Never mind the b*******, what about the disabled fans, ask punk rockers

Published on Sunday 19 July 2009 22:15

A CAMPAIGN has been launched in Scotland to stop people with disabilities having to leave gigs early when their carers' shifts end.

Heavy Load, the UK's first punk band which includes musicians with learning disabilities, started their Stay Up Late campaign after noticing members of the audience disappearing before the night got going.

"We were getting asked to go on earlier and we thought that wasn't very rock 'n' roll. That was the catalyst," said Paul Richards, the band's bass player.

The band played at Glastonbury last month, have released two albums, were invited to play at punk rock bar Arlene's Grocery in Manhattan – which has hosted REM – and have featured in an award-winning on-the-road documentary by Jeremy Rothwell.

"Our entire philosophy has grown out of an 'up yours' punk rock attitude," said Mr Richards. "We want to be seen first as a band, not as disability advocates. As far as we're concerned, everyone has the right to party.

"Support workers have a lot of power, but we know people can't work every hour god sends.

"But there are examples of support workers being flexible and starting their shift later to let people stay up late. It's not something we want them to do every day of the week."

Mr Richards said the band had decided to play punk music partly because one of their members was prone to shouting out "inappropriate" remarks or swearwords.

The five-man band comprises Mr Richards, who works for Southdown housing association which houses vulnerable people in Sussex; Michael White, drummer, Simon Barker, singer, Jimmy Nichols, guitarist, who all have learning disabilities; and Mick Williams, a former Southdown housing worker.

Details of the band's Scottish tour gigs will be put on the stayuplate.org website in October.

Fin Wilson, bass player with Edinburgh-based indie-rock-punk band Isa and the Filthy Tongues, said: "The campaign is really intriguing. There's no reason why people shouldn't be allowed to stay out.

"Punk has always had a 'get up and do it yourself' mentality and has always embraced social misfits and people from different backgrounds. Heavy Load are doing the right thing by being upfront.

"I have always been wary of bands which pin their colours to the mast for publicity, but this is something entirely different."

Corneilius Pierce, aka DJ Omega Male, who will be running club nights at the Bang Bang Club at the Gilded Balloon during the Fringe next month, said: "I used to work as a personal assistant with disabled people and take them to venues. There were a few nights when jaws dropped when someone with cerebral palsy turned up but after about 20 minutes and a couple of songs in, you'd see people thinking, 'What am I doing thinking like that?'."

Stephen Smellie, chair of Unison's Scottish social work issues group, said: "Access to the same social activities as able-bodied fans is completely in line with campaigns which Unison's disabled members have been running for years.

"Of course it is important carers and personal assistants are paid properly and given proper rest periods, too."

IN TUNE WITH GOOD CAUSES

BANDS and musicians have campaigned across a wide range of issues from poverty to sex trafficking.

&#149 Live Aid, held on 13 July 1985, was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. More than 400 millions television viewers in 60 countries watched concerts held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. The concerts raised over 150m.

&#149 Franz Ferdinand have supported a range of anti-poverty campaigns, and last month they were the headliners at the first in a new series of gigs in aid of the anti-racism campaign RoAR (Rock Against Racism).

&#149 Annie Lennox set up the SING campaign which raises funds and awareness to help prevent the spread of HIV in South Africa.

&#149 The Killers,right, joined UNICEF and USAID to produce a music video to highlight the dangers and impact of human trafficking.

&#149 The Pretenders' singer Chrissie Hynde campaigns against animal cruelty.