In the words of the eternally sardonic Stranglers frontman, Hugh Cornwell, there are no more heroes anymore. Here, we are in the middle of probably the most important election campaign since el presidente Blair took power in 97’ and not one single musician is making any kind of profound statement about contemporary British politics. The closest we’ve got is Blur’s former drummer, Dave Rowntree, standing as a Labour candidate and fat, Manc, boy-band twat Gary Barlow coming out in support of David Cameron. The only thing that’s brought a smile to my face is this brilliant Pulp parody.

(We at Fallyrag are, of course, completely un-biased, so I must point out that both Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg, are also Twats [even if Cameron is a much bigger one.])

During the reign of the Witch queen (1979-90) things may have been bad but you could at least see that the musical establishment were forming some kind of resistance. The Clash may have fucked off to Rock the Kasbah but they left behind Billy Bragg (AKA the bard of Woking) to keep carrying the red flag and, in some weird alliance with ginger labour leader Neil Kinnock, form the Red Wedge campaign.

Comprised of Bragg himself, angel voiced Communards singer Jimmy Somerville, singer/song writing Stalinist Robert Wyatt, Paul Weller (going through his cardigan wearing soul boy phase with the Style Council) and Specials founder Jeffrey Dammars.

Despite having office space at Labour Party HQ, the organisation was strictly non-partisan (born out by Wyatt’s scathing criticism of Kinnock) and its main ambition was just to engage young people in the political process. They printed a pamphlet, organised a tour (which included comedians such as Phil Jupitus, Robbie Coltrane, Ben “sell out” Elton and Harry Enfield, as well as music) and made numerous TV appearances in an effort to get the stoned electorate of the 1980s off their arses and down to the polling stations.

Like a lot of Socialist activism in the 80s they failed spectacularly, unless of course the young electorate got off their arses and voted Thatcher. They did try though, and like every frustrated lefty (or horrible Trotskyite c*nt as my mates call me) I love a noble failure.

The question is then: Where is a modern equivalent? Somehow I can’t see any of our preening chart stars getting involved, and anyway which side do you pick? Your choices are the Tories (rich bastards), Labour (treacherous bastards) or the Lib Dems (who are these bastards?) and even then it’s doubtful anything will change for the better. My only advice is to vote from the heart, not tactically, because if you care about politics that’s the only reasonable thing you can do.

Come election night I shall be sat waiting for the results to come in and listening to Bragg’s the Internationale at obscenely loud volume. And probably crying a little bit. No more heroes indeed.