Launched into public consciousness by John Peel in the early 1980s, performance poet, musician, journalist and political activist Attila the Stockbroker has spent thirty five years touring the world.
Having performed over three thousand gigs in twenty four countries, releasing forty records and seven books of poetry along the way, he pauses here to relate his life story, a tale of single-minded determination to earn his living, without compromise, doing what he loves in the context of the ever changing, increasingly corporate minded politics of the last five decades.
An autobiography like no other, ‘Arguments Yard’ bounces effortlessly from frontline tales of touring East Germany, the first ever punk performance in Stalinist Albania, being thrown out of one of his own gigs and the ongoing fight – often literally – with the fascist thugs who targeted him in the early 80s to more homely anecdotes: his coastal upbringing and love of his home in West Sussex, his passionate involvement in the battle to save his beloved Brighton and Hove Albion FC and his path from punk bass player into a career which has lasted decades longer than the ranting verse fad which spawned it.
Full of humour and intellect, and peppered with encounters with notable figures, ‘Arguments Yard’ demonstrates a depth rarely found in the everyday performer’s autobiography, and relates an important social history, being a left wing activist’s eyewitness journey through the great political battles and movements of recent times. Rock Against Racism, the Anti Nazi League, the miners’ strike, the Wapping dispute, Red Wedge, the Poll Tax and campaigns against two Gulf Wars are all analysed from a ringside perspective before the author packs his bags and takes us on another tour of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA or Europe. Attila once turned down an offer of shows in North Korea (only because he was already booked to tour Canada) has stood in for Donny Osmond at a gig, been supported by the Manic Street Preachers - and DJ legend Steve Lamacq was his roadie for a while.
Now a long established Glastonbury regular, a celebrated poet at his football club and the organiser of his own hugely popular beer and music festival, Glastonwick, Attila The Stockbroker remains as focussed and active as ever and continues to perform around a hundred gigs a year to diverse audiences across the world.
His message is a simple one: you don’t need to be ‘a celebrity’ to lead a life earning your living doing what you love to do. You just need a way with words, the self-confidence and organizational ability of Napoleon and skin thicker than the armour of a Chieftain tank.
‘Arguments Yard’ is the perfect antidote to the countless fake tan splattered and empty headed celebrity autobiographies that increasingly fill the nation’s bookshelves.
Attila The Stockbroker is on tour throughout 2015: still more to come…..
SEPTEMBER
Thurs-Sat 3-5: LINCOLN Official launch of book as part of Festival 800: three days of events
Fri 11: HARLOW Square with guests The Piranhas and Newtown Neurotics singer Steve Drewett
Sat 12: HULL Special 50th Birthday gig for a long time fan
(private event)
Sun 13: HULL The New Adelphi Club
Wed 16: MITCHELDEAN (Forest of Dean) Brewery Tap
Thurs 17: WOLVERHAMPTON Clarendon Hotel
Fri 18: WALTHAMSTOW Festival
Sat 19 WORCESTER Marrs Bar (Worcester Music Festival)
Sun 20 STROUD Prince Albert
Fri 25 LONDON Launch at the Borderline with Newtown Neurotics, comedian Jeremy Hardy, DJ Steve Lamacq, Attila’s band Barnstormer and more
Wed 30 SHOREHAM Ropetackle Arts Centre with guests John Otway, TV Smith and Brighton & Hove Albion saviour Dick Knight
OCTOBER
Fri 2 HASTINGS The Carlisle with TV Smith
Fri 9 BRUSSELS Magasin 4
Thurs 15 MALDON (nr Chelmsford) Blue Boar Hotel
Fri 16 LEEDS Packhorse
Sat 17 BARNSLEY Old Number 7 with Joe Solo
Sun 18 WHITBY Musicport Festival (daytime)
Mon 19 CANTERBURY Kent University Gulbenkian Theatre (his old uni)
Tues 27 PENARTH Windsor Ale House
Wed 28 CARMARTHEN Parrot Music Bar
Thurs 29 GOGINAN nr Aberystwyth The Druid
Fri 30 SWINDON The Locomotive
Sat 31 SOUTHAMPTON Arthouse Cafe
NOVEMBER
Sun 1 READING Rising Sun Arts Centre
Fri –Sun 6-8 ALDEBURGH Poetry Festival
Tues 17 PETERSFIELD Write Angle at the Square Brewery
Thurs 19 STOURBRIDGE Katie Fitzgerald's
Fri 20 OLDHAM Library
Sat 21 LIVERPOOL (TBC)
29 LONDON New Cross Inn with The Piranhas and more
DECEMBER
3 LONDON Islington Folk Club
12 BELPER Queen's Head
