In the early 80s, Afrika Bambaataa, former gang member turned rapper, had already pushed the limits of the relatively new genre by incorporating breaks and samples, not just from soul, funk or other sources commonly used, but from artists as diverse as Kraftwerk and Billy Squire (?). He just flat out ignored what was expected and, in "what the heck" fashion, broke barriers. In doing so, he enabled others to follow suit. But Bambaataa had a good knowledge of all types of music, which other rappers didn't necessarily share, and it led to some rather corny combos (Run DMC's "Walk This Way" anybody?).
After sampling unusual source material, the next step was collaborations. Two years before the questionable Run DMC-Aerosmith ditty, Bambaataa had his Time Zone project, a series of one-off singles, each with a different collaborator. The second of these, in 1984, was World Destruction, in which he enlisted then Public Image singer, and former Sex Pistol, John Lydon.
After sampling unusual source material, the next step was collaborations. Two years before the questionable Run DMC-Aerosmith ditty, Bambaataa had his Time Zone project, a series of one-off singles, each with a different collaborator. The second of these, in 1984, was World Destruction, in which he enlisted then Public Image singer, and former Sex Pistol, John Lydon.
Knowing their mutual admiration for each others work, producer Bill Laswell suggested Lydon. As Bambaataa told, "I was talking to Bill Laswell saying I need somebody who's really crazy, man, and he thought of John Lydon. I knew he was perfect because I'd seen this movie that he'd made (Copkiller), I knew about all the Sex Pistols and Public Image stuff, so we got together and we did a smashing crazy version, and a version where he cussed the Queen something terrible, which was never released." The recording took less than five hours to complete.
Let me tell you, if you haven't heard it, It's powerful, and it's a damn downer. Unfortunate as it is, "World Destruction" is still a more accurate commentary of the state of the world than other well meaning songs. With lyrics like "The human race is becoming a disgrace," it isn't the kind of song you could imagine pop music elite swaying back and forth to. It wasn't a feel good song. It was a damn wake-up call, still left unheeded 27 years later.
Let me tell you, if you haven't heard it, It's powerful, and it's a damn downer. Unfortunate as it is, "World Destruction" is still a more accurate commentary of the state of the world than other well meaning songs. With lyrics like "The human race is becoming a disgrace," it isn't the kind of song you could imagine pop music elite swaying back and forth to. It wasn't a feel good song. It was a damn wake-up call, still left unheeded 27 years later.
~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~
Listen:Time Zone - World Destruction (via DivShare) mp3 at The Bomarr Blog
Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock mp3 at Darrell Kim's blog (Samples Kraftwerk & Baby Ruth)
Public Image Ltd - Rules & Regulations mp3 at UtahDave
Public Image Ltd - This Is Not a Love Song (live, 2010) mp3 at The Sound of Indie
Watch:
Time Zone -World Destruction video at YouTube
Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock (live) at YouTube
Public Image Ltd - Rise video at YouTube
Read:
Time Zone entry at Wikipedia
Afrika Bambaataa at Wikipedia
John Lydon at Wikipedia
Afrika Bambaataa page at WhoSampled
3 comments:
Hey Tom,
I was in an all-girl punk band in St. Louis in the late 70s, early 80s. In 1978 we had a picture in the new bands section of Rock Scene magazine with a p.o. box address and you were kind enough to write us a letter and send a flyer for your zine Substitute. It's great to see you're still writing about music. We were going through memorabilia because a local label released a single late last year of material we recorded in 1979 and in turn rediscovered the cache of letters. If you'd like a scan of the letter and flyer I'd be happy to send it to you.
best wishes,
rusty
Rusty,
Wow, you remember eh? What was the name of your band? There's a good chance that I'll remember. I was writing bands a bunch, especially if they looked like they were interesting. Remember that? Having to go on looks or second hand stories alone to find new bands? I'm going down my beat up mental checklist and I remember the Midwest being one of the areas that was sorely under-represented, which is why it held interest for me. Got a lot of stuff reading Talk Talk, Option, NY Rocker, Rock Scene and the early SubPop (when it was a fanzine!). Help me out, I'm dying to know, what was your band? I'd love a scan of that stuff. And let me know about your band. I'm always looking for oddball music related stuff to write about, and this would be perfect!
Thanks for writing. Hope you leave another comment!
Oops, pardon the ridiculous oversight, the band's name was/is the Welders. The picture from Rock Scene is on the cover of Maximum Rock n Roll magazine this month! They reviewed the single last month and ran an interview with us this month. It's been pretty surreal.
You can email us at thewelders1976@gmail.com. We're also on facebook, but of course. Hopefully with one of those modes, I can get your email address and send those scans!
rusty
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