Swatch Watches skateboard ramp commission/Wildstyle T shirts. Photo: Martin Jones.

In 1989 I was asked to organise a celebration of street culture (including the International Street Art Competition) on the sea front at the Humberside resort of Bridlington. One of the attractions was Neil Danns’ Swatch Watches skateboard team who performed on massive portable half-pipe ramps that they transported by lorry around the country.

Goldie was commissioned by Swatch’s agency Lynn Franks PR (who incidentally ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ was based on) to decorate Neil’s ramps with a range of his own designs. We drove up to Toxteth in Liverpool to Neil’s base, where Goldie sprayed the panels in front of a crowd of local graf and skateboard fans.

In this shot you can see Goldie’s Wildstyle T-shirt design. Whilst doing commercial commissions, he was also working for his friend Whitey’s T-shirt business, designing a range of Hip Hop and Acid House tie-dye shirts.

Martin Jones was Goldie’s manager and agent from 1984-89, initially covering the early period when Goldie was both a breakdancer and graffiti artist for the Wolverhampton B Boys, then in his career with Supreme Graffiti Team and later as the UK part of the New York/UK ‘Transatlantic Federation’ crew with Bristol’s 3D (later of Massive Attack). In the late 80s he secured several high profile art commissions and appearances on BBC and ITV for Goldie. Martin took thousands of shots of the UK Hip Hop scene in the 80s, which he is now cataloguing as part of a national UK Hip Hop Archive. Here are some examples from the archive – if you were around at the time and have any photos of the UK Hip Hop scene you think might be of interest, please contact Martin on mmjones29@blueyonder.co.uk

Check these pics of Freddie Flintoff, Rachael Wools, Goldie, and CHG en route to Silverstone. Question is, were they rocking a mixtape featuring such gems as “Chopper” and “The Helicopter Tune” to accompany them on the flight?

Goldie has been awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Social Sciences from Brunel University. This is what they have to say:

“The renowned artist, actor, musician and DJ, Goldie today was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Social Sciences at Brunel University, West London.

Goldie, whose real name is Clifford Price, grew up in a high rise council block in Wolverhampton in a deprived background. His career spans a range of art forms from electronic music to visual art and acting, appearing in the James Bond film, The World is Not Enough and Guy Ritchie’s Snatch. In the 1990s he set up the record label Metalheadz.

He appeared in the campaign, “Give Them a Voice” aimed at encouraging people to become social workers, a decision driven by his own experience of the help that social workers gave him during his childhood.

Receiving his degree, at Brunel University in Uxbridge, he said, “I am still living the dream,” adding, “what we do today will shape the future.”
He paid tribute to his wife, Mika, his daughter, Chance, aged 12, and “the universe for allowing me to spread my energy.””

The question on everyone’s lips is whether Mr. Goldie will change his name to Dr. Goldie.

Goldie is in the mix B2B with Marcus Intalex, while Lowqui takes on mic duties. The fine people at We Fear Silence have hosted it on their blog right now… Head on over & check it out.

Listen here

Japanese website Defrag caught up with Goldie after he’d played at Unit in Tokyo recently. He talks about what makes drum and bass special to him (& why it’s like skateboarding!). Check the interview here

]]> http://www.goldie.co.uk/goldie-in-tokyo/feed 0 http://www.goldie.co.uk/goldie-attends-celebrity-dinner http://www.goldie.co.uk/goldie-attends-celebrity-dinner#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:48:05 +0000 goldie http://goldie.metalheadz.co.uk/?p=28 On Tuesday 1st December Goldie attended a celebrity dinner at the Lockup gallery just off Oxford Street. This was part of his latest headline position, showcasing his Graffiti amongst his top piers in the world of urban art

More info on the exhibition can be found here along with a video of the opening night

On Tuesday he visited both GMTV and Sky News, talking to Ed Milliband about the need for more social workers. Following this he spoke t 250 social workers about the forthcoming royal college of social workers. He was also invited to speak to the cabinet directly at no10. He was was personally invited by Mr Brown into the meeting, which he was not scheduled to attend. Goldie met Mr Brown after breakfast at downing street, Mr Brown said ” Hey Goldie Ive Been Dying to meet you”

You can read more in the independant article here

You can watch the tv advert Goldie starred in to draw attention to the cause here

You can read a press release on Goldie’s backing to the Big Think campaign here

Goldie’s array of talents has recently been showcased to the public thanks a popular two part television programme Classic Goldie on the BBC, on which he learnt to write a score for a large orchestra. Since the programme and receiving other prolific national press, TV exposure and his more recent exhibition The Kids Are All Riot has seen his artwork taking on even higher profile and is much in demand.

The Koola club is set over two levels and with a capacity of 400, enjoy this intimate venue with its industrial-chic design and exclusive underground soundtrack. Open seven nights a week throughout the summer, the club has been showcasing and pushing ground breaking events throughout the 12 years that it has been open. Bringing such delights as The Ordinary Boys , Muse & The Kaiser Chiefs to the town.

Owner of the Chy Bar, Ian Whittaker says “We feel very honored that Goldie has chosen to allow us to exhibit and bring his multifaceted talents to Cornwall through this unique series of Events.”

Click here for the video