Basement 5 were a reggae punk fusion band from London founded in 1978. Their first vocalist was Winston Fergus, then Don Letts. One of their early performances was a support for Public Image Ltd.'s London debut at the Rainbow on Christmas Day 1978. Finally in 1979 Dennis Morris - photographer of Bob Marley and the Sex Pistols, took over as creative force, lead vocalist and lyricist. He also designed the Basement 5 logo and created their image. The drums were played by Richard Dudanski, who had played in the bands 101ers, The Raincoats and Public Image Ltd. Their songs reflected the political situation of the time in Great Britain in the era of Margaret Thatcher: youth unemployment, strikes, racism and the poverty of the working class.
It ain't a mod gaff
119 hurt
Police on the retreat
It's not a race riot
There's a riot goin' on
It could have been a hot Summer
Temperature was rising
Kids on the street with itchy feet
Sea breeze can't cool their inner heat
You sight a mod
There's a vision of blue
There's no stopping you now
There's a riot goin' on
Temperature 75 degrees fahrenheit
We're having a heat wave
It's getting to you in the centigrades
Ladbroke Grove is 10 to 1 on
Lewisham a favourite
The race is on
They're on the move
There's no stopping them now
There's a riot goin' on
Riot in Iran
Riot in London
Run run run he's got a gun
He's gonna blow up the building