Description:
Review:
1.0 out of 5 stars Swipe left
Book is a joke. Author had no clue what he was writing about. Imagine a hardcore vegan writing a book about the benefits of eating meat. That should some it up. There were a few relevant stories in the book but clearly written by a non scene guy. Kinda like those AI generated videos on YouTube trying to explain early movements
Excellent Book Covering The Often Misunderstood or Divisive Oi! Scene
While there are a number of books on Skinhead culture that cover Oi! alongside Ska, Northern Soul and other music genres popular within the subculture, this is the first large book I've come across that focuses exclusively on Oi!, beginning with the early UK punk bands that influenced the genre up to the international scene of today. The books is warts and all, from the apolitical, the left, the right and all the Herberts in between. Several great sections of photographs, B&W and colour throughout. Essential for fans of Oi!, UK 82 punk and anyone particularly interested in the 1980's punk and skinhead scenes.
Good book
I actually like this book!
What Have We Got: The Turbulent Story of Oi!
Ok.
Tell Us The Truth...
Cor blimey, where do I start with this book review? First up, I am grateful that a mainstream writer and publisher have taken the brave step to write a ‘warts and all’ book on Oi! - a subject I have waxed lyrically on myself whenever I’m down the pub, much to the frustration of my non-Oi! loving mates. For them it was always easily dismissed as something that ‘dodgy people’ from the ‘rough end' of the street got into, with the associated politics of the gutter.There, I have done it already, mentioned politics in the first paragraph of a book about Oi!, thereby falling into the same trap as others, who know next to nothing about it since the Hambrough Tavern erupted in flames back on July 4, 1981, thus killing a movement during its violent birth pains.However, Oi! did not die, it just kept on re-inventing itself and splintering off into all sorts of factions; the good the bad and the ugly, you could say. Mr Spence, I am glad to report, does not end his book after the usual suspects: Rejects, Sparrer, Sham, 4-Skins and Blitz have been covered. Nope, he goes on to document the world-wide spread of Oi! and the effect it has had in countries that many will not immediately associate with it, such as Indonesia. I always find it puzzling when writers abandon the history of Oi! after the early 80s, as if the next forty-odd years never happened. It is akin to Motorhead ‘fans’ thinking that they did not record any songs after ‘Ace of Spades’. Therefore, for me, the author deserves 5 stars for delving into bands that many reading this will never have heard of, such as Daily Terror (Germany) and just about every band on the Chaos En France Volumes 1 and 2 compilation albums (recently re-issued on CD). He lists literally hundreds of bands from the world over, which was such a nice change to read, as I have been a fan since 1983 of this kind of music, especially of the German punk and Oi! variety. Indeed, I wrote to many of the bands in Germany when I was a spotty teenager, during the glory days of German Oi! music for the period 82-84. I had numerous letters back from, amongst others, Pedder Teumer, singer of Daily Terror, and can only write that he was really helpful to me and passionate about the working-classes sticking together. He also sent me some of their records for free. A generous bloke, even if he had a few of the afore-mentioned dodgy people as friends, as this book explains. The likes of Teumer and Willi Wucher (Becks Pistols) were certainly guilty as charged when it came to naiveite, as they genuinely believed they could unite all the various strands of Oi! A pipe dream that was never going to happen once the political battle-lines were drawn.Likewise, the frequently misunderstood Garry Bushell also helped me when it came to promoting my first book (One Love Two Colours), which had a segment in it about Oi!, so I honestly feel his heart is in the right place as well. And, after all, when it comes to representing the working classes, who do I feel more comfortable with, Garry Bushell or...Owen Jones!To be honest, poor old Garry must be heartily sick of still having to talk about Oi! after all these years, a cross he seemingly has to bear until his demise. Instead of scorn he should be applauded for introducing the world to the likes of Blitz, who remain hugely influential all over the world.Talking of hearts, it is with a heavy one that I will now approach the subject that the majority associate with Oi! - right-wing politics, which the movement attracted shortly after its conception and which peaked in the 1990s. There can be no doubt that a sizeable chunk of audiences during the Sham years and onwards did consist of members of racist right-wing groups and this also applies to some of the bands that attached themselves to Oi! However, what needs to be stressed is that the same applied to the average Joe walking down the street in the late 70s and early 80s, although the papers never wrote stories about racist bank clerks or middle-class toffs as they preferred to concentrate on working-class racism and aggro, as it was always more ‘real’ than that elsewhere. Likewise, should fans of Eric Clapton and David Bowie be forever damned as their 'heroes' uttered some odd comments themselves in the 1970s?Of course, the Oi! bands are also somewhat to blame for this as they continually sung about violence, as a precursor to the current grime music. As a result, every Oi! band since then has had to declare itself as either ‘left’ or ‘right’ or run the risk of being labelled ‘grey zone’ - as is well covered in the book. On the flip side, this actually makes it easier for fans, though, as no one wants to spend their hard-earned cash on bands that don’t align with your own personal views on life. Talking of which, I should mention that the most right-wing thing I have ever done is read The Daily Telegraph, mainly down to its superb Test cricket coverage. Mind you, these days, all you have to do is stumble across GB News on the telly to generate a flash hate mob outside your house in protest, such is the way of the world.Not sure if it is helpful to my book review but I have personally been attacked by a leftie type on a bus for being a ‘far right skinhead,’ purely due to my sporting 4-Skins, Blitz and Slime (very left-wing punk band from Germany) badges on my Harrington. In addition, I was also threatened with violence at a Stomper 98 gig in London by a German right-wing skin, who saw my Slime patch. I can therefore see why people associate themselves with either left or right. However, I personally feel that both are wrong and the individual should concentrate on being comfortable in their own ‘skin’, as it were. Therefore, if anyone ever asks me to confirm which way I am I just say ‘make your own mind up, as you seem to have done so already.’At my wedding, back in the late 1990s, the playlist for the dance floor was an eclectic mix of Whitney Houston, Fela Kuti and numerous Oi! bands. I remember thinking, when ‘One Law for Them’ by the 4-Skins was blaring out on the dancefloor, ‘I wonder what Mr Gary Hodges would think of this,’ as my wife and Nigerian guests wondered how to dance to its naked aggression.Truth is, most in the modern Oi! scene rightly steer clear of politics and concentrate on the things Oi! was supposed to be about; class pride, having a laugh and having a say.Amen to that.I am sure you will notice that I have included a lot of personal stuff in this review, perhaps too much. However, I did this to show that the subjects mentioned throughout the book are real and affect people in all kind of ways.Lastly, if I must have a little grumble, I was amazed at so many bands that failed to make the cut in the book. First up, there is no mention of Perkele (Sweden), probably the biggest Oi! band in the world (although their last album had rock influences). He also should have mentioned Brassknuckle Boys from the US. Die Lokalmatadore and The Stage Bottles (very left-wing) from Germany. But the biggest problem was the almost complete lack of Spanish Oi! bands, such as Orreaga 778, Blessure, Hexen (all-girl band that have broken up to form the band Labana), Tatxers (imagine the Housemartins as an Oi! band) and hundreds more. I would say that Spain currently has the most interesting and vibrant Oi! scene in the world, although others may beg to differ.Still, this is but a minor quibble and it does not detract from the earthy worthiness of this book, the best on the subject since the George Marshall ‘Spirit of ‘69’ effort from 1991.Top Oi! Songs you won’t know but should: Daily Terror ‘Leichenberg’ Blessure ‘La Chasse’ Becks Pistols ‘Pobel und Gesocks’.Oi! Oi! Oi! (picture included of some of the German records that the book refers to).
SENSACIONAL
SENSACIONAL
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Visit the Omnibus Press Store
What Have We Got?
AED18375
Quantity:
Order today to get by
Free delivery on orders over AED 200
Imported From: United States
At bolo.ae, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.
We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.ae is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.
Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
bolo.ae operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Review:
1.0 out of 5 stars Swipe left
Book is a joke. Author had no clue what he was writing about. Imagine a hardcore vegan writing a book about the benefits of eating meat. That should some it up. There were a few relevant stories in the book but clearly written by a non scene guy. Kinda like those AI generated videos on YouTube trying to explain early movements
Excellent Book Covering The Often Misunderstood or Divisive Oi! Scene
While there are a number of books on Skinhead culture that cover Oi! alongside Ska, Northern Soul and other music genres popular within the subculture, this is the first large book I've come across that focuses exclusively on Oi!, beginning with the early UK punk bands that influenced the genre up to the international scene of today. The books is warts and all, from the apolitical, the left, the right and all the Herberts in between. Several great sections of photographs, B&W and colour throughout. Essential for fans of Oi!, UK 82 punk and anyone particularly interested in the 1980's punk and skinhead scenes.
Good book
I actually like this book!
What Have We Got: The Turbulent Story of Oi!
Ok.
Tell Us The Truth...
Cor blimey, where do I start with this book review? First up, I am grateful that a mainstream writer and publisher have taken the brave step to write a ‘warts and all’ book on Oi! - a subject I have waxed lyrically on myself whenever I’m down the pub, much to the frustration of my non-Oi! loving mates. For them it was always easily dismissed as something that ‘dodgy people’ from the ‘rough end' of the street got into, with the associated politics of the gutter.There, I have done it already, mentioned politics in the first paragraph of a book about Oi!, thereby falling into the same trap as others, who know next to nothing about it since the Hambrough Tavern erupted in flames back on July 4, 1981, thus killing a movement during its violent birth pains.However, Oi! did not die, it just kept on re-inventing itself and splintering off into all sorts of factions; the good the bad and the ugly, you could say. Mr Spence, I am glad to report, does not end his book after the usual suspects: Rejects, Sparrer, Sham, 4-Skins and Blitz have been covered. Nope, he goes on to document the world-wide spread of Oi! and the effect it has had in countries that many will not immediately associate with it, such as Indonesia. I always find it puzzling when writers abandon the history of Oi! after the early 80s, as if the next forty-odd years never happened. It is akin to Motorhead ‘fans’ thinking that they did not record any songs after ‘Ace of Spades’. Therefore, for me, the author deserves 5 stars for delving into bands that many reading this will never have heard of, such as Daily Terror (Germany) and just about every band on the Chaos En France Volumes 1 and 2 compilation albums (recently re-issued on CD). He lists literally hundreds of bands from the world over, which was such a nice change to read, as I have been a fan since 1983 of this kind of music, especially of the German punk and Oi! variety. Indeed, I wrote to many of the bands in Germany when I was a spotty teenager, during the glory days of German Oi! music for the period 82-84. I had numerous letters back from, amongst others, Pedder Teumer, singer of Daily Terror, and can only write that he was really helpful to me and passionate about the working-classes sticking together. He also sent me some of their records for free. A generous bloke, even if he had a few of the afore-mentioned dodgy people as friends, as this book explains. The likes of Teumer and Willi Wucher (Becks Pistols) were certainly guilty as charged when it came to naiveite, as they genuinely believed they could unite all the various strands of Oi! A pipe dream that was never going to happen once the political battle-lines were drawn.Likewise, the frequently misunderstood Garry Bushell also helped me when it came to promoting my first book (One Love Two Colours), which had a segment in it about Oi!, so I honestly feel his heart is in the right place as well. And, after all, when it comes to representing the working classes, who do I feel more comfortable with, Garry Bushell or...Owen Jones!To be honest, poor old Garry must be heartily sick of still having to talk about Oi! after all these years, a cross he seemingly has to bear until his demise. Instead of scorn he should be applauded for introducing the world to the likes of Blitz, who remain hugely influential all over the world.Talking of hearts, it is with a heavy one that I will now approach the subject that the majority associate with Oi! - right-wing politics, which the movement attracted shortly after its conception and which peaked in the 1990s. There can be no doubt that a sizeable chunk of audiences during the Sham years and onwards did consist of members of racist right-wing groups and this also applies to some of the bands that attached themselves to Oi! However, what needs to be stressed is that the same applied to the average Joe walking down the street in the late 70s and early 80s, although the papers never wrote stories about racist bank clerks or middle-class toffs as they preferred to concentrate on working-class racism and aggro, as it was always more ‘real’ than that elsewhere. Likewise, should fans of Eric Clapton and David Bowie be forever damned as their 'heroes' uttered some odd comments themselves in the 1970s?Of course, the Oi! bands are also somewhat to blame for this as they continually sung about violence, as a precursor to the current grime music. As a result, every Oi! band since then has had to declare itself as either ‘left’ or ‘right’ or run the risk of being labelled ‘grey zone’ - as is well covered in the book. On the flip side, this actually makes it easier for fans, though, as no one wants to spend their hard-earned cash on bands that don’t align with your own personal views on life. Talking of which, I should mention that the most right-wing thing I have ever done is read The Daily Telegraph, mainly down to its superb Test cricket coverage. Mind you, these days, all you have to do is stumble across GB News on the telly to generate a flash hate mob outside your house in protest, such is the way of the world.Not sure if it is helpful to my book review but I have personally been attacked by a leftie type on a bus for being a ‘far right skinhead,’ purely due to my sporting 4-Skins, Blitz and Slime (very left-wing punk band from Germany) badges on my Harrington. In addition, I was also threatened with violence at a Stomper 98 gig in London by a German right-wing skin, who saw my Slime patch. I can therefore see why people associate themselves with either left or right. However, I personally feel that both are wrong and the individual should concentrate on being comfortable in their own ‘skin’, as it were. Therefore, if anyone ever asks me to confirm which way I am I just say ‘make your own mind up, as you seem to have done so already.’At my wedding, back in the late 1990s, the playlist for the dance floor was an eclectic mix of Whitney Houston, Fela Kuti and numerous Oi! bands. I remember thinking, when ‘One Law for Them’ by the 4-Skins was blaring out on the dancefloor, ‘I wonder what Mr Gary Hodges would think of this,’ as my wife and Nigerian guests wondered how to dance to its naked aggression.Truth is, most in the modern Oi! scene rightly steer clear of politics and concentrate on the things Oi! was supposed to be about; class pride, having a laugh and having a say.Amen to that.I am sure you will notice that I have included a lot of personal stuff in this review, perhaps too much. However, I did this to show that the subjects mentioned throughout the book are real and affect people in all kind of ways.Lastly, if I must have a little grumble, I was amazed at so many bands that failed to make the cut in the book. First up, there is no mention of Perkele (Sweden), probably the biggest Oi! band in the world (although their last album had rock influences). He also should have mentioned Brassknuckle Boys from the US. Die Lokalmatadore and The Stage Bottles (very left-wing) from Germany. But the biggest problem was the almost complete lack of Spanish Oi! bands, such as Orreaga 778, Blessure, Hexen (all-girl band that have broken up to form the band Labana), Tatxers (imagine the Housemartins as an Oi! band) and hundreds more. I would say that Spain currently has the most interesting and vibrant Oi! scene in the world, although others may beg to differ.Still, this is but a minor quibble and it does not detract from the earthy worthiness of this book, the best on the subject since the George Marshall ‘Spirit of ‘69’ effort from 1991.Top Oi! Songs you won’t know but should: Daily Terror ‘Leichenberg’ Blessure ‘La Chasse’ Becks Pistols ‘Pobel und Gesocks’.Oi! Oi! Oi! (picture included of some of the German records that the book refers to).
SENSACIONAL
SENSACIONAL
Similar suggestions by Bolo
More from this brand
Similar items from “Punk”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.ae/products/U1913172856