Don Letts

Don Letts

Punk legend Don Letts on telling his life story in new doc 'Rebel Dread'

Don Letts is a British filmmaker, musician, and DJ who is best known for his work in promoting and popularising reggae and punk music in the UK. In the late 1970s, Letts became a regular DJ at the Roxy club in London, which was one of the first venues to host punk rock bands. He also became involved in the reggae music scene and began playing dub and roots reggae music at clubs and parties.

Letts also produced and directed several documentaries, including "The Punk Rock Movie" (1978) and "Dancehall Queen" (1997), which explored the Jamaican dancehall music scene. In 1981, he co-produced the influential ska music documentary "Dance Craze,", which I recently saw alongside a Q&A with Mark Kermode: it featured performances by The Specials, Madness, The Selecter, and The Beat. Letts also directed and produced several documentaries throughout his career, covering a range of topics including music, culture, and social issues.

In addition to his music documentaries, Letts has also directed and produced documentaries on topics such as British identity, fashion, and street art.

Some of his other notable documentaries include:

"Culture Clash: London Calling" (1999) - This documentary explores the cultural diversity of London through interviews with people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
"The Story of Skinhead" (2016) - This documentary examines the history and cultural significance of the skinhead subculture in the UK.
"The Art of Punk" (2018) - This documentary series explores the art and design of punk rock album covers, featuring interviews with artists and musicians from the punk scene.

Letts' documentaries are known for their thought-provoking commentary, insightful analysis, and compelling storytelling. He has been praised for his ability to capture the cultural and social significance of various subcultures and to shed light on important issues through his filmmaking. His analysis of culture inspires me to replicate translate a true depiction of my subject area, in a way that is socially considered as well as aesthetically.

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