| West End Riot | |
| Cover: | Westendriot.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | The Living End |
| Album: | The Living End |
| Released: | 26 July 1999 |
| Recorded: | 1998 |
| Genre: | Punk rock, punkabilly |
| Length: | 3:54 |
| Label: | Modular, EMI |
| Producer: | Lindsay Gravina |
| Prev Title: | All Torn Down |
| Prev Year: | 1998 |
| Next Title: | Pictures in the Mirror |
| Next Year: | 2000 |
"West End Riot" is a song by Australian punk rock band The Living End. It was released in July 1999,[1] as the fourth single from their self-titled album. It peaked at 83 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart in August 1999. The song was more popular with listeners of national radio station, Triple J, appearing at No. 48 on their Hottest 100 poll for that year.[2]
The video for the song was directed by Don Letts, (who also directed a number of The Clash's videos). It was filmed in London while the band was touring the UK.[3]
A crowd favourite, it is often played at the end of a show, most notably at Festival Hall in 2006.
The song appears in the opening film clip for the video game .[4]
The song title and lyrics refer two boys who are born and raised in two different areas, who play together in the streets with toy guns, but who grow up to live very different lives, with their childhood fun being nothing more than a memory. The song is based on the West and East sides of Melbourne, even though in later years the feud has died down.
Band members
Recording process
Artwork
| Peak position | ||
| Australia (ARIA)[5] | 83 |
|---|
| Australia | July 1999 | Modular | CD | MODCS005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMI | 7243 8 87265 2 8 |