25 September 2012
Newsdesk
This Wednesday at The Garage Fred Perry is celebrating 60 years as an icon of fashion, a brand with a unique place in the British style firmament and one that is instantly recognised around the globe.
Born in 1952, the brand has enjoyed an unparalled relationship with British subcultures over the last 6 decades and to celebrate the anniversary and its unique relationship with music counterculture, Fred Perry has assembled a selection of artists and DJ’s that have gained iconic status in their own right.
The Charlatans are one of the great British bands of the last 25 years and have melded rock, psychedelia, funk and dance rhythms over 11 albums since their inception in 1989. Led by inimitable front man Tim Burgess, The Charlatans are a band who have always refused to stand still and this exclusive, ‘greatest hits’ set is likely to feature classics such as The Only One I Know, Weirdo, Just When You’re Thinking Things Over, One To Another, Then and many more.
They are supported by Keel Her who is signed to Tim Burgess’s O Genesis label and is winning praise for her messed up, lo-fi pop.
Taking to the decks for the evening are 3 British icons, men who have been pivotal in shaping the cultural agenda over the past 4 decades.
Norman Jay is one of the finest and most respected DJ’s in the world today whose talents and many years of dedicated service to his profession saw him awarded an MBE. His Good Times Sound System is the highlight of the Notting Hill Carnival and he brings those vibes to Fred Perry’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
Terry Hall has always enjoyed a strong relationship with the Fred Perry label and sported the classic V neck sweater in a photo shoot for the first ever issue of The Face magazine. Terry’s singular voice and style has defined music and fashion for generations of British youth and The Specials recent reformation and live shows have been universally acclaimed.
Don Letts also has a rich history in music and fashion, managing the ACME Attractions clothing store on the Kings Road in the 70’s, a mecca for punks, reggae musicians and scenesters to hang out. He is credited for bringing punks together with reggae music through the store and his DJ sets at The Roxy and also founded Big Audio Dynamite with Mick Jones from The Clash. An award winning film and documentary maker, he will take to the decks for this very special show.
Upstairs at The Garage, will be decked out with Table Tennis tables, as part of Fred Perry’s rich sporting heritage (World Table Tennis Champion 1929), reflecting their grass roots support of the sport. The downstairs bar will be spinning to mod and psyche sounds provided by esteemed DJ Dave Edwards.
To give historical context to this significant landmark Fred Perry has commissioned a series of 6 documentaries by Grammy award-winning filmmaker Don Letts charting 6 decades of subculture in which the Fred Perry shirt has been ever present at the forefront of street style. 10 competition winners will be invited to attend a special private screening of the 1 hour long form film ahead of the gig.
This show is part of the Fred Perry’s Subsonic Live series. Subsonic Live has been an integral part of Fred Perry’s Subculture website reporting on the best of emerging international talent. Subsonic Live is the live manifestation of the concept. The bi monthly event showcases emerging international talent across 2 stages and doths a respectful cap to the innovators that have helped shape the contemporary music landscape in the ‘Legends Room’. Recent Subsonic Live guests have included The Horrors, Afrika Bambaattaa, Factory Floor, Andrew Weatherall and Greg Wilson.
http://www.facebook.com/FredPerrySubcultureOfficial
http://twitter.com/SubSonicLive
