"Heroes" SO-ME
Clifford Joseph Price
This blog entry is in response to David's SO-ME hero lecture. As he explains SO-ME is the art director for Ed Banger records.
I love anything visual that relates to electronic music, whether it be vinyl design, album artwork, web design or any other promotional material. After Davids lecture, one thing stood out to me about his chosen hero SO-ME is the variation in his work across different platforms, examples from graphic design, film and animation.
I started to think about my musical heroes and where my influences stemmed from. When i was about 13 years old a freind introduced me to the world of drum and bass. I instantly fell in love with the "Junglist" theme of music which took influence from a lot of break, reggae, hip-hop, house and techno. One of the first labels i began to associate myself with was a label called Metalheadz. Founded in 1994 it became a very influential record label on me, one of it's co-founders is who i am going to be talking about in this blog. This mans name is Clifford Joseph Price, or how many people know him "Goldie".
I have previously blogged about the creative artist assigned with Hospital records, however there is a stern difference between Metalheadz and Hospital Records within the genre of Drum & Bass. Hospital is a relatively new, fresh, label with funky basslines and a real uplifting quality about their music. Metalheadz is a more old school label with heavy break patterns, shanty sounds and a real atmospheric melody.
Goldie is someone who i want to talk about because of the variety of titles he has been given in the last 20 years.
He is first and foremost a DJ, specialising in the Drum & Bass industry.
He is also a very accomplished actor, starring in such films as Guy Ritchie's "Snatch" & most noteably James Bond - "The World is Not Enough".
Goldie is also a influential visual artist, working with Pete Tong, and also having successful exhibitions internationally.
The acting side of things is cool, don't get me wrong, i mean Snatch is just a british underworld classic, and it's the type of film i'd expect Goldie to be a part of. However it's his artwork and his Drum & bass music that i want to talk about.
I've become slightly obsessed with Drum & Bass visuals, and the music has influenced me greatly on who i am as a person today. My work is usually created to the unique sounds and flows of Drum & Bass music. As i write this blog i am listening to "Platinum Breaks II" a mix by Metalheadz.
Goldie is a visual artist who i know was influenced greatly on his music which i why i want to show the relation of how music can influence one persons persona. It is something i can really relate to which is why i see Goldie as a very influential "Hero" on myself.
'Drum & Bass':
The whole saga started in 1991at a night club called Rage at Heaven. The rave scene had just emerged and acid house was building its own identity. Such pioneer DJ's as Faboi & Grooverider starting mixing reggae fused tracks at 45rpm instead of 33, causing an adrenaline filled vibe with an explosive reputation.
This is where the Walsall born B boy Goldie ( a name he got whilst customizing his gold teeth) started his journey into Drum & Bass music.
This UK born b boy was chilling with the likes of Nellee Hooper & 3D (pre Massive Attack). Already a gold teeth maker, highly respected break dancer and renowned graffiti artist, Goldie found his major purpose in life was to make music, Drum & Bass music.
Inspired by Hip Hop origins he started creating this high tempo music, he grew with confidence and made his first official release on Reinforced Records label; "Darkrider" under the Rufige Kru decal in 1992. He was finding his own flow.
His passion and grit determination was rewarded when he released "Terminator" with its crisp breatbeats, restless vibes and a dark atmospheric sound it brought a fresh edge to the scene. Jungle music had reached another level and following his success he co-founded the Metalheadz label.
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| Metalheadz iconic Logo Skull & Headphones |
I can only imagine what it would be like as musical creatives working alongside one another all doing something that they love. In the same way graphic designers come together to form unities, DJ's also can come together under the same "Label" and promote their unique sounds.
The dark, gutsy, unsettling sound of this type of Drum & Bass was upon the rave scene, and having DJ'd all over the world Goldie is still one of the highest profiled ambassadors of Drum & Bass.
"The metalheadz logo signifies music (headphones), and skull (death) meaning that long after im dead the music will still be here"
Goldie.
A short documentary which
sums up what Metalheadz
is all about
An interview with DJ Goldie - The Roots & Behind the Decks
Artwork:
From an early age Goldie earned his name as a graffiti artist in the West Midlands during the early 80's. His artwork featured in his local areas, being Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Goldie's artistic work reached some high profile names in the music industry, his pieces were provided to such names as Neneh Cherry, Noel Gallagher, Bjork, James Lavelle, Nellee Hooper.
His artowork that had stricken the streets around Birmingham and Wolverhampton was featured heavily in Afrikaa Bambaataa's feature film documentary "Bombin'" (broadcast on Channel 4 UK). Goldie also took part in one of the largest ever graffiti art battle, alongside Bristol based artist 3D, who later formed to become Massive Attack.
He has featured in many books, most notably "Spraycan Art" by Henry Chalfant & James Prigoff. Goldie to this day is seen as one of the earliest anf most important graffiti writers and is highly respected internationally.
Goldie back when he first
started graffiti writing illegally in the US
Some of his earliest work:
Untitled
Year: 1992
Original spray paint
and free hand
Little Apple
Year: 1992
Original spray paint
and free hand
on canvas
Wolverhampton wall piece
I can see from his early work that he was influenced greatly by the Hip-hop scene. His whole persona spoeaks for hip-hop culture, with his gold teeth, break dancing qualities and graffiti artwork hitting the streets.
Once Goldie discovered the Drum & Bass scene he slowed his art production to focus on his music. However he never lost roots with his artistic nature and in 2007 he ran an exhibition at the Leonard Street Gallery, London.
The exhibition, titled 'Love Over Gold' proved to be a huge success. However i do believe the time he spent creating Drum & Bass changed his style of work to be slightly more intelligent and visually meaningful.
The exhibiton was challenging the audiences ideas of sexuality, desire and allure. It encouraged viewers to embrace their own aesthetic, fulfil their own ideal scenario and to accept sexuality as something that is beautiful and intrinsically human.
In 2008 he teamed up with Pete Tong and provided much of the artwork for Tong's new Eden Nightclub in San Antonio, Ibiza. The artwork was all part of this Wonderland club night. The style of the artowrk fitted perfectly within the musical environment.
Pete Tong by Goldie
He held several exhibitions, one being in Berlin, Germany. But his most successful took place in April 2009, where the exhibition "Kids are all Riot" took place in Shoreditch, London, at the Maverik Showroom.
The artwork tackles themes of deep seeded urban decay, conflict and growing up in Britains new world. The most iconic of this exhibition was Goldie's 27 colour screenprint "Apocalypse Angel".
Goldie describes the exhibition as lying close to his heart, with his concerns for the kids of today reflecting in his work. He describes the situation as a "State of emergency....the ASBO-lute meltdown of the system".
"The understanding of those that count stands for nothing, we would sooner stand outside on the hustle than take the same spoon-fed bullshit that the system sees fit!"
The artwork involved in the exhibition joins the dots from Goldie's pioneering graffiti heritage from the past, present and now the future. The work pushes boundaries harder, further and darker; it is England's future - a prophecy for the ever growing ASBO generation formed with attitude and spray paint.
Apocalypse Angel
2008
Buntlack, PPG Automotive, PVA, Stencil, Screen Print & Spray Paint on Canvas
I can relate to Clifford Joseph Price in many ways; the cities he was influenced by, the artwork he was inspired to create and the music he chose to master.
After looking thoroughly through his life stories and work ethics i can see that he was incredibly influenced by music. Whether it was Hip-Hop, Reggae or Drum & Bass, the music made him who he is today and influenced his forms of expression.
I do believe the music we listen to changes us as who we are individually as people, and i declare Clifford Joseph Price as my "Hero" as his influences are similar to mine. Drum & Bass music along with Graffiti art have taken Goldie to become a very successful, multi-talented artist.
I can only aspire to his work and music and continue to drive myself and my work within the same standards. Hopefully one day i can exhibit my work and express my feelings in a similar way, whether it be musically or visually, or a combination both.
28th February 2012
"Heroes" SO-ME
Clifford Joseph Price
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