UK Decay

[werewolf]

The California Ballroom and the 'Men in Gear'. ..new books !

Although Ian Lee has already mentioned the 'Cali' book here
I thought it would be worth pointing out again

There are two new books available for those of you who may be interested
with either or both the musical history and football 'Firm's' of the Luton area
over the last 30 years or so.
Many will remember the California Ballroom in Dunstable, which in its hey
day boasted the main Ballroom, The Devils Den nightclub and outdoor swimming pool !!

The Cali Album

More details at the 'Book Castle' website here

Book Description:
"Hundreds of the now iconic pop stars of the sixties and seventies
performed live at the unique ‘Cali’ in Dunstable. Thousands of their fans,
local and nationwide, flocked to revel in the unforgettable atmosphere
thus created. Diane Ilka – granddaughter of the ‘Cali’s’ founder – lived
and worked there. A generation on, she has compiled a tribute to this
very special phenomenon in pop music’s history, including many pictures
and contract details from her private collection of memorabilia. All those
who were part of the ‘Cali’ era can now reminisce over the stars and
dates that formed a highlight of their most impressionable years. The
‘Cali’ lives on in the reunions and websites it still inspires. Now it also has
a fitting pictorial souvenir and record of those idols and dreams of
yesteryear."

Author: Diane Ilka
publisher Book Castle
ISBN: 1 903747 65 1
This issue is in paperback.

There is also an excellent website on all things 'Cali' here


'Mig Down'

'Mig Down' at Amazon.com
'Mig Down' the other book, features the life and times of the 'MIGS'
(from what I remember stands for 'Men In Gear')
The 'MIGS' were a 'Firm' notorious amongst football culture
particulally as they followed 'Luton Town FC' and were based in
Luton during the 80's and 90's. It is said that elements of which
are still around today.

Book description
"The most uncompromising, disturbing and frequently hilarious insight
into the mind of Tommy Robinson, one of the top boys in Luton's MIG
Crew. For a period of time it looked like every firm in the country had
an unrelenting hatred of Luton, and it soon became the battleground of
choice. From the ironic name to its inclusion of a black hooligan firm -
The Luton Blacks - the MIG Crew were always a bit different. Tommy
Robinson was never the average hooligan and MIG Down charts his
25-year career in football violence, leading the original underdogs in
the field."

Author Tommy Robinson
Publisher Pennant Books Ltd (UK)
ISBN 0955039401
Hardback

W.W.
_________________

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[dahei]

i've got 'mig down ',wolf and it's bull shit .
typical hooligan crap , lots of holes in it as any one in luton would know .
the Angels getting done outside the george gets a mention .
as does the blockers .
though he is silently quiet on the scouse landlord that torched the place to get rid of them .
lawla gets a mention too .
though they never mention all the people he glassed and stabbed for no reason other then being there ... witness darren phillips at the 5.o club .
several of the protagonists would be familiar to any punky types though , i got slashed across the back with a stanley knife by one of them .
funnily enough darren phillips was there that time as well , he wasn't very lucky darren ????
still at least he didn't run off like the other 4 idiots we were with that night .