Film and Music editor Michael Hann writes...
Young musicians aren't getting involved in the anti-war movement, writes Andrew Purcell in this week's Film & Music. But is a pop singer's job to entertain or educate?
In the 1980s, the preponderance of anti-Thatcher rock from the likes of Billy Bragg, the Redskins, the Communards et al resulted in two rock audiences - the one that went to rallies wearing Nicaragua Must Survive t-shirts and didn't feel the evening was complete until there had been a whip-round for the striking miners, and the one that went to big arena shows to be entertained and nothing more. And so the accusation was levelled that political artists can never do more than preach to the converted. So can musicians put across a political message in a way that sways those who've never hitherto given a damn?
Elsewhere, film producer Guy de Beaujeu gives his prescription for making British movies better . He says we should end the subisidies and get rid of the stars, and that will force film-makers to think more about better stories, better scripts and better acting. Could this be the answer?
And Dave Simpson had the excruciating experience of having one question to put to Lou Reed - and managing to offend him by bringing up Coldplay's version of Perfect Day. Tell us about your horrendous encounters with your heroes ... plus we'd love to have your comments on any other review or feature in today's issue.
