Attila the Stockbroker

about

Attila the Stockbroker is the stage-name of English punk poet, multi instrumentalist musician and songwriter John Baine (born 21 October 1957). He performs solo and as the leader of the band Barnstormer 1649 (who combine early music and punk). As well as numerous concerts, eight books of poems, and an autobiography, he has released over forty recordings (albums and singles). Launched into public consciousness by legendary UK Radio One DJ John Peel in 1982/83, he has spent over 35 years touring the world as a self-sustaining DIY one-man cottage industry. He toured East Germany four times before the Berlin Wall came down and twice more immediately afterwards, was involved in the first ever punk performance in Stalinist Albania and had to turn down playing in North Korea because he was already booked to tour Canada. He once stood in for Donny Osmond at a gig. He was targeted by fascists during the early Eighties and as well as the physical stuff once had a 10 minute stand up political argument with notorious Nazi band Skrewdriver singer Ian Stuart in the middle of a Black Flag gig at the 100 Club in London’s Oxford Street. Having got an encore as the support act, he was thrown out of his own gig by the bouncers on the orders of the main act John Cale, one of his all time musical heroes. His support acts? They’ve included Manic Street Preachers, Julian Clary, New Model Army and Billy Bragg. He has led his ‘medieval punk’ band Barnstormer for 20 years as well as the solo s

you might also explore

top songs

albums

This Is Free Europe

Ranting at the Nation

Sawdust and Empire

Attila The Stockbroker - Solo and with Barnstormer - A Last.fm Compilation

Bankers & Looters

Pillows & Prayers: Cherry Red Records 1981-1984

The Siege Of Shoreham

Pillows & Prayers (Cherry Red 1982-1983)

The Pen & The Sword

▥

Pillows & Prayers (Volumes 1 & 2)

LIVE IN NORWAY

Disestablished 1980

similar artists