Episode 104- The Working Class Origins of Heavy Metal and Corbyn's New Party w/ James Matthewson

In this episode of the Power/Less Podcast, I speak with James Matthewson, a former spokesperson for the Labour Party, organizer, tv broadcaster and author, about the intersection of metal music, working-class identity, and politics. James shares insights on the current state of left-wing politics in the UK, critiques the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn as well as his new left wing political party, and discusses the need for new movements that resonate with the working class. Follow and support James Mathewson: https://www.jamesmatthewson.com/https://www.instagram.com/jmatthewsonofficial/Follow and support the podcast:thepowerlesspod.comlinktr.ee/thepowerlesspodinstagram.com/thepowerlesspodhttps://bsky.app/profile/thepowerlesspod.comtiktok.com/@thepowerlesspod 0:00 Intro Music0:24 Introduction to James Matthewson and His Work3:12 The Impact of Metal Music on Working-Class Identity6:13 Political Dimensions of Music and Art9:01 Class Struggles and the Evolution of Metal11:45 The Shift in Political Messaging in Music14:25 The Role of Authenticity in Politics17:09 Partisanship and Its Effects on Political Discourse20:00 The Future of Left-Wing Politics in the UK23:10 Critique of the Labour Party and Corbyn's Leadership26:02 The Need for New Political Movements28:42 The Importance of Grassroots Activism31:25 Conclusion and Future Directions