Filmed at their last gig at Gravesend Red Lion on 29th January 2011 by The Welsh Tart.
Daz Champ from The Commited writes a bit about The Commited's recent history and also talks about Dictated life. (see below video)
The Commited – Recent History
The lyrics to “Dictated Life” were the first written by me. Although it’s a very basic structure, the words sum up the feeling of adolescent life at the end of the 70s. It’s about the lack of true choice in life (especially for the unemployed). Days of boredom watching crap telly; the rip-off prices of fags, booze & food; the need to steal (“liberate”) goods because dole money is so shit; getting nicked for trying to survive; standing before the pompous, well-off magistrate & being told you have to pay a fine, leading to a greater need to “liberate”; & the soul-destroying depression which can come from a long time being treated as a non-entity.
As all of the members had somehow survived, we decided to reform in the summer of 2009 for a one-off gig to mark the 30th anniversary of the recording of the “Fast Lane” EP (19th October 1979). We thought about maybe updating some of the lyrics to make them more relevant to the state of society today, but soon realised that the original words are as relevant today as they were when we first wrote them, so we left them alone. The response to that first reunion gig was so positive that we decided to do another. That led to another gig, then another, and then to the final one at The Red Lion, Gravesend on 29th January 2011 where we had last played in about 1984. Playing again with Anthrax was a fitting finale to our reunion and the other great highlight was supporting the UK Subs. We had followed the Subs since the late 70s & would never have believed then that a) they would one day play on the Isle of Sheppey or b) that we would support them.
A few weeks before the Red Lion gig, one of the band announced that he would be leaving the band after that gig. Life sometimes has a habit of getting in the way of things we really want to do so, as gutted as we all were, we accepted that this would be the final fling for the band.
I think I speak for the whole band when I say that each one of us really have had a great time over the last 18 months. It’s too soon to know what direction things will go now, but several ideas are about. Watch this space.
Keep the Faith & Keep on Rockin’
Daz
