Northern Soul .... Companies lining up to use 'fashionable' music. Constantine's money making love story, Shredded Wheat and Northern Soul... Synonymous with a healthy lifestyle?  Someone didn't do their research. 

There is a lifetime spent from teenage years joining a movement with very little parental knowledge, intervention or in my case care. This underground scene was forged for reasons of social acceptability, to challenge authority, thankfully it needed no money to join, and the countrywide connections made, (a time pre internet,mobiles) ensured there was always someone to help with costs, travelling, entrance fee, drugs. 

'People' will talk about it just being about the music... It was so much more than that, Friday night all nighter Saturday night all nighter Sunday all dayer, travelling the length and breadth of the country, scoring drugs, losing jobs, relationships made and broken due to the hardships of committing to living the life.

And that music, something about that music... if it gets you...its for life.

Dancing all night and day, singing til your throat is hoarse, no sleep, little eating, LIVING exciting daring challenging definitely not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

Drugs were widely used by the majority and acceptable in this closed society,police drug squads set up specifically for controlling the Northern scene, chemists regularly ransacked, people died on dance floors and 30 years on the people that 'left the scene to raise families' quote unquote are stable, socially acceptable, caricatures NOW financially able to cultivate a 'look',  family raised, able to join a scene that at times, heartbreakingly so, survived underground in between those years....

There is a whole age being glossed over, churned, and spat out as this respectable twee existence.

Look deeper for longer.

It's just to fluffy these days and dumbed down!

Northern Soul .... Companies lining up to use 'fashionable' music. Constantine's money making love story...........

There is a whole age being glossed over, churned, and spat out as this respectable twee existence.

 

 

Not a big fan of commercialisation myself but have you seen EC's film?

Elaine Constantine's film is pretty good (though with a few minor-ish flaws that have been widely discussed).

 

Otherwise I 1000% agree with you - frankly I don't WANT acceptance, it's 'MY' scene and the music says something private to me and those who by equal love of its deeper meaning share an unspoken bond of understanding - we're social refugees who built our own BETTER family.

 

It's NOT something romantic and quaint to be hijacked and commercialised into some homogenous mush of plastic BEER swilling pseudo scooterboys, Modfather suits and clown wear - that's exactly the OPPOSITE of what it's about to me.

 

Dave (still militant even though rarely out and about - except this weekend anyway)

Edited January 21, 201510 yr by DaveNPete

I would love it if the WHOLE WORLD were into rare soul music !

It's not that I don't want the 'whole world' involved... ha my records would go up even more in value and thats my pension! its that I need truth and clarity of the 'whole' scene not some glossy version acceptable to the masses. Use the music by all means but Shredded wheat and Dave? really? Is it only the likes of that thoroughly nice guy that is palatable for viewing?.. Because his clean cut, settled, healthy, wealthy (his clothes aren't cheap) image is not the average soul boy of my experience, and its its less than acceptable past that is now dismissed from sight. Creativity without truth is nothing.

Yep always stopped off at the services for a hearty bowl of cereal

Hi there, things have changed and the old northern soul scene is dead and gone. However controvertial this may be, no subculture cannot be forever a way of life.. nowaday it's a way of socializing and a way of sharing an interest in a beatiful kind of music, alien to mainstream and the all embracing comercialization. Or at least that's the way i live it. all the best, andrea

Agree with you except for the film - It was not a money making venture, it was definitely from the heart, although one could argue, is trying to capture ‘our thing’ on film worth even trying? I think Elaine did a fantastic job, and captured it as best as anyone could have dreamed of.

 

As I said, I agree and understand your statement. ‘Northern Soul was never supposed to be cosy’. It will never have the same buzz that it once had for me, but I am determined to enjoy the pockets that are left

 

All the best,

 

Len  

Edited January 21, 201510 yr by LEN

I would love it if the WHOLE WORLD were into rare soul music !

Daft concept would,nt be rare then would it , rarity is all part of the fun .

The problem comes when you think of it as a 'scene' - self-awareness isn't good. Just be now as you 'just did then' and it shouldn't matter. 
 

Retrospectively it was a scene or cultural movement that worked for specific people in the face of the cultural (music) geo-social (class/race/region) factors that were not entirely determinable at the time, but it existed. 

 

Think what goes on across punk forums when John Lydon is trying to sell butter with a punk attitude?!

 

And yes, its not some romanticised thing that should be hijacked, but it has and those who have invested in the hijacking think its great because they've been under a stone for the last 40years. I say let em have it. Move on and enjoy what you did with what goes on now. 

Edited January 21, 201510 yr by TailorMade Gaz B

Yep change is good, but lets not kid each other, lets not for a second think that Constantine and santucci didn't financially gain from this, a bit like some promoters in the 80's who were in it for the music... yeah right. when you can roar up to a funeral ahead of the Hearse on the churches car park in a bright yellow lotus then tell me it's not about status and money.

As in anything history matters. My thoughts were expressed because of the dubious strongly questionable connection between healthy eating and 'northern soul' thank you for giving me more to think about.

Northern Soul .... Companies lining up to use 'fashionable' music. Constantine's money making love story, Shredded Wheat and Northern Soul... Synonymous with a healthy lifestyle?  Someone didn't do their research. 

There is a lifetime spent from teenage years joining a movement with very little parental knowledge, intervention or in my case care. This underground scene was forged for reasons of social acceptability, to challenge authority, thankfully it needed no money to join, and the countrywide connections made, (a time pre internet,mobiles) ensured there was always someone to help with costs, travelling, entrance fee, drugs. 

'People' will talk about it just being about the music... It was so much more than that, Friday night all nighter Saturday night all nighter Sunday all dayer, travelling the length and breadth of the country, scoring drugs, losing jobs, relationships made and broken due to the hardships of committing to living the life.

And that music, something about that music... if it gets you...its for life.

Dancing all night and day, singing til your throat is hoarse, no sleep, little eating, LIVING exciting daring challenging definitely not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

Drugs were widely used by the majority and acceptable in this closed society,police drug squads set up specifically for controlling the Northern scene, chemists regularly ransacked, people died on dance floors and 30 years on the people that 'left the scene to raise families' quote unquote are stable, socially acceptable, caricatures NOW financially able to cultivate a 'look',  family raised, able to join a scene that at times, heartbreakingly so, survived underground in between those years....

There is a whole age being glossed over, churned, and spat out as this respectable twee existence.

Look deeper for longer.

 

Well said, agree 100%.

Hi there, things have changed and the old northern soul scene is dead and gone. However controvertial this may be, no subculture cannot be forever a way of life.. nowaday it's a way of socializing and a way of sharing an interest in a beatiful kind of music, alien to mainstream and the all embracing comercialization. Or at least that's the way i live it. all the best, andrea

[/

old northern dead and gone ouch! HA And that's my point the connection to shredded wheat is totally alien. Embracing and accepting change I am, but some change is too far fetched... have great day

old northern dead and gone ouch! HA And that's my point the connection to shredded wheat is totally alien. Embracing and accepting change I am, but some change is too far fetched... have great day

Timi Yuro...your fav . Across the years we agree on something

Northern Soul .... Companies lining up to use 'fashionable' music. Constantine's money making love story, Shredded Wheat and Northern Soul... Synonymous with a healthy lifestyle?  Someone didn't do their research. 

There is a lifetime spent from teenage years joining a movement with very little parental knowledge, intervention or in my case care. This underground scene was forged for reasons of social acceptability, to challenge authority, thankfully it needed no money to join, and the countrywide connections made, (a time pre internet,mobiles) ensured there was always someone to help with costs, travelling, entrance fee, drugs. 

'People' will talk about it just being about the music... It was so much more than that, Friday night all nighter Saturday night all nighter Sunday all dayer, travelling the length and breadth of the country, scoring drugs, losing jobs, relationships made and broken due to the hardships of committing to living the life.

And that music, something about that music... if it gets you...its for life.

Dancing all night and day, singing til your throat is hoarse, no sleep, little eating, LIVING exciting daring challenging definitely not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

Drugs were widely used by the majority and acceptable in this closed society,police drug squads set up specifically for controlling the Northern scene, chemists regularly ransacked, people died on dance floors and 30 years on the people that 'left the scene to raise families' quote unquote are stable, socially acceptable, caricatures NOW financially able to cultivate a 'look',  family raised, able to join a scene that at times, heartbreakingly so, survived underground in between those years....

There is a whole age being glossed over, churned, and spat out as this respectable twee existence.

Look deeper for longer.

That is by far the most honest accurate 'tell it like it is' statement I have read in a long time, it's almost become a Darby and Joan movement than the hard-core element I was certainly part of from 1976 to 2007, I think it's too late to change it or get back to how it should be, there has always been a commercial element connected to the scene it just seems more cynical now.

old northern dead and gone ouch! HA And that's my point the connection to shredded wheat is totally alien. Embracing and accepting change I am, but some change is too far fetched... have great day

Timi Yuro...your fav . Across the years we agree on something

 

Why the connection between this and the film though. One of the biggest criticisms of film is its too gritty.

 

Sounds like yet another beef?

That is by far the most honest accurate 'tell it like it is' statement I have read in a long time, it's almost become a Darby and Joan movement than the hard-core element I was certainly part of from 1976 to 2007, I think it's too late to change it or get back to how it should be, there has always been a commercial element connected to the scene it just seems more cynical now.

 

Dont you offer your services as a more commercial DJ now Mark. Seems a bit hypocritical does it not.

 

Too many people seem to want to have a dig at things these days, including myself sometimes, with nothing to back it up and little action to rectify it, and in reality no involvement in the real scene that struggles on.

I repeat if anyone thinks a shreddies advert impacts on Lifeline/Burney/100 Club/New Century Do's and the likes then they are further from the scene than they realise. From my gin soaked world, all I can see is people like me moaning about how crap "it" is but actually not having anything to do with "it".

 

Meanwhile the people who do get "it" just keep doing "it", probably occasionally glancing in here and smiling ironically!

Edited January 21, 201510 yr by jocko

Yep change is good, but lets not kid each other, lets not for a second think that Constantine and santucci didn't financially gain from this, a bit like some promoters in the 80's who were in it for the music... yeah right. when you can roar up to a funeral ahead of the Hearse on the churches car park in a bright yellow lotus then tell me it's not about status and money.

As in anything history matters. My thoughts were expressed because of the dubious strongly questionable connection between healthy eating and 'northern soul' thank you for giving me more to think about.

 

Thats the most rdiculoussly uninformed post ever. I know both very well, and know their story, Some of it is public now, so why don't you post your real name up and we can see why you have this beef. More to the point is also totally fuckwittedly irrellevant. Do you do your day job for free?

 

You were obviously around in the 80's/90's so we will know each other. Maybe then can have an intelligent chat rather than some second hand, and second name, calling. Its a pity, a very articulate, well argued and in most cases relevant post. Shame you ruined it by some personal beef you obviously have.

 

Methinks plenty angst, little facts.

Yep change is good, but lets not kid each other, lets not for a second think that Constantine and santucci didn't financially gain from this, a bit like some promoters in the 80's who were in it for the music... yeah right. when you can roar up to a funeral ahead of the Hearse on the churches car park in a bright yellow lotus then tell me it's not about status and money.

As in anything history matters. My thoughts were expressed because of the dubious strongly questionable connection between healthy eating and 'northern soul' thank you for giving me more to think about.

 

I think you're unfair to comment about people financially gaining from the scene without finding out about their involvement in it, especially when you do it on an internet forum, (a place where we can all hide behind pseudonyms and pretend histories) and clearly with only a few posts to your name. It's also clear from the tone of your post you have a particular beef with 'Constantine and Santucci'. That's your problem of course and one that's deeply yawn inducing.

 

It's funny that you should pick up on them in particular when other  well known long time scene members have been squeezing the northern soul angle for money for years, with their bootlegs, tat and inflated record prices, not to mention dodgy CD's sold at a premium, all grand exposure for such an underground scene. Where's the criticism of all the berks who have regularly paraded around on TV at the very mention of Wigan (and have been for years) declaring it all their idea and gurning for the camera every step of the way? How is any of this different from The Word, This England, Felix, Soulboy the movie, KFC or any of the rest of it? The cherry picking damages your argument irrevocably I think.

 

Cheers,

 

Joel

Edited January 21, 201510 yr by corbett80

Things are changing and the world is a different place to what it was - what you say about the soul scene is probably true and why it is / was brilliant and important; but this recent glut of media attention means nothing more than it is of passing interest to them. They'll  move on - come back - and move on again as they have with the mod scene for years.

 

Grow up, deal with it and get on with it in 2015.

Edited January 21, 201510 yr by corbett80

Dont you offer your services as a more commercial DJ now Mark. Seems a bit hypocritical does it not.

I did do yes but do nothing anymore really, hypocritical no I don't think so but can see how you would come to that conclusion, I totally respect and understand your comments here, however I still have a passion for the music commercial or otherwise but I do take your point that perhaps not really being involved anymore on the real scene as it were it's somewhat pointless having or offering what can be perceived as negative comments or opinion, but there is commercial and good and can you not have the same ethos and ethics with the more commercial side of things without selling your soul as it were. And for what it's worth I do get it Jock but again I take your point in the decent constructive way you intended it which is so right.

 

Too many people seem to want to have a dig at things these days, including myself sometimes, with nothing to back it up and little action to rectify it, and in reality no involvement in the real scene that struggles on.

I repeat if anyone thinks a shreddies advert impacts on Lifeline/Burney/100 Club/New Century Do's and the likes then they are further from the scene than they realise. From my gin soaked world, all I can see is people like me moaning about how crap "it" is but actually not having anything to do with "it".

 

Meanwhile the people who do get "it" just keep doing "it", probably occasionally glancing in here and smiling ironically!

Thats the most rdiculoussly uninformed post ever. I know both very well, and know their story, Some of it is public now, so why don't you post your real name up and we can see why you have this beef. More to the point is also totally fuckwittedly irrellevant. Do you do your day job for free?

 

You were obviously around in the 80's/90's so we will know each other. Maybe then can have an intelligent chat rather than some second hand, and second name, calling. Its a pity, a very articulate, well argued and in most cases relevant post. Shame you ruined it by some personal beef you obviously have.

 

Methinks plenty angst, little facts.

Thats the most rdiculoussly uninformed post ever. I know both very well, and know their story, Some of it is public now, so why don't you post your real name up and we can see why you have this beef. More to the point is also totally fuckwittedly irrellevant. Do you do your day job for free?

 

You were obviously around in the 80's/90's so we will know each other. Maybe then can have an intelligent chat rather than some second hand, and second name, calling. Its a pity, a very articulate, well argued and in most cases relevant post. Shame you ruined it by some personal beef you obviously have.

 

Methinks plenty angst, little facts.

Companies lining up to use 'fashionable' music. Constantine's money making love story, Shredded Wheat and Northern Soul... Northern Soul .... 

 

there is a world of difference between people putting their own money into a film project about music they love from a scene they were and still are involved  in and a bunch of pricks in loafers with no socks sniffing coke and choosing music on whim for their client. 

There is only one question left in my opinion , do you like your shredded wheat with hot or cold milk ?

No beef just replying to Len's denial of 'the definitive northern film' making money or enhancing status.... Elaine and Jan I will be seeing soon in Cheshire and anyone else at the funeral in question will know exactly my point.

I think that just 'knowing' people doesn't unfortunately prevent them from being discussed. The film is for commercial gain, the advert is for commercial gain that was the original connection. I maybe shouldn't have responded so vehemently to Len's personal opinion/defence of the duo behind the film but to suggest that the film was 'too gritty' they made no money, and that that captured my / our time as best it could was incorrect in my view... by all means remember but warts and all. Again I will say ....creativity without truth is nothing

If the Shredded Wheat advert upset you and you're not convinced that the Northern Soul film was made out of love and dedication then you must have burst a fuckin bloodvessel seeing Wigans Ovation on Top of the Pops - now that was cringeworthy!!

No beef just replying to Len's denial of 'the definitive northern film' making money or enhancing status.... Elaine and Jan I will be seeing soon in Cheshire and anyone else at the funeral in question will know exactly my point.

I think that just 'knowing' people doesn't unfortunately prevent them from being discussed. The film is for commercial gain, the advert is for commercial gain that was the original connection. I maybe shouldn't have responded so vehemently to Len's personal opinion/defence of the duo behind the film but to suggest that the film was 'too gritty' they made no money, and that that captured my / our time as best it could was incorrect in my view... by all means remember but warts and all. Again I will say ....creativity without truth is nothing

 

No problem with being discussed, some balance would be nice. No-one said anything about it not being for commercial gain, or indeed anything wrong with that. I would argue it was done purely for artistic merit, and to satisfy a driven ambition, like lots of talented people do, and any commercial reward is a bonus, I repeat do you your day job for nothing?The fact you completely ignore what is now public about how it was funded and the challenges that made, to make your bullish point, suggests you have a beef, you just don't know it.

 

Anything without truth is  invalid. And ironically you prove your point by negating your good points with stuff you are just making up.  Anyway, enough . I'll leave you to your anonomous crusade.  Look forward to seeing you on some other threads.

There is only one question left in my opinion , do you like your shredded wheat with hot or cold milk ?

 

Raw the morning after surely! Thats proper Northern.

I'm not sure what to say really, you have a view, that is fine -  I may be wrong here, but referring to people by their second name (in this instance) "Constantine and santucci", rather than 'Marco and Elaine', comes across as if you have a problem with them personally - I could be wrong, but that is how it comes across.

 

I stand by my view about the film on both fronts - I was surprised how good it was after my doubts, and it very nearly skinted them......They may well be in profit now, but that makes no difference, as in, it was a project Elaine wanted to complete, it was not done with financial gain as the driving force.

 

Something to add - I was outside The 100 Club chatting to Marco on the film launch night, and someone arrived having just seen it, and explained that everyone in the cinema gave it a huge round of applause - I witnessed Marco's very genuine reaction to what the guy said - he was touched.

 

All the best,

 

Len  

 

P.s - Do I know you in real life btw? (Just wondered)

Edited January 21, 201510 yr by LEN

There is only one question left in my opinion , do you like your shredded wheat with hot or cold milk ?

Cold Milk and loads of Sugar, on Wednesday Morning!

Cold Milk and loads of Sugar, on Wednesday Morning!

 

......followed by 15 packets of Pickled Onion Monster Munch - I can taste again!!!  

 

Len  

Edited January 21, 201510 yr by LEN

Never posted thread before. anonymous crusades? No just differences of opinion we can't all agree but i will tell you what is healthy.... debate and thankfully the ability to look deeper and not just believe all we read. Are you not anonymous also?

"Again I will say ....creativity without truth is nothing"

 

This strikes me as a very disingenuous line. But what does it really mean?

 

I think you mean that 'creativity without truth means nothing' - to you. What is absolute truth of the scene at the time - your own personal experience and testimony? There seem to be plenty who feel even Elaine's film is too dark and depressing to how they remember it (some even claiming there were NO drugs at these venues) - perhaps their truth is closer to the SW commercial or Soulboy?

No offence intended, that's the problem with the written word.. hadn't realised that 'Marco and Elaine' would be known to all by just their first names!!

Don't know Len? I'm of no significance other than I 1st attended catching a coach to Wigan in 1977, Denis and rob lee, gabby schiazza Yate,dave thorley Brian Rae jerry hipkiss, dave Cain, Ginge, Locarno, Leicester, geordie martin lorraine bennett Mud, pete lawson weasel, tommo Greenie, Elaine Val Martin, ozzie Stafford, little Annie Mickey cruise Duncan, mark bicknell (little cottage by the sea) Hi Jaqui!! Fat Daz jo, gilly lynn dean keb kitch julia, joan tony pickle sharon Leighton buzzard, sue the lovely sue and john bored now!! So would you know me?

No offence intended, that's the problem with the written word.. hadn't realised that 'Marco and Elaine' would be known to all by just their first names!!

Don't know Len? I'm of no significance other than I 1st attended catching a coach to Wigan in 1977, Denis and rob lee, gabby schiazza Yate,dave thorley Brian Rae jerry hipkiss, dave Cain, Ginge, Locarno, Leicester, geordie martin lorraine bennett Mud, pete lawson weasel, tommo Greenie, Elaine Val Martin, ozzie Stafford, little Annie Mickey cruise Duncan, mark bicknell (little cottage by the sea) Hi Jaqui!! Fat Daz jo, gilly lynn dean keb kitch julia, joan tony pickle sharon Leighton buzzard, sue the lovely sue and john bored now!! So would you know me?

 

No offence taken, just making sure I understand correctly.

 

Ok, no personal beef, just your view.

 

Everyone is of significance btw! I just wondered if I knew you (I may do as I know most who you have listed) Being anonymous has been discussed on another thread, and is absolutely an individuals choice - the benefits being that some may feel more comfortable putting their views across as such, and (as you pointed out) to look deeper at things.

 

Yes debate is good for us.

 

All the best,

 

Len  

Edited January 21, 201510 yr by LEN

No offence intended, that's the problem with the written word.. hadn't realised that 'Marco and Elaine' would be known to all by just their first names!!

Don't know Len? I'm of no significance other than I 1st attended catching a coach to Wigan in 1977, Denis and rob lee, gabby schiazza Yate,dave thorley Brian Rae jerry hipkiss, dave Cain, Ginge, Locarno, Leicester, geordie martin lorraine bennett Mud, pete lawson weasel, tommo Greenie, Elaine Val Martin, ozzie Stafford, little Annie Mickey cruise Duncan, mark bicknell (little cottage by the sea) Hi Jaqui!! Fat Daz jo, gilly lynn dean keb kitch julia, joan tony pickle sharon Leighton buzzard, sue the lovely sue and john bored now!! So would you know me?

I recon I might lol some rascals there. My opinion is the scene has changed. But if like me you like the warts and all and proper soul folk. Then enter the shadows, cross to the dark side and enjoy your soul scene the like minded people. You only live once and as Freddie Williams says gonna live live live while while I can.The publicity will pass along with the onlookers. atb kimbo

It's just to fluffy these days and dumbed down!

People even look down on drug taking.

Steve

Having read through the comments on this forum I just wonder whether the "Northern Soul Scene" is becoming in danger of taking itself far too seriously?  In-fighting....is that what it's come to?  Is anybody really THAT bothered?   Just enjoy it!  

Having read through the comments on this forum I just wonder whether the "Northern Soul Scene" is becoming in danger of taking itself far too seriously?  In-fighting....is that what it's come to?  Is anybody really THAT bothered?   Just enjoy it!  

 

Behave    There,s always been in fighting all part of the fun .

 

Its a great scene but without its flaws ,diversity and squabbles it would be a bit boring

Having read through the comments on this forum I just wonder whether the "Northern Soul Scene" is becoming in danger of taking itself far too seriously?  In-fighting....is that what it's come to?  Is anybody really THAT bothered?   Just enjoy it!  

 

In danger? I took it seriously from my very first moment........I enjoy it sometimes  

 

All the best,

 

Len  

You seriously comparing Elaine and Marco to a dodgy 80s promoter? They put everything they had on the line to give us one of the only representations that isn't fluffy and safe and that's why its pi££ed off so many on the nice cuddly nostalgia scene. To be honest they've both got a decent business and certainly didn't need to throw all on the line for a bit more wedge. 

 

And to be honest - I wonder how much they really did make after paying back the mortgage, buying back all they sold to make it and seeing right the investors. 

 

as far as status, don't think either of them need a boost, both well respected long term soul heads. 

 

 

Yep change is good, but lets not kid each other, lets not for a second think that Constantine and santucci didn't financially gain from this, a bit like some promoters in the 80's who were in it for the music... yeah right. when you can roar up to a funeral ahead of the Hearse on the churches car park in a bright yellow lotus then tell me it's not about status and money.
As in anything history matters. My thoughts were expressed because of the dubious strongly questionable connection between healthy eating and 'northern soul' thank you for giving me more to think about.

Do you consider the film a glossy representation too? Whacking up, toe to toeing on the way to a nighter, paranoia, knocking gear - not the things of a care bear movie are they.

 

I too can't stand the twee, happy happy joy joy portrayal of adverts, Ogrady, nice safe interviews etc but lumping the only represention that shows the rougher side conflicts with your desire to have the less than acceptable past and whole scene out there. 

 

It's not that I don't want the 'whole world' involved... ha my records would go up even more in value and thats my pension! its that I need truth and clarity of the 'whole' scene not some glossy version acceptable to the masses. Use the music by all means but Shredded wheat and Dave? really? Is it only the likes of that thoroughly nice guy that is palatable for viewing?.. Because his clean cut, settled, healthy, wealthy (his clothes aren't cheap) image is not the average soul boy of my experience, and its its less than acceptable past that is now dismissed from sight. Creativity without truth is nothing.
Yep always stopped off at the services for a hearty bowl of cereal

You've just named a big bunch of mine and Jocks mates. Ask some of them (Kitch, Julia, Lorraine, Gilly, Daz, Elaine, Val for example) if they think Marco and Elaine were in it for the bucks. Known to them by first name terms as they've done nighters with us for years.

 

You might have even been at Kitchs 50th last Saturday with most of us above and of course Jock?

No offence intended, that's the problem with the written word.. hadn't realised that 'Marco and Elaine' would be known to all by just their first names!!
Don't know Len? I'm of no significance other than I 1st attended catching a coach to Wigan in 1977, Denis and rob lee, gabby schiazza Yate,dave thorley Brian Rae jerry hipkiss, dave Cain, Ginge, Locarno, Leicester, geordie martin lorraine bennett Mud, pete lawson weasel, tommo Greenie, Elaine Val Martin, ozzie Stafford, little Annie Mickey cruise Duncan, mark bicknell (little cottage by the sea) Hi Jaqui!! Fat Daz jo, gilly lynn dean keb kitch julia, joan tony pickle sharon Leighton buzzard, sue the lovely sue and john bored now!! So would you know me?

Bloody hell Byrney you had three shreded wheat for brecy .

Bit rough when you crank them

Bloody hell Byrney you had three shreded wheat for brecy .

It is incredibly difficult to make a dramatisation of any emotionally felt subject. To condense this life into a two hour show that had to appeal to a mass market and keep the sources integrity was nie on impossible... Then to sell the idea takes great personable skill, artistic license, ego hype, hence the we nearly lost everything, and arrogance to some degree.... that is not criticism that's sales.

But most of all it had to be commercially viable and THAT is the point I make... That Northern Soul was misunderstood, condemned, secretive, not acceptable at the time the 70's 80's drug culture was one of hidden shame and public condemnation, you lost your job, family and in some instances your freedom to indulge and share in this life. I think I object most strongly to the now portrayal of respectability without mention of the hardships so many people endured for the love and the devotion to this life choice. I still think its questionable to make money on the back of others loss without acknowledgment. That is my opinion and comments recieved show Im not alone in thinking that these commercial ventures are being seen for what they are... Change does come but at a price I am not prepared to ignore just to have this amazing experience appeal to the masses

Northern Soul .... Companies lining up to use 'fashionable' music. Constantine's money making love story, Shredded Wheat and Northern Soul... Synonymous with a healthy lifestyle?  Someone didn't do their research. 

There is a lifetime spent from teenage years joining a movement with very little parental knowledge, intervention or in my case care. This underground scene was forged for reasons of social acceptability, to challenge authority, thankfully it needed no money to join, and the countrywide connections made, (a time pre internet,mobiles) ensured there was always someone to help with costs, travelling, entrance fee, drugs. 

'People' will talk about it just being about the music... It was so much more than that, Friday night all nighter Saturday night all nighter Sunday all dayer, travelling the length and breadth of the country, scoring drugs, losing jobs, relationships made and broken due to the hardships of committing to living the life.

And that music, something about that music... if it gets you...its for life.

Dancing all night and day, singing til your throat is hoarse, no sleep, little eating, LIVING exciting daring challenging definitely not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

Drugs were widely used by the majority and acceptable in this closed society,police drug squads set up specifically for controlling the Northern scene, chemists regularly ransacked, people died on dance floors and 30 years on the people that 'left the scene to raise families' quote unquote are stable, socially acceptable, caricatures NOW financially able to cultivate a 'look',  family raised, able to join a scene that at times, heartbreakingly so, survived underground in between those years....

There is a whole age being glossed over, churned, and spat out as this respectable twee existence.

Look deeper for longer.

 

You blandly talk about The Truth. There is no truth per se. There are only versions of the Truth.

 

Let's say a person had a drug-free "soul journey". There were some you know that. Is his version of the truth any less important than yours? I'm sure you will say "but the majority took drugs so that's the real truth." I'm inclined to say that being drug free made him the real rebel and his is therefore the more important truth.

 

You'll get my drift.

Nothing lasts forever. It's not the same as it was because nothing can be.

I have no liking for what is being played today. I moan about it, but I moan about everything. I just don't go out anymore.

The only person who can make a film that tells it like it was for you, is you.

Why do I still come on here and get involved? F**k knows.

Edited January 22, 201510 yr by Quinvy

Nothing lasts forever. It's not the same as it was because nothing can be.

I have no liking for what is being played today. I moan about it, but I moan about everything. I just don't go out anymore.

The only person who can make a film that tells it like it was for you, is you.

Why do I still come on here and get involved? F**k knows.

 

So you can have a good old moan Phil, of course…….

Just came across this creepy thread and, for the record, thought I'd let anyone who was labouring under the impression that Elaine and I are swanning around in anything other than our 20 year-old Fiat, cutting up hearses to make a dramatic entrance, while swigging from bottles of vintage Crystal etc etc., that to date we have recouped somewhere between 8 and 10% of what we invested in the film. Given that it's done 90% of it's business already it's highly unlikely we'll ever get back our investment, never mind any profit. Just sayin'...

 

On top of that, Elaine has turned down all offers of paying work (of which there have been many) that have anything to do with NS.