When Curtis Mayfield dared to sing doo-wop that wasn’t about loving his baby and feeling “da waa ooh yeah,” he was vilified.

When Curtis Mayfield dared to sing doo-wop that wasn’t about loving his baby and feeling “da waa ooh yeah,” he was vilified. Negroes weren’t allowed to say shit like, “We’re a Winner.” So he started his own label and single handedly began what was known back then as “message music.” This changed popular music forever.

Crass were the message musicians of the punk movement. While the Sex Pistols were fun to look at and had great stylists, Crass started a label that anyone could put a record out on and a squat anyone could stay at. They practiced what they preached 24 hours a day and still do. Despite having the most popular logo since The Ramones, the band never made a cent off licensing and as recently as a few years ago, was yet to pay a cent for living at Dial House. There is no band or group of activists on earth as infallible as Crass and maybe that is their only flaw. Maybe they should have sold out just a teensy bit.

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