February 25th: Today’s Feature

February

Donovan Letts (born 10 January 1956) is a British film director, disc jockey (DJ) and musician. Letts first came to prominence as the videographer for the Clash, directing several of their music videos. In 1984, Letts co-founded the band Big Audio Dynamite with former Clash lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist Mick Jones, acting as the band's sampler and videographer before departing the band in 1990.

Letts has also directed music videos for Musical Youth, the Psychedelic Furs, Fun Boy Three, the Pretenders and Elvis Costello as well as the feature documentaries The Punk Rock Movie (1978) and The Clash: Westway to the World (2000).

Biography

Letts, a London native, received his education at Tenison's School in Kennington. In 1975, he took charge of Acme Attractions, a popular clothing store in London, where he sold vibrant "electric-blue zoot suits and jukeboxes" while playing dub reggae music throughout the day. Letts' passion for music was deeply influenced by the sounds emanating from his parents' homeland, Jamaica, with Bob Marley being a particularly significant figure for him.

One memorable encounter occurred in June 1976 when Letts attended one of Bob Marley's performances at the renowned Hammersmith Odeon. After the show, Letts managed to sneak into the hotel where Marley was staying and spent the entire night conversing with and forming a friendship with the legendary musician. As the mid-1970s rolled around, Acme Attractions became a hub for various influential artists and bands, attracting the likes of the Clash, Sex Pistols, Chrissie Hynde, Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, and of course, Bob Marley.

In a 2022 interview, Don Letts opened up about his experiences growing up in London and the discrimination he faced, drawing parallels to Steve McQueen's series, Small Axe. Letts shed light on the mistreatment he endured at the hands of the police, emphasising the challenges he encountered due to his ethnicity. His remarks highlighted the systemic issues prevalent in society and the need for greater awareness and understanding to combat discrimination. Through his candid discussion, Letts aimed to bring attention to the struggles faced by marginalised communities and foster a more inclusive and equitable society.

Discussing mistreatment at the hands of police he remarked that:

'A lot of us took that for normal. It was just what we had to deal with. Back in those Mangrove days… There weren’t no culturally enlightened policemen. It was the Wild West and trust me: we weren’t the cowboys.’

In response to the original outbreak of punk in England, Andy Czezowski, who was then a promoter at Acme, took notice of the large crowd and decided to establish The Roxy, a renowned London nightclub. This initiative aimed to provide a space for people to enjoy themselves after visiting the store. At that time, the punk rock genre was still in its early stages, and the number of recorded punk rock records was quite limited.

In a unique twist, Letts, a prominent figure in the London punk scene, incorporated a wide range of dub and reggae records into his DJ sets. This innovative approach introduced these genres to the punk scene and had a significant influence on bands like the Clash and others. As a testament to his contribution, Letts is prominently featured on the cover of the EP Black Market Clash (1980) and the compilation album Super Black Market Clash (1993).

Leveraging his newfound fame and financial resources from his D’J-ing career and the success of Acme, Letts ventured into filmmaking, directing his first film, The Punk Rock Movie (1978).

Eventually, Letts decided to leave the retail business behind and took on the role of managing the band the Slits. Through his connections, he secured an opportunity for the Slits to open for the Clash during their White Riot tour. However, during this tour, Letts realised that management was not his true calling. Nevertheless, he continued to capture footage for his ongoing project, The Punk Rock Movie (1978), ensuring that the essence of the punk rock movement would be preserved for future generations.

Letts' first visit to Jamaica took place after the disbandment of the Sex Pistols, when Johnny Rotten sought refuge from the overwhelming media attention. In an attempt to escape the frenzy, Rotten accompanied entrepreneur Richard Branson on a trip to Jamaica. It was during this particular journey that Branson found inspiration to establish Virgin's Frontline reggae record label.

Branson seemingly believed that Letts, being of Jamaican descent, would be well-suited to navigate the unfamiliar territory. However, unbeknownst to Branson, Letts had only experienced Jamaica vicariously through watching The Harder They Come at the Classic Cinema in Brixton.

Don Letts, reflecting on the conservative nature of Jamaican culture that seemed to have bypassed the punk movement, expressed his belief that the time was ripe for the resurgence of the Rudeboy subculture. This sentiment was captured in his statement, "In a conservative culture that feels like punk never happened, the time is right for Return of the Rudeboy."

In recognition of Letts' significant contributions to the music industry, he was honoured with a BASCA Gold Badge of Merit on 16 October 2013. This prestigious award serves as a testament to Letts' unique and influential role in shaping the music landscape.

Personal life

Letts is married to Grace and together they have two children. Additionally, he has a son and a daughter from a previous relationship.

During September 2020, Letts and his spouse Grace were showcased on BBC's Gardeners' World, where they demonstrated their unique blend of plant preferences and cultural influences in their urban garden located in north west London.

In the year 2022, Letts was bestowed with an honorary doctorate from Nottingham University.

Creative projects:

Music

Letts collaborated with Keith Levene, Jah Wobble, and Steel Leg to create the EP "Steel Leg v the Electric Dread" in 1978.

Following Mick Jones' departure from the Clash, he and Letts co-founded Big Audio Dynamite in 1984.

Letts established Screaming Target in 1990, and on 1 April 2009, he began hosting a weekly show on BBC Radio 6 Music.

In 2022, Letts released the singles 'Outta Sync' and 'Wrong' as a preview of his debut album 'Outta Sync,' which was produced by Gaudi and released on 29 September, 2023.

Books

In 2006, he published his autobiography, Culture Clash: Dread Meets Punk Rockers.

Films

Letts' career has evolved significantly since the release of his debut film, The Punk Rock Movie (1978). While he initially focused on documentaries and music videos for various bands, he later ventured into directing feature films. In 1997, Letts embarked on a journey to Jamaica to direct Dancehall Queen, showcasing his versatility as a filmmaker. His talent and dedication were recognised when his film Westway to the World (2000) received a Grammy Award in 2003, solidifying his status as a respected figure in the industry.

Fast forward to 2022, Letts' remarkable journey is explored in a new documentary titled Rebel Dread. This captivating film delves into Letts' life as a trailblazing first-generation Black British individual, highlighting his significant contributions as a cultural mover and shaker, filmmaker, and musician. Rebel Dread provides an in-depth exploration of Letts' story, shedding light on the challenges he faced and the impact he made throughout his career. It serves as a testament to Letts' immense talent and his enduring legacy in the world of film and music.

Overall, Letts' career trajectory showcases his evolution from a filmmaker focused on punk rock to a multifaceted artist who has left an indelible mark on the industry. His diverse body of work, including documentaries, music videos, and feature films, demonstrates his versatility and artistic prowess. Through Rebel Dread, audiences have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Letts' journey and the profound influence this understated but trailblazing individual has had on British culture and the world of filmmaking.