Robin in our hood

Despite his rough exterior—graying Mohawk with a pink streak and a T-shirt bearing the likeness of George Dubya with a Hitler ‘stache—Sid Locksley is a gracious and gentle man. That is until the Con-Tra-Band frontman gets on the topic of the current administration. Then, his British-accented voice raises and the F-bombs start to fly. Locksley grew up in Cornwall, England, left school at 16 and eventually joined the merchant navy. He ended up in Chico in 2002 to start what he calls “the mission.”

Explain the mission.

To take this country back, for a start, from the people who’ve stolen it. I know who these people are. I recognize Gestapo, I recognize Nazi, I’ve seen all this shit before. I can’t believe that any moron from Texas can step in and say “I’m president, man.” He knew all about 9-11, prior to it.

What are you doing to take the country back?

I told them about this when I played at The Crux—"America on Strike"—protest our work. Cinco de Mayo, 2006, everybody stops work—it’s time to prep yourself, dig in and shut the bloody country down. If you don’t feed this machine, it isn’t gonna continue.

Have you been able to find a lot of like-minded people in Chico?

It’s an army, it’s an army. I mean I’ve had like 30 musicians in this band since we’ve been together. I’ve got people waiting in England for me when I get back. It’s kind of a trip that I ended up in Chico; it’s the first place Robin Hood was filmed and that’s where I was born—Nottingham, and Locksley. It’s kind of trippy; the return of Robin Hood—because I’m doing a similar thing; trying to rob from the rich and give to the poor.

Does your dissatisfaction with the current administration make you want to pick up and leave?

Oh, I am going back [to England] in May … to get reinforcements. I’ve had additional contact now with Mohamed Al-Fayed (owner of Harrod’s department store in London, whose son Dodi died with Princess Diana) and I sent him the CD with the Queen’s head on it, “Princess Die.” When I hook up with him when I get back, I’ll have mountains of money behind it.

I read that “Princess Die” is the most dangerous song ever written …

I’ll be hung for treason for that. It’s directly saying that the monarchy assassinated her. Whereas Al-Fayed’s been on TV saying there’s definitely some kind of conspiracy going on. I’m saying that I know who the conspirators are and I want fucking something done about it. Once I start playing that in Britain, there’ll be trouble.