Watch an exclusive clip of ‘Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story’ featuring Damon Albarn
The film, directed by Jane Mingay, premieres at the London Film Festival on Saturday.
Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story, the new film from Jane Mingay documenting a pioneer of modern UK music, premieres in London this week – watch an exclusive clip on Rolling Stone UK below.
The film will premiere at the London Film Festival on Saturday (October 12), and our exclusive clip lays out Black’s significant influence in pushing 2-Tone to the forefront of British music culture with her work as the singer of The Selecter.
“I was just the right age when it all started to happen with 2-Tone bands,” Damon Albarn says of the scene’s impact on his musical upbringing in the clip.
He added: “They were the best bands on Top of the Pops and I absolutely loved them. The shoes, the shirts, the haircuts, the music, the imagery. I had endless copies of their logos stuck on my school books. These bands were incredibly important to me. That was the future.”
Watch the exclusive clip from Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story below. Find ticket details for the premiere of the film at London’s Prince Charles Cinema on Saturday here.
A synopsis for the film from the BFI reads: “Pauline Black is a multi-talented figure who dedicated four decades to music, while supporting and campaigning for racial equality.
“Featuring excellent archive and contemporary footage, the film charts Black’s history – from her adopted background to the racism, sexism and hostility she faced on her journey through British life and the entertainment industry. It’s engrossing, essential viewing.”
Rolling Stone previously said of Black: “Hands down, Pauline Black possessed the best voice that ever graced a 2-Tone release. Blessed with a bewitching soprano and dramatic panache, Black’s voice reached plateaus that made every other musical detail sound like part of a backdrop painted just to set the stage for her entrance.”
Earlier this year, Rolling Stone UK dived into the making of Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s new BBC show This Town, about the musical revolution in the Midlands in the 1980s, led by 2-Tone. Read the feature in full here.