Strive to Survive Causing Least Suffering Possible: Flux of Pink Indians in Forest Hill

 

Part of the Transpontine mission is to document the various byways of music in South London. In this spirit, and courtesy of Graham Burnett's 'Anarcho-punk archives' [site now defunct], we bring you this treasure from Forest Hill, circa 1985. The teepee belonged to Steve Ignorant of anarcho-punk legends Crass, and was in the garden of the house where members of fellow punk pacifists Flux of Pink Indians lived. Flux put out their first (and in my view best) LP, 'Strive to Survive Causing Least Suffering Possible' in 1982. I even had the  'All the arms we need' poster from this on my bedsit wall.

Derek Birkett of the band later formed One Little Indian records, putting out lots of cool stuff by Bjork, Alabama 3, Kitchens of Distinction and many others. In fact, Bjork was interviewed at  what Sounds described as 'the One Little Indian HQ, Forest Hill' for Sounds in 1987 (read it here), when she was still in the Sugarcubes.

Update March 2024

Flux of Pink Indians lead singer Colin Latter has recently discussed this photo on Insta:

 'I remember this day in 1985 so well but never knew a photo existed of when Steve Igs of Crass came over to the Flux flat in Forest Hill to set up a tipi in the garden. Steve and I are crouching down on the left, both wearing whitish t shirts (I know, not black!). I came across the photo on the South East London Blogzine 'Transpontine' and the photo was taken by Graham Burnett of the excellent New Crimes fanzine who had popped up from Southend to visit us along with some friends. First thing Steve said to me was that it will take an hour or two to set up but we'll get it looking like it's up in 15 minutes. Otherwise the other members of Flux, who were watching us from the balcony, will start ribbing us if it looks like we're struggling. 

 It was just down from the station and just off the South Circular. It was a block of four ex police flats that have since been knocked down I believe... in Westbourne Drive'

The flat in Westbourne Drive was apparently part of a housing co-op, it seems through the same co-op they moved to a house  at 3 Fransfield Gove SE26 that became the One Little Indian HQ. That is the record label address given on releases from 1985 to 1987, so presumably here that The Sugarcubes came... just a few years afer A-ha were living round the corner!