Hong Kong Gong – 8th October 1984

Ring the bell
The plastic’s here
Meltdown, meltdown
The atmosphere

Plastic plastic on your shelf
Is it really good for your health?

Who cares? It’s making money for the Hong Kong Gong
If you can’t see that, something’s gone wrong
But you can’t tell cos you’ve never seen the light
You’ve always been told what’s wrong and right
So doped up you don’t feel a thing
Until you hear the Hong Kong Gong ring

2nd July 2023 – During my life, there were various countries that were associated with manufacturing cheap plastic items. In the late 70s, as memorialised by the Epileptics, it was Hong Kong, then still controlled by UK. Other poorer Asian countries would then take their turn even as their products improved and eventually, as in the case of China, they took over such a large percentage of manufacturing that innovation started taking place there instead. Many in the West spent their time scoffing at hard-working Asians struggling to make a couple of dollars a day whilst they sat around getting fat, lazy and smug.

Speed – 1st October 1984

Speed down the motorway
Past the police patrol
Can’t catch me now
They’ve got no control
Speed past the services
I don’t need to stop
I don’t need food
I got a gut like a rock
Speed too fast
I sped to my end
The car lost control
On the very last bend
There was nothing I could do
The car went berserk
When anything goes wrong
You say that the machine didn’t work

*The Week That Was – 1st October 1984

Record of the week: Conflict (live)

1st October 1984
No word from Jeremy at all. Walked into town and got school bus back. Had a game of Spotlight. Dandy came down. Went home. Got drunk. Gave Vicki some earrings.

2nd October 1984
Finally wrote SHE’S SO BEAUTIFUL… Got in touch with Jez. He reckons there’s another gig on Friday. Rang Simon. Practice should be next Monday. Conflict Sunday. Busy weekend ahead – I hope.

3rd October 1984
Friday’s gig could be in Hamworthy. Rang Paul. Rang Justin. Rang Jez. Broke a string on Jez’s bass. Started drawing on wall again.

4th October 1984
Tomorrow’s gig is in Hamworthy. Justin may go. Can’t get Jez and he’s being very vague – in love with Fog maybe?

5th October 1984
Went to Poole. Gig wasn’t on. Went down youth club.

7th October 1984
Went to see Conflict. Fuckin’ good. Nice blokes to talk to as well.