Steve Ignorant

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Steve Ignorant
File:Crass steve dec1981.jpg
Steve Ignorant with Crass, December 1981
Background information
Birth name Steven Williams
Also known as Steve Ignorant, Stephen Intelligent, Professor Ignorant
Born 1957 (age 66–67)
Stoke on Trent, England
Genres Anarcho punk, punk rock
Occupation(s) singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1977–
Labels Crass Records, Small Wonder Records
Associated acts Crass
Conflict
Schwartzeneggar
Stratford Mercenaries
Current 93
Paranoid Visions
Slice of Life
Website http://www.steveignorant.com

Steve Ignorant (born Steven Williams[1] in 1957[2]) is a singer and artist. He co-founded the anarcho-punk band Crass with Penny Rimbaud in 1977.[3][4][5][6] After Crass stopped performing in 1984, he has worked with other groups including Conflict, Schwartzeneggar, Stratford Mercenaries, Current 93 (under the name Stephen Intelligent), US punk band Thought Crime, as well as being an occasional solo performer.

File:Punch.jpeg
a Stained glass image of Mr Punch by Steve Ignorant displayed at Dial House, Essex

He is also a sculptor, and has worked as a traditional Punch and Judy performer using the name Professor Ignorant.[7] In recent years he has developed an interest in the history of traditional London music hall performance.

On 24 and 25 November 2007 he performed Crass's entire The Feeding of the 5000 live at the Shepherds Bush Empire, backed by guest musicians.[8][9] Other members of Crass were not involved in these concerts. "I acknowledge and respect Steve's right to do this", Rimbaud said, "but I do regard it as a betrayal of the Crass ethos".[10] Ignorant had a different view; "I don't have to justify what I do. (...) Plus, most of the lyrics are still relevant today. And remember that three-letter word, 'fun'?"[10]

In 2010 Ignorant announced plans to do a tour called "The Last Supper", performing Crass songs from the period 1977-1982 with largely the same band that performed with him at Shepherd's Bush, including Gizz Butt, Bob Butler and Spike Smith.[11] In August 2010 Ignorant and Rimbaud took to the stage together to be interviewed by John Robb on the literacy stage at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool where they informed the large crowd that Rimbaud has now given him his blessing to perform Crass material live.

On 19 November 2011, Ignorant performed "The Last Supper" at the Shepherd's Bush Empire where he was joined on stage by Rimbaud and Eve Libertine. This was the last time Crass songs were performed live by him.

In 2010 Southern Records published The Rest Is Propaganda, Ignorant's autobiography co-written with Steve Pottinger.[8]

File:2010 10 17 STEVE IGNORANT live at Cafe Exzess FFM Germany 196.jpg
Ignorant at Cafe ExZess, Frankfurt, 17 October 2010

He moved to the Norfolk coast in 2007 where he volunteers as a lifeboatman.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Berger, George The Story of Crass (Omnibus Press, 2006.)
  2. ↑ A 2010 article from The Quietus claims that he's 53 years old.
  3. ↑ Shibboleth - My Revolting Life (Penny Rimbaud, 1999, AK Press, page 69)
  4. ↑ Sleeve note to Bullshit Detector volume 1
  5. ↑ Berger, George The Story of Crass (Omnibus Press, 2006, page 76.)
  6. ↑ [1] Archived February 18, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Berger, George The Story of Crass (Omnibus Press, 2006)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 [2] Archived July 24, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ [3] Archived June 9, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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