Telegrammed by the Archer
Perhaps Eye readers would like to join me in congratulating Bob Crow on his latest achievement.
Sharp suited Bob makes a guest appearance on the track 'Sweet Revolution' on the new Alabama 3 CD.
Whilst this is all very rock and roll perhaps Bob may want to distance himself from some of the bands other activities ('They party like b*stards' - Time Out).
And in particular their vocal support for the 'Free Ronnie Biggs' campaign.
The success of which caused considerable anger in the railway community.
As former Chief Operating Officer Peter Rayner said:
"One can't forget and one has to be clear that driver Mills... died as a result of injuries from criminals.
"Driver Mills was a man who stood against those criminals and said he wouldn't move his train with its valuable cargo.
"Driver Mills paid the penalty in that. So my feeling is one of concern that the perpetrators have been treated as folk heroes rather than the criminals that we on the railway believe them to be."
Indeed.
UPDATE: This from NR's Internet Rapid Rebuttal Unit...
Rather unusually, for someone in the rail business I know the Alabama 3 much better than I know Bob Crow.
The Alabama 3 are fellow Brixtonians and I am good pals with the band's drummer, Sir Eddie Real.
The link between the band and the RMT derives from that some (though not all) band members performed at this year's RMT-organised celebration (if that is the right word) of the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution.
The Alabama 3's relationship with the Free Ronnie Biggs campaign is entirely separate and personal.
One of the members of the band, Nick Reynolds, is the son of Bruce - one of Ronnie's co-conspirators, see here.
Anyway, all I'll say is whatever you think of the band's views they make great music. I recommend the album 'Exile on Coldharbour Lane'. Sample their tunes here.
UPDATE: This from John B...
Driver Mills died of leukemia.
That isn't, ever, caused by being bashed round the head, any more than being punched in the chest causes lung cancer.
Not sure where the weird urban myth that the robbery was a factor in his death comes from, but it's certainly not true...
