TEDxSalford - John Robb - Punk Rock and DIY Creativity

John Robb is the vocalist for the punk rock band "Goldblade". Based in Manchester, he has also written several books on music and frequently appears as a journalist/commentator on documentary/light entertainment music shows. Robb was inspired by the DIY ethic of punk to form Membranes in 1977, the band releasing several albums in the 1980s. In 1994 he formed Goldblade, who have released several albums including 2005′s Rebel Songs and 2008′s 'Mutiny' and single "City Of Christmas Ghosts" featuring Poly Styrene on shared vocals. Robb has appeared as a pundit on many television programmes including Channel 4′s "top 100″ shows, BBC's I Love the 60s/70s/80s/90s series and Seven Ages of Rock, as well as offering expert pop culture opinion on several TV debate shows and both BBC and Channel 4 news. He has contributed to BBC 2′s The Culture Show as well as several appearances on TV documentaries, and he is also a regular on BBC radio commenting on pop culture. He has been a regular contributor to Sky's The Pop Years and co-produced and presented a ten-part series on the history of punk rock.
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[@jimkellywhat]

I'm 13 and I love him and his views of music. My dad was the 13 year old drummer in his blackpool band, 'the membranes'.

[@sovaine]

A very articulate and honest guy....he really does wear his heart on his sleeve 👍.

[@vomerconch9795]

Doing an article for school based on the original waves of punk in the 70's and this guy is such a great insight into that world

[@nekomandel]

This is a truly amazing TED talk. Very inspiring!

[@thekatie40]

Very humble intelligent man, i would love to do a tour of his brain if it was possible to replicate it into a building so i could walk about looking hearing and feeling his thoughts and memory's. I love the way he's all about the passion and just doing it. He looks great for 50, very handsome. Very interesting and inspirational man, should be more well known but maybe that would take away some of his authenticity. Great Ted lecture, they know how to pick them.

[@bones1026]

tf

[@korynnininm]

Being raised by a punk dad a hippie mom its kinda hard for a lot of things to rub off

[@watitduful]

Very cool dude! One of the things I like about punk, aside from the diy emphasis, is the room to embrace the imperfections of oneself and others. Even in terms of attraction, I’m not a “punk” in terms of everything that encompasses it, I’ve always dug women who were punk. Never really into the Cinderella “oh I broke a nail” thing as it comes off as more pretentious. I dig the “here I am as I am” vibe as well as the boots and spikes.
In any event, punk resonates with me in principle as I’m a free spirited person as well and value creativity, diy, and all the rest of that.

[@GhibliFan1]

After Tony Wilson, this is next (if lesser known) "Mr Manchester". Having lived in Hulme for a few years in the past, I can hand on heart say that John's a great lad... always a smile and a hello when you pass him on the street. He lives and breathes music and there is zero music snobbery... he has time for all genres apart from cynically manufactured, talentless pop. Exactly how a good critic should be.

[@RecalcitrantEgg]

this speaks to me. well said.

[@sali7857]

i cant wait to read his book now!! hes so right on point on everything i feel exactly the same way about music!!

[@jellokween1680]

I love vi subversa 😍 being an older lady didn't stop her, such freedom 🙂

[@alastor2322]

I'm totally in agreement with John-i am same age and of the same generation-there istoo little spontaneity in music today-i loved that line-you don't like what's going on and you make a noise about it-wished i heard more genuine noise like that-there's plenty to contest-we could easy sleep walk into an eco apocalypse-we also could do with a younger generation getting a spiritual perspective and genuinely wanting to be more collective-i read about a hippy in california who formed a commune back in the 60's in an obit today-he stayed faithful to ideas of peace and love-till the end-Neo hippy dudes-we could do with

[@thekatie40]

Always a pleasure to listen to John Rob, very interesting man

[@mymusicbymemusic]

DIY 'til I die. Not that the music industry would want me, but at least it's mutual. Punk rock, house music, "noise," and early hip-hop were the last populist (or "folk") music forms.

[@gazriley624]

His old band The Membranes used to play Liverpool all the time in the early 80's

[@korynnininm]

When I see this guy I think class this is one classy man

[@Zen-rw2fz]

>calling a punk classy

[@TheJoecardiff]

Zen yep

[@gazriley624]

Goldblade - Liverpool & manchester band

[@djphineart]

Great talk and something that is missing from today's consumers of mass produced crap

[@jcuk000]

This is a great piece. Thanks!

[@currychips]

Word.

[@startervisions]

This is gospel to me

[@ahsjsjsdhrhjrjrii911]

I'm making my own music it's not that good tbh but like it's so much better for me to make music than to not make music