Billy Bragg Interview

Billy Bragg is often dismissed as just a political songwriter or the Bard of Barking. Or even just ol' Big Nose, and that's just how he refers to himself. To talk of Bragg in such limiting terms is not only downright foolish but simply not true. Even a cursory listen to The Milkman of Human Kindness or any one song from his new album, Mr Love & Justice, reveals a man with much more than politics on his mind.
Skiddle had a quick chat with ol Big Nose before his rousing set at Wicker Man festival 2009 in Scotland.

Are you noticing much of a parallel between the Thatcher era and now?
It's more of a parallel with the late 70s, and Rock Against Racism, I think. That is what this time reminds me of more, with the last time that the Right were winning council seats and, erm, as resurgent as they are now. So yeah I would say more like the mid-to-late 70s. It's got that horrible feel. The sort of fag-end of a Labour government; just like it was then, you know. Feel of things slowly falling apart, that's a very late 1970s feel.

Is that hopeful then? Are we leaving an age of apathy for better times or will the Tories be more of the same?
I don't know about that. It's hard to tell because the Tories aren't what they were. You know, it's difficult to see. I think after the expenses scandal everybody gets hated not just one party. It's a bit difficult to judge this time.

How important are musicians in a time like this when we have political corruption and a deep recession?
Well, we're important in the sense that we can bring people together to help them to express their solidarity, you know. We can offer people a different perspective on an issue. We can make people feel like they're not the only person in the world who feels strongly about this issue. But ultimately it's up to the audience to change the world. They're the only people who can do it. And our job is to inspire them to go out and carrying on doing writing, or whatever it is that they do, you know. I was talking to a woman who was at the gig last night [at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal on 23 July 2009] who campaigns for handicapped people and she felt the gig really inspired her. And that's what I hope to do. To send people out there with their batteries recharged.

Is that what has kept you going through all these years?
Yeah, my faith, and my belief, in the audience's ability to change the world. I wouldn't do it if I didn't think that.

So ultimately you're of a sunny disposition not a cynical one?
Well, I feel as cynical as everybody else but I manage to keep my cynicism in check because I go out there in front of these audience's everyday and, erm, get this nice vibe off them. That's how I deal with my cynicism. Oh we all feel cynicism. It's hard not to these days.

A couple of years ago you advocated for the formulation of a British Bill of Rights. What should be on such a document?
Well, you know it would be something along the lines as the same as the European Convention. But the crucial thing it would have that the European Convention doesn't would be trial by jury. I think that is a really, really important part of our political system. Because a trial by jury would stop the government trying to cut you off from your internet service provider if they suspect you of downloading illegal files.

It's outrageous.
It is outrageous. They shouldn't be able to just cut you off without first being tried in court. That's what the Magna Carta says. So that's why the idea of constitutional change is really important.

So as an artist how do you feel about people downloading your album for free?
Well, people do it. People tape you off the radio all the time. It's always gone on. There is no way you're going stop it. I would prefer, you know, everybody bought millions of copies of my records. But they don't so there is no point with me whinging. I've always made my living doing gigs so that's fine by me. It's difficult for young bands coming through, trying to get started. That's hard. I think it's going to happen anyway but it doesn't mean it is the end of the music industry. I mean clever people use that. They use it as promotion; they use that as a way to reach a wider audience. I recognise it's a problem but I don't worry about it.

With something like Twitter you can react to something that happens in the world in an instant. Whether that's sending a message or putting a song out there.
It's amazing, just amazing that you can do that. When I was first making records, to find a thousand Billy Bragg fans I had to put a record in every shop in the country. Now, probably, before midnight I could find a thousand Billy Bragg fans and talk to them almost like I'm talking to you.

Are musical events that are getting a political message across useful or do people just go for a dance and some free music?
It's not either or. It's a bit of both. You know, you've got to believe that what you're saying, and what you're doing, is connecting with people. If people have come to see you and they know that you are political then they're coming for a bit of that. Whereas they go to see someone else for a bit of dance.

Is it not preaching to the choir, though?
No it's not. It's inspiring the choir. They agree with you and they're trying to make a better world like you. Your job is to inspire them. And to gear them up; fire them up. And make them feel as if they're part of a community. So no, it's not preaching to the choir. I don't accept that old cliché.

Are All Fascists Bound to Lose as you sing on your Woody Guthrie cover?
Ultimately they are, yeah. The idea that they have is a divisive idea. And the proof of that is in the North West. Although Nick Griffin [BNP leader] got a seat in the European elections, the BNP vote did not go up. Fewer people voted for the BNP. What let them in was a load of Labour voters didn't turn up. Now, those Labour voters could have voted for the BNP if they were that angry. They were angry but not so angry that they would vote for an racist, fascist party. So yeah fascists are bound to lose.

What one question would you ask the BNP?
Why is there a hyphen in Anglo-Saxon? It's because we're made up from many different people from many different places. We're the only people in the world, the English, who have a hyphen in their racial type. It's because multiculturalism has always been part of our history. And anybody who says different doesn't know their history.

What other contradictions have the BNP fallen foul of?
On the night he was elected Nick Griffin said, "the only people we want to deport are illegal immigrants and bogus asylum seekers". When he said that he's no worse than someone like David Blunkett. Very clever. But later he said, "bogus asylum seekers, illegal immigrants and people who are disloyal to Britain". Well, who do you think that means? That's me. I'm one of those people; undoubtedly. Where's he going to deport me to? It's ridiculous. Their rhetoric is just ridiculous.

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