As I sit with with DJ DREW waiting for the CANADA DAY 🍁 parade, I note that it is tine to celebrate some national pride today.

Not just the pride associated with it being July 1st here in Canada 🍁 🇨🇦. No no.

[Ed. Note- Editing on the go- Group member Vincent Georgie is The Grand Marshall of the parade.]

In 2019 I was in London 🇬🇧 with son HAYDEN MICHAEL. On July 1, I woke early and rode the entirety of The Jubilee Line on the London Underground posting songs by Canadian artists.

No, we are talking here about indie nation pride. The kind of pride akin to the ethos and spirit of gwilliamrexunderground365.com.

We are talking about the national pride of this sovereign micro- state.

Welcome to Sealand!

Yup. Hard to believe but this is a sovereign state.

The micro-nation is situated in the English Channel 7 miles off the coast of England. This structure was erected as an outpost hosting artillery batteries to fend off Nazi planes attacking London during the WWII Blitz.

In the mid 1960’s this beast was involved in the nascent Pirate Radio phenomenon- challenging the monopoly that the BBC had over British broadcasting. They did this by broadcasting outside the territorial waters of the UK.

Patrick Roy Bates was the Pirate Radio major domo.

In 1967, (the year of Canada’s 100th birthday) he founded the Principality of Sealand. He was married to (Princess) Joan Collins (not that one) and they had two children.

Here is their daughter, (Princess) Penelope Bates defending the homeland.

It is her brother, Michael Bates, who is currently the Prince Of Sealand.

There is one permanent resident of Sealand. That is Michael Barrington who takes care of all official tasks, including Customs and citizenship.

The Royal Family share their time between Sealand and nearby Southend- On- Sea, County Essex where sons (Prince) James and (Prince) Liam operate a quintessential British business harvesting cockles called “Fruits Of The Sea”.

It would all seem like a script for a new mockumentary if it wasn’t true.

There was an engaging piece on 60 Minutes the other night.

It described how there is a flag, currency. passports and internet business ventures. They sell Titles for a modest fee.

There was once a coup (1978) complete with a retaking of SEALAND by Prince Michael and negotiations with the government of Germany 🇩🇪 for the release of a captive rebel held for a ransom and charged with treason. Prince Michael asserts their nationhood was legitimized by this interaction with sovereign Germany.

There is a government in exile in Germany – The Sealandic Rebel Government!

Here is a snippet on the 60 Minutes piece.

[Ed. Note- There is much more on the internet if you are intrigued.]

Okay- back to indie musical reality. There was much to choose from.

I passed on a song by SEAFEVER. Those who are aware of the composition of that band know why.

I passed on the song “Sealand” by OMD 🇬🇧 because I didn’t like it even though the drumming mimics someone hitting Sealand with a hammer.

In the end I settled on this song from the 2007 debut LP by Chicago noise merchants AIRIEL. The LP is entitled “The Battle Of Sealand”!

Here is the track “You Kids Should Know Better”

SPOTIFY

https://open.spotify.com/track/5PkT3dKR3hoML31D7IMPh6?si=vH38963yTf2Hvv6wmMqyvA

(SONG 1140)

Play Loud and Stay Indie

July 1, 2025