesis "How does music work to become a political form of communication when used by mass movements?", using the success of Rock Against Racism and LMHR as a way of looking at the relationship between music and politics.

Award-winning writer and director Gurinder Chadha will be speaking at the UAF/LMHR national conference this weekend. Gurinder's films, including popular hits like Bend It Like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice and Bhaji on the Beach have all dealt with racism in British society and beyond, in a funny and accessible yet insistent way. She talks to us about how her involvement in LMHR's predecessor Rock Against Racism changed her life, and on the need to continue the fight against racism and fascism today.

We met up with Niomi McLean-Daley, aka Mercury-winning artist Ms Dynamite, star of the first major LMHR carnival - in Manchester - back in 2002, to talk to her about her involvement in LMHR for Alan Miles' LMHR/Rock Against Racism documentary “Who Shot the Sheriff?”. The interview took place just prior to her appearance at the Live8 Concert, and before recent tragic events in London.