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Rock & Roll, strikes and failing Britain

I was a teenager in the 70s and while the music was incredible-Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Rod Stewart, Elton John etc etc etc the state of Britain at that time was dire. I was a student in London in the mid seventies and it was dirty, boring and if you wanted a sandwich you risked food poisoning. There seemed to be strikes all the time (about what?). No Technology at all-seems amazing that we also had no mobile phones, computers etc etc. How on earth did we function. Life was a lot simpler and slower. TV-Minder was all I can remember. I think its a much better world now especially in the UK


Created By on 23/08/2015

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skygrowler
27th May 2016 09:08:05
1
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the strikes were about everything workers have now, that they wouldn't have if it was left to the "generosity" of the employers .
such as tea breaks , lunch breaks , holidays , sick pay , health and safety at work, job security , equal pay for women and many other things that were not given but fought for over many years by the unions !
Andy56
19th Mar 2016 10:21:21
0
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Somebody posted a 70's pic in a local Facebook group the other week and it brought a few more out of the closet, oxford bags, skinners jeans, platform shoes, 3 star tank tops etc. Hairstyles were a mix of mullets and bowie cuts.
deefletch
18th Mar 2016 17:59:54
0
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l love seeing all the 70's pop stars on TV now, it makes me very nostalgic! l loved the Oxford bags trousers and Wedge heels, cheesecloth shirts! Wimpys was the only fast food!
maryb
9th Nov 2015 22:28:01
0
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I loved the 70's and the late 60's such happy days for me and a lot of others I expect. could start a job one week if you did not like it could leave and start another on a Monday not only that the music was awesome used to listen to mt little transistor also 45"s and LP's no mobiles telephones were being fitted in lots of peoples houses,still a novelty to me anyway,
combatsteve
19th Oct 2015 18:20:55
0
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Yeah, the music was great, heavy metal and prog rock. Bought my first motorbike in '76 . Can't remember what was onTV.... spent all my free time on the bike and in the pub....a lot more fun back then !
Laura11
24th Aug 2015 08:27:03 (Last activity: 24th Aug 2015 14:35:04)
0
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The outrage over Bii Haley, Jerry Lee Lewis and
Elvis' hips was astounding to us kids in the late fifties, we saw nothing wrong. Obviously smashing up theatre seats was wrong and led by a few whom others followed for fear of a beating later. Technology may be better today but at least there were coffee bars we hung out in in the evenings and other places kids could go.
I feel really sorry for the young where I live, the cafes close around five, no skate park or other amenities and not everyone wants to go to youth clubs.
Response from Amateureye made on 24th Aug 2015 14:35:04
Yes we used to get home from school get changed and straight up to the coffee bar to get your favourite table near the jukebox. Now that's what I call proper social networking having a milkshake and all your friends around you and non-stop talking about the latest record or pop group and being a boy football.
LJC
24th Aug 2015 09:37:34 (Last activity: 24th Aug 2015 14:20:36)
1
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Totally agree I know it's been said many times but you could leave a job on a Friday and find a new one on the Monday. I also agree with the pressures on teenagers today more specifically girls. The body image scenario springs to mind, so much pressure if they do not "conform" to what size fashion magazines and the industry imply they should be. Not easy these days, I'm so glad I was a teenager in the 60/70's
Response from Amateureye made on 24th Aug 2015 14:20:36
yes I know what you mean having two daughters, when I see some of these teenage girl magazines, I think it is criminal the way they try and push young girls into womanhood far too soon. I mean your childhood is short enough. And yet I think it's the opposite for boy's all they are interested in pushing to this group is computing games. But like all these big companies they are not interested in the welfare of the child, just how much money they can squeeze out of them in the name of fashion or street cred where the boys are concerned in having the latest thing.
Amateureye
24th Aug 2015 09:11:13
2
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Life was a lot simpler in them days, we all grew up with nothing so whatever we did get we really appreciated it. All I had was a handheld radio with a bakelite ear piece listening to radio Caroline in the North Sea and in the 70s Sony Walkman with radio and of course the great music you have spoken about, but you forgot to mention Tamla Motown. Upon leaving school I started work there were plenty of jobs in them days. I think life is a lot better today. But I actually feel sorry for the children or teenagers the pressure on them now to perform in education and in life is so high, but unfortunately I think the opportunities are quite small to succeed in this day and age.

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