Celebrating the Legacy of Gil Scott-Heron
This evening at The Malt Cross, as part of Black History Month, join us for a major celebration of Gil Scott-Heron’s exceptional musical, political and literary legacy through engaging debate and conversation.
The evening will feature previously unheard Gil Scott-Heron audio interviews, alongside music and visuals.
About Gil Scott-Heron
Emerging during the Black Power era, which he would help define, Gil Scott-Heron was a highly charismatic African-American renaissance man: singer, musician, poet, novelist, songwriter and political activist.
Classic recordings such as The Bottle, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Johannesburg and Lady Day & John Coltrane would go on to influence countless musicians and hip-hop artists, earning Gil the title “The Godfather of Rap”.
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Gil Scott-Heron’s first UK tour in 1976, which included a performance in Nottingham.
An Evening with James Maycock and Vince Wilson
Join award-winning filmmaker and journalist James Maycock and Vince Wilson for an illuminating discussion about Gil Scott-Heron, his life and his remarkable legacy.
James will share his personal experiences of Gil Scott-Heron, offering unique insights into the man behind the music and his enduring cultural and political influence.
Vince Wilson attended Gil Scott-Heron’s performance in Birmingham during his first UK tour in 1976. He will share his memories, impressions and reflections on witnessing this historic moment.
James Maycock’s Experience with Gil Scott-Heron
Before beginning his own film-directing career, James worked as Assistant Producer on the acclaimed BBC Two documentary Gil Scott-Heron: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (2004), directed by Don Letts.
Filmed over several days in New York, the documentary offered extraordinary access to Gil Scott-Heron at a fascinating and challenging point in his life. No other film crew had been granted this level of access for years.
At the time, it had been 10 years since his previous album, Spirits. Gil appeared creatively adrift and was struggling with drug dependency, leaving many wondering what had happened to such a prodigious musical and political force.
The documentary also captured him six years before his acclaimed 2010 comeback album, I’m New Here, released on XL Recordings. The album was later remixed by Jamie xx in 2011, the year of Gil Scott-Heron’s death.
James has interviewed Gil Scott-Heron several times for major UK publications, including The Times, The Guardian, The Independent and Mojo Magazine.
He has also interviewed several people close to Gil, including Malcolm Cecil, producer for both Stevie Wonder and Gil Scott-Heron, and Brian Jackson, Gil’s songwriting partner.
Gil Scott-Heron’s influence has continued to grow since his passing, and he is now widely regarded as one of the most significant Black American artists of the 20th century.
Topics We’ll Explore
Throughout the evening, James and Vince will explore the life, work and influence of Gil Scott-Heron, including:
- Race, segregation and apartheid
- Gil Scott-Heron’s influence on hip-hop
- Political activism, including Watergate, Ronald Reagan and nuclear power
- Drug dependency and personal struggles
- His poetry, prose and literary contributions
- His role in the campaign to establish Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a US national holiday
- And much more
Read the LeftLion Interview
Ahead of this event, James Maycock spoke with
LeftLion
about Gil Scott-Heron, his involvement in the BBC documentary Gil Scott-Heron: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, and the enduring legacy of one of the most influential Black artists of the twentieth century.
Read the full interview here →
Audience Q&A
There will be an opportunity for audience questions and answers towards the end of the evening.
