In 1980
I was in a band called Hondo. A 9 piece made from two bands. The first a reggae band and the second an all white rock band. If you want to know what it sounded like it's on the Spaceward Studios site under H in the discography. Oh here, [linky]

We all got on like a house on fire and quite often we would have to overcome racism directed towards the black half of the band. Sometimes I would start talking in a Jamaican accent and Murapa, the rhythm guitarist would answer me back in a posh English toff one. This would break the ice but it was an issue back then.

One night we were booked to play a club in Wellingbourough at an all black, angry, West Indian, dub reggae club. Well the boot was well and truley on the other foot that night. We went on and you could hear the jaws drop when several white guys walked on. It is the only time I've ever been forced to make a sharp exit from a gig. We ripped out all the leads, threw the gear into the back of our open truck and ran up the driveway to our cars faster than Gary Glitter's paperboy. I looked behind me and I could see loads of them pouring out of the back doors after us. Some had picked up things like a discarded mic stand, bottles and one cunt had a fucking machete. The truck took off as fast as a truck is able with one of the crew in the back trying to close the back doors and dodging missiles. Meanwhile, I jumped into my car, an old Mk 2 Jag and floored it but then screeching to a halt and reversing to pick up our bass guitarist who I had forgot was travelling with me. I got back just in time for him to throw his bass in the back of the car and leapt in. It was like a scene out of the Sweeney. Shame there wasn't a pile of cardborad boxes for me to drive into rather than the van I hit. We got away minus a few bits of gear but I can tell you it was quite a hairy moment. Nobody actually shat themselves but a few blurters went sixpence, shilling manhole cover that night.
( Captn Hood-Butter is not dead yet., Thu 1 Apr 2010, 16:34, 2 replies)

I don't get this
So what was the problem? The fact that your skin colour was different to theirs? Eh?
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Thu 1 Apr 2010, 18:17, closed)

No it was because our sax player was Welsh.
Not very bright are you?
( Captn Hood-Butter is not dead yet., Thu 1 Apr 2010, 21:49, closed)