Anarchy In The Uk, blimey. What a game changer that was.
I know this is basically the same world that existed before I heard this song coming out of a transistor radio but it definately feels like a different planet. I was not expecting to find this book reprinted within the Cornelius Calendar but there you. Like The Spanish Inquisition, MIchael Moorcock will turn up when you least expect him. Sort Off. Anyway, here it was. The novelization of The Great Rock And Roll Swindle. Based on who knows what. A description of the trailer probably. In the film Steve Jones is hot on the trail of Malcolm McClaron who cleverly manages to stay ahead of him by not even trying to hide. Or some such plot device. Or some dvice wrapped up in a plot. The lessons of the swindle are here but not much else I remember from that movie. There are a few moments while reading it I thought "Oh that is what that scene meant.." Although anyone reading this and who is expecting Michael Moorcock to provide a Rosetta stone trnslation or explanation of that film, and that period in musical history, had best look elsewhere. It does not exist beyond the screenplay. And even that feels suspiciously like something plucked from hindsight.
Still, i did enjoy reading it. Starting on it just after twelve the other night and not sleeping til I finished. The room I was reading it in had a few momentos from back in the day, some Sex Pistol bits and pieces and I was reminded how much I liked the animated sequences in the Julien Temple movie. Probably forced by the nessecity of budget restaints but I thought they were just great. Like the old Kenny Everet Captain Kremen sequences. If they had ever done a Doctor Who animated series with Tom Baker it would have been a dream to do it like this. Michael Moorcock would have scripted it beautifully. I read his amazing Doctor Who book a few years ago which I thought felt like a Michael Moorcock book that The Doctor and Amy were in rather than a Doctor Who book written by Michael Moorcock. I was lucky enough to be gifted an audio version of the book narrated by Clive Mantle which I higly recommend. If you do not own a type 40 Tardis this will take you places. Also kind of fond of the sight of malcolm Mclaren mugging it up in Highgate Cemetery." ..You need hands..." Think he ended up buried there.
Anyway, it was a treat to find this book inside this book collection. The chances of me finding a copy of the original are pretty remote. After all, if I had it I doubt I would part with it.I bet this one smelled of electrical dodgem static, toffee apples and anarchy.
