Solid Front Radio—Often Controversial—Always Fun

by Neil Bamforth

As I advertise Mad Mike’sAmerica (MMA) on my radio show, I’ve decided it’s only fair my show gets some advertising too. So here it is. An internet radio station called Solid Front Radio – www.sfrstudios.com – allows me to broadcast live at 7 pm, UK time, across the internet to anyone who fancies a listen.

This is, of course, quite brave of them, given my penchant for courting occasional controversy.

My show is fortnightly – I doubt anyone could cope with me on a more regular basis – and goes out at the aforementioned UK time every second Sunday. Last Sunday, the 2nd August, being the last show broadcast. The next will be in two Sundays time should you feel so inclined, be at a loose end or, more likely, drunk.

That would be quite apt incidentally, as my show is called ‘The Drunk Punk Show’. It’s so named as it was named many years ago, and, albeit I now only play the occasional punk tracks, the ‘Drunk’ remains resolutely correct.

The broadcast arm, so to speak, is on www.mixlr.com/sfr

It isn’t a 24/7 station by the way. Live shows occur only as listed on the website.

Last Sunday, I was delighted to welcome our illustrious editor, Mike, to the show. He may have spent most of it disbelieving I was actually the DJ – as in messaging me “The DJ’s very good!”, me responding to said message with “Why thank you. It’s me” and Mike responding with incredulity – but he tells me he enjoyed most of the music played by the clearly excellent DJ 🙂

The station owner, my very close friend ‘Barnsley Sime’ who, not surprisingly perhaps, resides in the Yorkshire town of Barnsley, is indeed quite brave to have me on board.

He is aware that, some years ago, I left an American based internet radio station called ‘Destiny’ after the owner received e-mail death threats, after one of my shows, from American Christian fundamentalists – emphasis on the ‘mental’.

I made fun of the Bible – Noah’s Ark to be precise. I pointed out that, during the ‘Great Flood’ when Noah saved two of each creature, the idea being to drown evil with the said flood, I couldn’t quite grasp the concept of an evil giraffe.

I also pointed out that fish were not included. Whilst it was quite reasonable to assume fish wouldn’t drown in a flood, the emphasis on drowning evil must mean that the world is now ruled by evil Haddock.

Looking at some of the world today, I may have been closer to the truth than I realized.

This did not, apparently, go down well with American Christian fundamentalists, who insisted the British blasphemer must be removed. He refused them but, not wanting responsibility for his potential demise, I transferred to Solid Front Radio.

The music is eclectic – albeit the last two shows have concentrated on rock music and been called “The Drunk Punk Get Your Rocks Off Show 1 & 2”. Rock, soul, reggae, ska, punk, mod or whatever takes my fancy.

Certainly ‘rap’, ‘garage’, ‘house’, ‘disco’, and ‘grime’ never get a look in – I do have my standards.

Along with occasional wafflings from yours truly, that is pretty much the concept. I do try to behave, although, as the beer flows throughout the show, I can sense Sime up in Barnsley quietly praying I do not give anyone call to send him death threat e-mails.

Oddly, all the other DJ’s are firmly politically left. As a result, they tend to only speak to me about re-nationalizing our railways and utilities, along with environmental issues. They know it’s safe ground.

They admit they sometimes grimace slightly over the occasional comment that pops out mid-show regarding BLM and such things but acknowledge I keep it light-hearted. After all, I don’t want to upset any evil Haddock.

Anyway. There you have it. I believe Mike, along with a number of American friends will be tuned in again.

You can, if you so wish, actually listen to the last couple of shows via www.sfrstudios.com to get a ‘feel’ for it. That way you can decide to tune in live or decide to throw yourself off a tall building instead.

Incidentally, the first 30 minutes of the recorded shows are merely the ‘warm-up’. In other words, just music. If you wish to bypass this, just move the marker thing along to the live show start.

If you do choose to join me for the next live show on www.mixlr.com/sfr on Sunday, August 16 from 7 pm UK time, it is a show devoted to ‘covers’. In other words, other people’s songs covered by, well, other people. The Beatles ‘Dear Prudence’ covered by Siouxsie And The Banshees for example.

Johnny Cash is much in evidence actually. His rendition of ‘Hurt’ by Nine Inch Nails is, frankly, awesome as you Americans would say. Along with his version of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and, indeed, a couple of others covering his songs.

So. I’ll metaphorically see you in a couple of Sundays. Alternatively, enjoy the view from the tall building.

In case you missed it: Britain’s Third Political Party Loses the Plot—Again

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