Formerly Known as The Rights of Fans
Nearly fifty years after The Clash recorded Cheat, its cynical message about inequality, dishonesty and getting ahead remains remarkably relevant. As young Europeans protest over housing, education and opportunities, this forgotten punk classic raises an uncomfortable question: has society really progressed, or are we still fighting the same battles?
From The Clash's Janie Jones to memories of Uncle Ron's white Ford Cortina, a nostalgic journey through Britain's favourite family car. Ten fascinating facts about the Cortina, its remarkable history, racing success and the car that defined a generation.
Part two of my reinvention of every song on the iconic The Clash by The Clash classic album. Protex Blue.
A darkly comic reinterpretation of Janie Jones, exploring youthful rebellion, criminal incompetence and dreams of rock ’n’ roll. Two bored teenage accountants, a punk gig, a Ford Cortina and a spectacularly stupid petrol station robbery.
How a bored office worker, a Ford Cortina, a notorious prostitution scandal and a rebellious cabaret singer came together in one of punk rock's greatest songs.
Was Led Zeppelin's Communication Breakdown one of the first punk songs? From Johnny Ramone to Killing Joke, the surprising connections between Zeppelin and punk rock.
How a gentlemen’s toilet in a West London pub may have inspired one of punk rock’s most famous songs, Protex Blue
This is Patch, my two month old rhubarb plant by Chris Harris Mention rhubarb and most of us immediately think of pudding. Rhubarb crumble drowning in custard. Rhubarb pie. Stewed rhubarb with enough sugar to make your dentist wince. Rhubarb and ginger jam. These days we instinctively put rhubarb alongside apples, strawberries, plums and other … Continue reading Rhubarb: The Poisonous Vegetable and Laxative We Somehow Turned Into Pudding
by Chris Harris In December 2025 an application by Lidl to build a new superstore on the old Caffyns site was turned down. That same month, an application from Aldi to expand its store, literally a stone's throw away from the proposed Lidl site, was approved. Was this a coincidence or the dark arts? The … Continue reading Coincidence or Commercial Ambush? The Curious Battle Between Aldi and Lidl in Lewes
A personal appreciation of The Ruts' classic Staring at the Rude Boys, the connections between punk, reggae and ska, and why The Crack remains one of the greatest punk albums ever recorded. by Chris Harris etc There are certain records that seem to encapsulate an entire period of British music within a few short minutes, … Continue reading Staring at the Rude Boys: The Ruts, Punk, Ska and One of the Greatest Singles Ever Recorded
by Chris Harris The Toads World Championship. From Sussex Alehouses to South American Taverns From Toads to Sapo and Tejo Walk into the right Sussex pub and you may still find it lurking in a corner: heavy brass discs, a scarred lead board and battered scoreboards hanging on walls stained by decades of smoke and … Continue reading Toads: The Sussex Pub Game That Secretly Escaped to South America
by Chris Harris The word “hamburger” has nothing to do with ham. It derives from Hamburg, Germany, where in the 18th and 19th centuries a dish known as Hamburg steak was widely eaten. This consisted of minced or finely chopped beef, seasoned and shaped into patties, valued for being both filling and practical. German migrants … Continue reading Why Hamburgers Are Made of Beef — And How They Took Over the World