Retracing punk's past!

[StevieB]

The Clash, shortly before scouting for extra virgin olive oil and sunblushed tomatoes on Portobello Road. Photograph: Roger Ressmeyer/Corbis

Last week I was talking about LA, this week it's Notting Hill. My glamorous press trips are getting closer to home, so next week's Sleeve Notes special will be live from the Sainsbury's car park on Dalston Lane. Anyway, my reason for heading to Notting Hill was to retrace the story of punk, through the eyes of those who were around to witness it. Notting Hill might now be Tory party HQ, but back in the mid 70s it was a vibrant mix of Caribbean immigrants and outsider kids. This helped the area become the birthing ground for bands like the Clash and the Slits, as well as legendary record label Rough Trade. Founder Geoff Travis recalled selling reggae records to the local punk community, while elsewhere Don Letts recalled hanging out with the Clash at the Notting Hill riots. I also went in a search of new music charity Strummerville and stopped for a chinwag with punk expert and Guardian.co.uk/music blogger Jon Savage, who explained why it's never a good idea to bring heroin to a party (as Johnny Thunders did at a Christmas bash attended by the Sex Pistols). Of course, if you want more Savage then head to the music blog where he's just posted a dissection of the Shy FX jungle landmark, Sound of the Beast.

source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009...eve-notes-punk