Don Letts: Master Blaster
Don Letts is what we at The Dwarf like to call a ‘leapfrog’. One who, with immense talent in tow, is able to leap, not just from genre to genre, but over and above various mediums of artistry. Beginning as a trendy clothes store proprietor, to befriending the likes of Bob Marley (!), becoming a film-maker, writer, DJ, manager....he’s pretty much had his sweet hand in every punk rock pie there is.
Don Letts is as feisty as they come; I ask him how he “fell into becoming a film maker and DJ”: “The Don doesn't fall into anything! It was a combination of three things that made me decide I wanted to express myself visually: a poem by Linton Kwesi Johnson called '5 Nights of Bleeding' and two films 'A Harder They Come' and 'Walkabout'. In 1977 when the Punk Rock explosion happened with its ‘do it yourself’ ethic, I picked up a movie camera and re-invented myself as a film-maker. As for DJing, my father had a sound-system in London so it was kind of in my blood. Again the punk movement was instrumental in me becoming the DJ at The Roxy ( London's first punk club )”.
Right right. So what are you working on at the moment, then? “Just made a video for the Audio Bullies called 'Gimme That Punk'. I've made around 350 music videos but it was my first for about 15 years. Still have my weekly radio show called 'Culture Clash Radio' on the BBC. In the middle of completing a documentary (Rock against Racism). And I'm putting the final touches to my latest reggae compilation CD for Greensleeves Records”. Whoa. Don Letts has more on his plate than Casey Donovan (zing!) but he still manages to make time to trek down to jolly old Australia to visit his Down Under fans. Nice.
So, Don, DJ apple of my eye, how has the British music scene changed in the past thirty years? “The cross pollination of cultures combined with affordable technologies has completely changed the musical landscape. This is reflected in the creativity and attitude of musicians across the board. That's why so many interesting ideas come out of the U.K” I sign off my interview with Don with a hearty thank you for his time and, also, for The Punk Rock Movie. What, you haven’t seen it? You haven’t lived, brother!
Don Letts will be making appearances of awesomeness at the following venues:
Thursday, 8 May - Globe Theatre, Brisbane
Friday, 9 May - Globe Theatre, Brisbane
Saturday, 10 May - Manning Bar, Sydney University
Monday, 12 May - Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
Thursday, 15 May - The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Saturday, 17 May - Bakery Artrage Complex, Perth
