The Blaggers were a band that I saw several times in the late eighties and early nineties.
This, a self-produced cassette tape, was the band’s first release, and was recorded in a recording studio on Midland Road in Leyton, East London in 1988.
The Blaggers line up for these four tracks, was Matty Blag and Bilko as the duo vocalists, Steve Serious on guitar, Matt Vinyl on bass, and Jez the Jester on the drums.
The band’s sound during this time was inspired by the Ruts, Angelic Upstarts (who The Blaggers supported at the very start of their gigging career) and Stiff Little Fingers. Throw a heap of early eighties Oi! bands into the mix and you can get the idea.
Jez left the band after a gig at which the band were attacked by fascists and Gab joined on the drums.
In 1989 after realising that the ‘rock 'n' roll lifestyle’ was not for him, Bilko left the band.
By 1990, Blaggers ITA (note the added ‘In The Area’ and the lack of 'The') had expanded their line up to include an extra guitarist, a trumpet player and another second singer, Christie whose delivery was a rap-style.
Blaggers ITA in the early nineties really were a great night out, and I enjoyed many of those nights. The band were a car crash of mixed-up influences. I could hear Conflict, Chumbawumba, and even the Happy Mondays! Public Enemy with guitars!
Many records were released in the early nineties, including one, a 7” record; ‘The Way We Operate’ released in 1992 on Karen D’s, ‘Fluffy Bunny’ record label.
I was living along Myddleton Road, Wood Green with Karen D, who was my long time best friend.
I was around when Matty and other band members would visit to discuss the record.
Naively though, Karen placed up her parents address on the record sleeve.
Due to the band's Red Action and Anti-Fascist Action involvement throughout the years, the band were on Combat 18’s radar.
Cue a couple of creepy late-night visits to Karen’s parents’ home from Combat 18.
Thankfully, nothing serious occurred, although her parents were rather worried and shook up.
Matty came around and told us that he will be at the end of the phone if anyone from Combat 18 was causing trouble, and he would drive over (with however many other people that he could fit in a car) as soon as he possibly could when called upon to do so!
Thankfully all ended up okay for Karen's parents.
Matty sadly passed on after an overdose in the year 2000.
Obituary from Red Action magazine April / May 2000
It was with great sadness that Red Action members learnt of the death, in tragic circumstances, of Matty Roberts or Matty ‘Blag’ as he had become known to friends and the media alike. Although never formally a Red Action member and whilst having drifted out of political circles in recent years. Matty was still regarded with a great deal of affection by his former comrades. The large turnout at Matty’s memorial service, which was attended by representatives of both RA and Anti-Fascist Action, demonstrated his lasting popularity with those who had known him both inside and outside of politics.
Always a larger-than-life character, Matty’s involvement in politics had begun not on the Left, but on the Far-Right, with membership of the British Movement during his teenage years. Whilst doing one of several spells in Young Offenders institutions however, Matty began to question his flirtation with fascism and left shortly after.
After encountering Red Action and Anti-Fascist Action, Matty became a highly valued and trusted activist, playing a notable role in many a successful stewarding operation.
At the same time as playing this covert role, Matty also developed a very public profile as spokesperson, frontman and lead singer with the band he was fundamental to setting up - agit-rockers, the Blaggers ITA. The success of the Blaggers meant they soon went from pub band to being signed by a major recording company, EMI. Always aware of the contradictions of becoming ‘rockstars’, the Blaggers spent the money EMI had provided for a signing-on party for instance, on adverts in the music press highlighting the growth of fascism and the complacency of the Left in Britain.
The predictably short-lived, media love affair with the Blaggers ended abruptly as they closed ranks, accusing Matty of being involved in a fracas with a journalist who had claimed that the ex-BM leopard had not changed his spots. For an image-based medium, often obsessed with ‘keepin’ it real’ Matty had proved far too authentic, “You can theorise and nit-pick later. We’re in your face and if it offends your middle-class intellectual sensibilities then fuck you!” he told the New Musical Express in 1993.
Matty is fondly remembered by all his Red Action comrades, who offer our heartfelt condolences to all his family and friends.
“We’re committed to this cause for life, and it’s about time people stopped sitting around and joined the struggle”.
Thank you Bilko for the loan of photographs and the cassette tape.
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