Billy Bragg(I)
- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
Billy Bragg - the so-called 'Bard of Barking' - came to widespread
attention as a sort of one-man Clash, busking around Britain, with a
guitar and portable amp. Having briefly joined the Army, Bragg formed a
punk band, Riff Raff, but it was not until he released his first
mini-LP, "Life's a Riot" on the small Utility label, that he first
troubled the UK charts with the protest EP, "Between the Wars". Further
minor chart success followed (including an unlikely number 1 with a
charity cover version of the Beatles' "She's Leaving Home" and a
collaboration with members of REM) and critical acclaim was never far
away. Bragg was a founder member of Red Wedge, the music coalition
which supported the Labour Party in the 1987 election, and a supporter
of many humanitarian and left-wing causes, but has since withdrawn
overt support for New Labour. Settled down and with a small son, Jack,
Bragg has completed the "William Bloke" LP and toured.
