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6 Music’s Deep Dive into Massive Attack’s Blue Lines

Celebrating 35 years since the release of this seminal album with music from 1991 all day, plus hear Blue Lines in full across the day alongside words from the artists that love it.

Celebrating 35 years since the release of this seminal album with music from 1991 all day, plus hear Blue Lines in full throughout the day alongside messages from those who were there and those it inspired.

To mark the occasion, Chris speaks to legendary DJ and producer Roni Size about the early days of the Bristol scene, hanging around with the Wild Bunch, his love of Massive Attack, and how he won the Mercury Music Prize.

Released on in April 1991, Massive Attack’s Blue Lines melded a punk spirit with the sound of hip hop and dub, forged in the sound systems of Bristol it created a world completely its own, spawned decade defining tracks and turned the global music spotlight onto its home city.

To celebrate its 35th birthday, alongside playing a huge range of music from 1991, we’ve dug into the archive and found interviews from the key players involved in its making, with words from 3D and Daddy G of the band, plus Cameron McVey, Roni Size and Neneh Cherry. We’ve also new messages from those who love the album, including Beth Orton, Arlo Parks, Martina Topley-Bird, James Lavelle and more.

Head to BBC Sounds to catch up with everything from the day, as well as to listen to a special programme that brings together the album and all the messages together in one handy listen. Just search Massive Attack in Sounds.

Want to get involved? Email chris.6music@bbc.co.uk.

Produced by Audio Always in Salford for BBC Radio 6 Music.

25 days left to listen

3 hours

Music Played

  • James

    Sit Down

    • Fontana.
  • Chapterhouse

    Pearl

    • WHIRLPOOL.
    • DEDICATED.
  • N‐Joi

    Anthem

    • Anthem.
    • Sony Music UK.
    • 1.
  • The Orb

    Perpetual Dawn

    • (CD Single).
    • Big Life.
    • 1.
  • Metallica

    Enter Sandman

    • Vertigo.
  • Green Day

    Welcome To Paradise

    • Kerplunk!.
    • Reprise.
    • 3.
  • Teenage Fanclub

    The Concept

    • Bandwagonesque.
    • Sony Music CG.
    • 1.
  • Throwing Muses

    Counting Backwards

    • BEECHWOOD.
  • Living Colour

    Love Rears Its Ugly Head (Soulpower Remix)

    • Pride.
    • Epic.
    • 5.
  • Primal Scream

    Don't Fight It, Feel It (feat. Denise Johnson) (feat. Denise Johnson)

    • Creation Records.
  • 808 State

    Ooops (feat. Björk)

    • ex:el.
    • ZTT Records.
    • 7.
  • Black Sheep

    The Choice Is Yours

    • Mercury.
  • The U.M.C.’s

    One To Grow On

    • Wild Pitch.
  • Digital Underground

    Same Song

    • WARNER BROS.
  • Moby

    Go

    • Mute.
  • Prince & The New Power Generation

    Cream

    • Paisley Park/Warner Bros.
  • Dream Frequency & Debbie Sharp

    Feel So Real

    • City Beat.
  • Sepultura

    Desperate Cry

    • Arise.
    • Roadrunner Records.
    • 3.
  • Del the Funky Homosapien

    Mista Dobalina

    • Elektra.
  • Massive Attack

    Unfinished Sympathy (Roni Size Re-Work)

    • Wild Bunch/Virgin.
  • Billy Bragg

    Sexuality

    • Cooking Vinyl.
  • The Wonder Stuff

    Size Of A Cow

    • EMI.
  • My Bloody Valentine

    Only Shallow

    • LOVELESS.
    • CREATION.
  • Ride

    Unfamiliar

    • 4 EPs.
    • Wichita Recordings.
    • 13.
  • New Atlantic

    I Know

    • 3 Beat Music.
  • SL2

    DJs Take Control

    • XL Recordings.
  • Carl Cox

    I Want You (Forever)

    • I Want You (Forever).
    • Perfecto Records.
    • 1.
  • The Shamen

    Move Any Mountain

    • Awesome 2 - Various Artists.
    • EMI.

Broadcast

  • Wednesday13:00