by BBG

Crass 2011: Gizz Butt on guitar, Beki Straughan on vocals, Steve Ignorant, Bob Butler on bass and Spike T. Smith on drums



Crass were an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism. The band both utilised and advocated a DIY punk ethic approach, producing sound collages, graphics, albums, and films. Crass also criticised mainstream culture and attempted to subvert it with messages promoting feminism, anti-racism, anti-war, and anti-globalisation.-[Wiki]

Crass called it quits in 1984 and left an indelible mark on punk culture today. They self-released all of their LPs, and now frontman Steve Ignorant is preparing to reissue their output, against the wishes of some original members:

Ex-Berliner: Are the other members of Crass concerned about what this [European] tour and Crass reissues might be doing to their reputation? Steve Ignorant: Well, some of the members are. There are three members who are totally against these re-releases, and I don't think they've got any idea whatsoever about how important those records are to people. I just don't understand how they can sit there and say, "No, there shouldn't be these releases. The only releases that should be allowed are the original vinyl." Well, a lot of people don't have record players anymore. Or they can download off the computer - well, not everybody's got a computer. I just think... I mean, why shouldn't they be available to people?

As mentioned in the question above, there was also a tour. Steve Ignorant assembled a new band to play Crass songs (lineup of new band members above, note that Penny Rimbaud is not among them), and they already went on a European tour. Now, Crass, billed offically as "Steve Ignorant's The Last Supper: Crass Songs 1977 - 1984" will visit North America for a tour that will include a NYC show on March 10th, 2011 at Santos Party House "with very special guests". Tickets are on sale. If you consider this Crass, then the Santos show will probably be Crass's first U.S. show in thirty years. They reportedly played NYC in '78 or '79. All current tour dates are below.

Steve Ignorant recently dropped The Rest is Propaganda, a new book writtien with Steve Pottinger that has given way to book talks across the UK. The book is not a history on the band, but an account of "how Stephen Williams became Steve Ignorant".

Penny Rimbaud, who is ok with Steve playing Crass songs and with the reissues, also just released a book. Penny and Steve both recently talked to Vice about their non-Crass-like legal battle with other members.

Full tour dates and some videos are below...



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Crass - Punk is Dead



CRASS Documentary



Crass - Big A Little A



Crass - Bloody Revolution



Crass - Do They Owe Us A Living



CRASS - 2011 TOUR DATES

Thursday MARCH 10 New York, NY @ Santo's Party House

Friday MARCH 11 Montreal, QC @ Le National

Saturday MARCH 12 Toronto, ON @ The Opera House

Sunday MARCH 13 Chicago, IL @ Logan Square Auditorium

Wednesday MARCH 16 Seattle, WA @ Neumo's

Thursday MARCH 17 San Francisco, CA @ Slim's

Friday MARCH 18 Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater

Tuesday March 22 Austin, TX @ Emo's

Friday March 25 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar