30 Year War

General Comment"It’s not about Thatcher, it’s definitely about Thatcherism, about the establishment across the last 30 years, and it doesn’t matter what government is around, we always love to portray ourselves as this holier than thou country, and yet we have scandal after scandal uncovered, right to the root of power, government, Murdoch, the police, Hillsborough, this stupification of the class I grew up in, which I think all stems from Thatcherism really. The idea that if you break down any power that we had we’re going to be fucked forever. That ominous [line]: 'I ask you again what is to be done?' which is obviously Lenin. Simon Price said we must be the first band to quote Lennon and Lenin on one album. I didn’t want to give the lyric to James, because I felt the album is so intimate and internal, do they really want me ranting on about class war? But he was genuinely excited, it gave him an energy, and it’s certainly a musical bridge to the next album. It’s slightly more odd sounds, a bit Blade Runner with the keyboards. I listen to it and I think, 'Fuck me', maybe 20 years ago we could have released this as a single because it sounds different for us, it’s spiky but quite considering. It’s not splenetic raging, which I can be prone to. It’s got something weirdly in common with ‘Tolerate...’ with that kind of retro-futurism. There’s that line about 'hiding Lowry’s paintings' as well, the idea of connoisseurs of taste is such a London-centric thing: 'We’ll keep these in storage because he’s a Sunday painter.' He’s not, he’s a true genius - it’s not just matchstick men, there’s true depth to his painting. I find that elitist, 'We know what’s better' is so all pervading, from the monarchy to fucking Cameron to Mumford and Sons. We’re just told… what did one of Mumford and Sons say the other day? 'Either ignore it or celebrate it.' What a fucking futile attitude. Don’t say anything bad, just ignore it or celebrate it. So what about fascism then? We don’t like it, we’ll just ignore it. It does feel like the last five years has been such a redress of monarchy and establishment and public school through all points of our culture. I feel a bit helpless about it."

-Nicky Wire

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General CommentBrilliant, brilliant, brilliant song. Nicky Wire at his PEAK!!

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