DREW McCONNELL, BABYSHAMBLES ON LMHR IN APPEL MAGAZINE INTERVIEW FOR AMNESTY YOUTH DENMARK!
I have a deep rooted hatred of 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.
“This is our world, and when we have children it’ll feel good to know we at least tried to make it a happier place for them to live in” says Drew McConnell when Appel catches up with him. He’s a busy man - Babyshambles gig regularly around the English music scenes and are, according to rumours, heading in to the studio to record a new album. But McConnell is also a busy man for another reason - for the last couple of years he has been working closely with Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR), which - as the name indicates - is a music oriented campaign against racism.
“We’ve always done shows for them, then I really got involved in a hands-on way after I played Trafalgar Square” says McConnell relating to a gig, where he played solo as front man Peter Doherty was arrested the same morning due to possession of narcotics.
Subsequently he became more involved in the good cause, but doesn’t regard it as his ‘duty’ to use the platform of being a well-known musician, but more because of his personal desire:
“It’s not an obligation as such, but I didn’t know a lot of things LMHR have brought to my attention. I think [for me] it’s more a case of wanting people to know there’s a common sentiment on the matter amongst young music fans”. This also is the point of LMHR - that music is influenced by a diversity of cultures and traditions that can bring people together; a point also made by McConnell himself.
Music as a movement
McConnell’s viewpoints have not risen from one Babyshambles concert to the next. Nor is it due to him meeting LMHR. Already in his childhood, which by large was spent on the Spanish island of Tenerife as one of four children, did his social commitment form:
“I have a deep rooted hatred of xenophobia, racism and post-imperial bigotry in general because as an Irish boy growing up in Tenerife, going to school with Spanish kids but also working with English people I had to deal with both sides of the resulting prejudice”.
His love of music and the desire to play it also snuck up on him in an early age, but flared when he discovered his dad’s collection of Leonard Cohen records.
“I guess I’ve always known it’s [music] what I was supposed to do. I saved up for about a year and got my first bass when I was 17, same bass I still use today”.
And precisely the music has the including qualities that can make young people get involved in societal aspects:
“Music is moving, and it engages the listener. In a crowd of people at a music show there’s a sense of unity, of inclusiveness. From Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, to Bob Marley and The Clash to bands like Rage Against the Machine there’s real evidence of music’s ability to stir people into action”.
Media circus and focus
At first glance the road from a collection of Leonard Cohen records to one of England’s most notorious bands seems quite long. Babyshambles is the product of Doherty’s then band The Libertines’ exclusion of him due to his escalating use of drugs. Since then Babyshambles has - as the name indicates - been at times shambolic and chaotic. The band has been plagued by scandals; problems with the long arm of the law, missed gigs and an unreasonable massive focus from the media on everything but the music.
McConnell first joined Babyshambles due to working with then guitarist Patrick Walden at a rehearsal studio:
“Peter would come in and borrow guitars from time to time”. After a while McConnell found himself as bassist in the unpredictable band.
In the media Babyshambles are not widely known for their music or their fight against racism and social injustice - but for Doherty’s relationship with Kate Moss and his drug use. This has sent the band into public conscience fast. But does it remove focus from the topics and things the band really want to focus on? McConnell says:
“I don’t think so. The tabloid attention is not on me anyway so I haven’t found it encroaches on what we do”. However he does somewhat agree that maybe it can be easier to draw attention to other subjects, when you have a platform and a name in the media through Babyshambles.
Knowledge is the way forward
Returning to the subject of LHMR, it is there to create awareness about an ugly trend, not only in the UK but also in the rest of Europe - the increasing rise of the right. In England particularly BNP have gained ground.
“Their ethos is based on fear, lies and racism - they’re trying to obscure this from people. LMHR draw attention to that” says McConnell. And even though McConnell questions my theory of the attraction for young people of the BNP in certain areas, he does agree partly:
“Maybe young male anger and ignorance draws a certain type of person to them. I personally don’t know a single young person who aligns themselves with the principles of the BNP”. Never the less racism and ignorance is a big problem in many countries - and exactly therefore it is essential for McConnell to underline that everybody can get involved with LMHR:
“Anyone can help LMHR by getting involved with events, coming to shows and so on. There’s loads of information on lovemusichateracism.com on how to become part of it and have your voice heard too”. And for McConnell the reason why he himself got involved is obvious:
“It’s a cause worth fighting for and if you’re into music, it combines two of your passions”.
With those last words it makes way for another image of Babyshambles. McConnell’s passion for music and the fight for a better world without prejudices bear witness of an underexposed side of one of this day and age’s most exposed bands. If the media were to give as many column inches to McConnell and that side of all of Babyshambles as they give to Doherty’s exploits, maybe the world would look a little different.
