Street Voice UK

I enjoyed this book on most part though other parts I find hard who the author is trying to attract in buying this book! Just the title alone will annoy most people in 2024 in the scene as many have either held on to their punk values or simply grown up!

To begin with what I found hard is why is the author using a pen name? Its Mick Lightweight and the amount of photos bounding about are of him!

As I said some really funny stories in the book as I either happened to be in Mick’s company or he told the stories to myself and other friends of his as we stayed at his gaff many times.

The tours are great stories and they’re a great insight to how punk was back in the late 90’s and early noughties with the drinking and madness surrounding alcohol and drugs. I have shared some mad times with Mick too!

I do think Mick was being a little dishonest with Lynda Mandolyn from Fabulous Disaster as he must have done something to seriously piss her off as he briefly discusses his run in with her. This is a woman who had spent years in the company of Fat Mike from NOFX. Of course she can take a joke. I’ve known her longer than I have Mick.

As for punk scene being racist I somewhat find that hard to believe. I know Mick had some abuse at Oi! gigs but it was pretty safe to say those Oi! shows were attended by members of the Far Right including Combat 18 and Blood + Honour – Argy Bargy being a fine example!

It probably also didn’t help wearing an Adolf Hitler European t-shirt very openly at gigs!

As I said I can laugh at some of the stories because I knew Mick and loved the guy. I still do but I’m struggling to find who this book is marketed for in 2024 with the open sexism and misogyny in particular?

Earth Island Books