Today, numerous exhibitions across the country showcase photos, articles, books, and other works that document the period from the late 1970s to the 1980s, a time when people fought against Racism and Oppression. Now the world is once more in peril. In the mid to late 1960s, after a time of living in bed-sits, friends’ sofas and the occasional Park bench or Railway Station, I moved into the area known by the locals as The Grove, situated between Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Grove, London W2, with Portobello Road running as if the spine of the community. Below – 113 St Stevens Gardens. W2. I lived there from 1966 to 1972.

Below. Then I moved with my Son, Sam, aged 5, to All Saints Road, next door to The Mangrove. There was often a gathering in that street. I had good people all around.

Below. My very early days, my second Band. The Race. 1965/8 Singing at The Marquee on Wardour Street in Soho.

Although we began to pack out gigs on the circuit, we were not signed. The Bands that were getting those deals/contracts were, in the main, 4 or 5 white men. Various management companies and agents asked me to get rid of the black Musicians, otherwise they couldn’t sell me. We did make one single. https://wordpress.com/post/carolgrimes.com/21938.

Red Saunders and Rodger Huddle came to visit me in my flat next door to The Mangrove. We had a long talk. RAR was up and running. The first RAR gig with my musical pals was at The Princess Alice Pub in Forest Gate, East London. The Band at that time included Henry McCullough from Northern Ireland, formerly of Eire Apparent, Grease Band and Wings. At the time, we were in a roving band of other musical scallywags. All at the mercy of that business called – Music. Then, of course, others tell a different tale. Who was I? Those early Gigs for RAR, some guys claim to this day, were the ones that kicked it all off. And who was I? I was just a woman—a woman of no consequence.

Later, RAR recorded an album with various bands. I was afraid to share my songs and poems in those times. In most situations, it was the men who wrote the songs. As I had been barely educated, I had a big fear of making a fool of myself! Of course, I met inspiring musicians along the road, who inspired and encouraged me to write my own stuff. So I pulled them out from inside my head and underneath the bed. My life changed. The words poured out …..From childhood memories. I regret not sharing my words and songs in those days. Gradually, I plucked up the courage to write my own words and melodies.

The Mau Mau track above. From Recordings in the 1980s, Eyes Wide Open. user1698211

When I was a child growing up in the 50s –
I remember the Mau Mau.
Portrayed in the newsreels. I heard it on the radio.
I saw it in the papers – Savage hoards of cannibals.
People who killed and plundered, raiding white people’s homes and lands.

Mau Mau was the bogeyman!
The dark reason for my fears in dreams.
Flashing eyes, spears, and deafening screams.
They crashed through jungles and crept across the lands —
Silently in the night, it comes to get me while I’m in my bed.
And I was afraid.
Why did nobody tell me?
Who was Mau Mau and why?

On a hot earth still throbbing with the heat of bloody turmoil.
Cities, whose riches and splendour are denied to those who built them
with their sweat and their pain.

But spirits don’t die – They cry but don’t die.

Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Piccolo Flute – Simon Clark*
Backing Vocals – Didi Hopkins, Dyan Birch, Hanna Wilson, Johnny Meringues, Josefina Cupido
Congas, Percussion – Neville Murray
Double Bass – Mario Castronari
Drums, Percussion – Mike Bradley
Electric Bass – Andy Herbert
Flute – Angele Veltmeyer
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Maciek Hrybowicz
Horns – The Kick Horns
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Steve Lodder
Producer – Alastair Gavin (tracks: 2 to 11), Maciek Hrybowicz* (tracks: 1)
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Tim Sanders
Trombone – Paul Nieman
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Roddy Lorimer
Vocals, Percussion – Carol Grimes

A letter to The Press. August 2018.

Rock Against Racism Forest Gate gig By Neandra Etienne 30 October 2021

On Friday, 12 November 1976, at the Princess Alice, Carol Grimes and the Boogie Band performed at the first Rock Against Racism gig (RAR), organised by Roger Huddle, Red Saunders, local anti-racists and a few dock workers.

At the time, the popularity of the National Front (NF) had increased via the ballot box, on the streets and at West Ham United football ground. To counter their presence, Roger and the Anti-Nazi League (ANL) started to leaflet the football fans. He said:

“When we first leafleted as the ANL, most fans were very pleased to see us, which once again showed that the NF were feared but not supported by everyone.”

The NF blamed Black and Asian people for the cuts in social spending and rising unemployment. This led to increased attacks on these ethnic groups. The situation was not helped by musician Eric Clapton, who made a racist rant during a Birmingham concert in August 1976. He called for the repatriation of all immigrants and gave support to the far-right racist Tory Enoch Powell. Roger explains why it was important to make a stand against the NF by forming RAR as a political movement:

“We knew what the NF stood for from studying Hitler and Germany in the 1930s. The NF’s hatred of all things foreign, including Black music. “It seemed a good idea to hold a gig claiming diversity and cultural unity against the ideas of the NF. We decided right from the beginning to call it Rock Against Racism: Reggae Soul Rock ‘n’ Roll, Jazz Funk Punk – Our Music.”

Roger and Red launched their book Reminiscences of RAR: Rock Against Racism 1976-1982 on 12 November 2016. They asked 71 people to write their memories of the period and published them alphabetically as written.

Roger and Red also contributed to White Riot, a 2019 documentary film about Rock Against Racism. Roger feels that RAR helped to destabilise the NF:

“Across the country, we broke the NF, sending them into the dustbin of history. Music changed; the diversity of our everyday lives was reflected in the culture. Racism ebbs and flows and must always be fought. We were part of the history of that fight.” There was a second gig at the Royal College of Art in December that year and a third on May Day 1977 at the Roundhouse.

Dear all our fellow authors, things are moving very fast at the moment, and we face the resurgence of Fascist organisations here in Britain. Below is a letter drafted by some founders of RAR and the ANL calling for wider anti fascist action.
Statement from the founder members of ANL & RAR. All of us who are committed to a tolerant, multiracial and multicultural society face a growing and serious challenge from the alt-right and fascist right in the UK. Encouraged by Donald Trump and his close associate Steve Bannon, the release from jail of former EDL leader Tommy Robinson, the storming of Bookmarks – the socialist bookshop, and the disturbingly large mobilisations on the streets of London, Leeds, Manchester and elsewhere underline the scale of the threat. Boris Johnson’s recent racist and Islamophobic remarks are a calculated bid in the same direction. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell’s recent statements calling for an Anti-Nazi League-type cultural and political campaign are very welcome and timely. We need a broader-based, imaginative and vibrant campaign that unequivocally opposes all forms of racism, islamophobia and antisemitism.

As founder members over 40 years ago of both the original Anti-Nazi League and its sister organisation Rock Against Racism, we think that Stand Up To Racism, Love Music Hate Racism, and Unite Against Fascism have been established within this tradition, and indeed, these organisations have already provided essential and much-needed rallying points of opposition to the far right. This is a process which, as John argues, now urgently needs to be deepened and extended, uniting all people and organisations of goodwill against the enormous challenges we face over the next few years from the alt and fascist Right. This will involve applying the tactics of the ANL of mass propaganda for the 21st century and an unrelenting opposition to the racists and fascists wherever they organise, with the cultural appeal of ANL/ RAR of large-scale music and similar events in asserting the values of our multiracial and diverse society.

We believe this needs to be done with the utmost speed. Tommy Robinson and his international backers are preparing a national and international tour this autumn, seeking to build support and influence. Developments in Germany, Austria, Hungary and Italy highlight how urgent this now is. Echoes of the 1930s are all too real. Whatever our other political differences, we believe the time to come together against the deadly bacillus of racism and fascism is now. Please add your name to the unity statement published by Stand Up to Racism and thereby strengthen us all in building opposition to a new but equally dangerous common enemy. Paul Holborrow, Roger Huddle, Carol Grimes, Red Saunders. Reply to me and/or go to: http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/press-release-john-mcdonnell-anti-nazi-league/

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell’s recent call for an Anti-Nazi League-type cultural and political campaign is therefore very welcome and timely. We need a broader-based, imaginative and vibrant campaign that unequivocally opposes all forms of racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism.

As founder members over 40 years ago of the original Anti-Nazi League (ANL) and its sister organisation Rock Against Racism, we think that Stand up to Racism, Love Music Hate Racism and Unite Against Fascism have been established firmly within this tradition, and indeed these organisations have already provided essential and much-needed rallying points of opposition to the rising far right. This is a process that, as John argues, now urgently needs to be deepened and extended, uniting all people and organisations of goodwill against the huge challenges we face over the next few years from the far right and fascists. This will involve applying the ANL’s tactics of mass propaganda, unrelenting opposition to the racists and fascists wherever they organise, and the cultural appeal that ANL/RAR pioneered, with large-scale music and similar events asserting the values of our multiracial and diverse society.

We believe this needs to be done with the utmost speed. Tommy Robinson and his international backers are likely to be preparing further national and international events in the autumn, seeking to build support and influence. Developments in Germany, Austria, Hungary and Italy highlight how urgent this is. Echoes of the 1930s are all too real. Whatever our other political differences, we believe the time to come together against the poison of racism and fascism is now.

Peter Hain House of Lords; founder member, Anti-Nazi League 
Paul Holborow Founder member and national secretary, Anti-Nazi League 
Red Saunders Founder, Rock Against Racism 
Roger Huddle Founder, Rock Against Racism 
Jerry Dammers Musician, The Specials, 2 Tone, Rock Against Racism 
Carol Grimes Musican, Rock Against Racism 
Tom Robinson Musician, Rock against Racism 
Mykaell Riley Musician, Bass Culture, Steel Pulse, Rock Against Racism

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Above. The Round House, Chalk Farm. London, one of the 1st few gigs for RAR. 2 amazing drummers! Greedy me. Glen Lefleur and Mitch Mitchell, of the Jimi Hendrix band fame.

Below. My community, 1960/70s St Stevens Gardens & 8a All Saints Road. 1st Pics. A Benefit for the Powis Square Play Hut. Sam is on his Drum kit, and Louis is on the Congas. I met Louis in Earls Court during my bed-sit days or crashing on friends’ floors. He was also a very good baker!

Above. Neil Hubbard, Guitar, Louis Congas RIP. Sam, my son, plays the drum kit. Dee, one of the finest men I’ve ever met. RIP. The community gathering to raise money for a play hut in Powis Square for the local kids.

BELOW – our home in All Saints Road.

Outside our yellow door. Susie and Sam. Below- the kids hanging out. The days when the community watched out for our collection of kids. Sam, Dee’s Boys, Tristram and Tarquin. Neil Hubbard from The Grease Band and then Kokomo

Dee and me down in Wales, where I had a caravan.

Below. A few books where my life lies within.

Below. Some of the books which my life collided with the writers contained within.

Below A few benefit gigs in those days

Below. A few projects at The Drill Hall Arts Centre. London. With Hannah Wilson, Annie Whitehead, Josefina Cupido & Gail Ann Dorsey, and me.

Below Soul Britannia. With Root Jackson, Linda Lewis, Madeline Bell, Hamish Stuart ……

For more, see. – https://wordpress.com/post/carolgrimes.com/12298

Below. Scene on the Green, Stoke Newington 1989.

With Juliet Roberts, Ian Shaw, Me & Charlie Ezikea

https://wordpress.com/post/carolgrimes.com/12422

Project Above. & below with Najma & Jannette.

Below – more gigs shouting about injustice. And I began to go out and about with my Poems. I put my brave pants on!

A wonderful project, one of many, with Rock School and the Princes Trust.

Below – Singing under the Lions in Trafalgar Square for Bengali friends… A Community Centre in Whitechapel, London. Sam, by then, was a Punk! With Dave Vasco, Shelly Morris, Ollie Marland, George Butler, and Colin Bass.

Below are a few interesting events. 2020s

https://wordpress.com/post/carolgrimes.com/9937

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