Brit wits : a history of British rock humor / by Iain Ellis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ellis, Iain.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Humor in music.

Rock music--Great Britain.

Rock music.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (216 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Bristol [England] : Intellect, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Humor, as much as any other trait, defines British cultural identity. It is "crucial in the English sense of nation," argues humor scholar Andy Medhurst; "To be properly English you must have a sense of humor," opines historian Antony Easthope. Author Zadie Smith perceives British humor as a national coping mechanism, stating, "You don't have to be funny to live here, but it helps." Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten concurs, commenting, "There's a sense of comedy in the English that even in your grimmest moments you laugh"". Although humor invariably functions as a relief valve for the Britis

Contents:

Front Cover; Half Title; Title; Copyright; CONTENTS; INTRODUCTION: BRITISH, ROCK, HUMOR; MANIFESTATIONS ACROSS THE NATION; HOME IS WHERE THE HUMOR IS; COORDINATES AND DETERMINANTS; THE INS AND OUTS; 1. STARTING POINTS; Chapter 1: MUSIC HALL COMEDY; George Formby; Chapter 2: THE FIFTIES; AMERICAN DREAMING; Lonnie Donegan; Chapter 3: THE SIXTIES; ACCENT-UATIONS; The Beatles; The Kinks; WACKY WHIMSY; Pink Floyd; Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band; CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES; David Bowie, Part One; Chapter 4: THE SEVENTIES; GLAM BAM!; David Bowie, Part Two; Roxy Music; GOIN' DOWN TH' PUBS; Ian Dury

NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS, HERE'S BRITISH PUNKSex Pistols; The Slits; PUNK POETRY; John Cooper Clarke; THE NUTTY SOUND; Madness; Chapter 5: THE EIGHTIES; NEW ROMANTICS; ABC; NEW TRADITIONALISTS; The Smiths; Billy Bragg; POP GO THE SCOTS; The Proclaimers; MANC LADS; The Macc Lads; Happy Mondays; Chapter 6: THE NINETIES; GIRL POWER!; Spice Girls; COOL BRITANNIA; Blur; Pulp; TECHNO-SHOCK THERAPY; The KLF; Chapter 7: THE NAUGHTIES; 2-STEPPIN' OUT; The Streets; LONDON'S ANTI-DIVAS; Lily Allen; BRITPOP'S UP AGAIN; Arctic Monkeys; Art Brut; WELSH WITS; Chapter 8: CLOSING POINTS ...; NOTES; Back Cover

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781841506715

1841506710

OCLC:

794328924