Music for Miners
Encyclopedia
Music for Miners was a collective of UK writers, artists and filmmakers (including several independent television producers associated with RPM Productions and Channel 4
) who attempted to engage young people with politics
during the UK Miner's Strike
of 1984-1985. Members of the collective included the television producer Don Coutts
and the writer and artist Ian McKay
. Music for Miners organised several events to raise funds and support striking miners, the most notable of which was the MFM event held at the Royal Festival Hall
in London
on May 14, 1984. The English rock group New Order
headlined the event with John Cooper Clarke
supporting. Music for Miners was disbanded soon after the end of the strike in March 1985.
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
) who attempted to engage young people with politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
during the UK Miner's Strike
UK miners' strike (1984–1985)
The UK miners' strike was a major industrial action affecting the British coal industry. It was a defining moment in British industrial relations, and its defeat significantly weakened the British trades union movement...
of 1984-1985. Members of the collective included the television producer Don Coutts
Don Coutts
Don Coutts is a Scottish filmmaker best known as the director of the 2003 feature film American Cousins. He is also a documentary and music filmmaker who has worked on numerous current affairs and entertainment productions, including the late night discussion programme After Dark.-Biography:Don...
and the writer and artist Ian McKay
Ian McKay (writer)
Ian McKay is an English writer, critic, publisher, and translator.-Life and career:The son of former national hunt jockey and racehorse trainer Geoff Laidlaw, Ian McKay was born in Epsom, Surrey, and studied at Chelsea School of Art...
. Music for Miners organised several events to raise funds and support striking miners, the most notable of which was the MFM event held at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on May 14, 1984. The English rock group New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
headlined the event with John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet"...
supporting. Music for Miners was disbanded soon after the end of the strike in March 1985.