The Music Must Change
“I wonder what we'll play for you tonight
Something heavy or something light
Something to set your soul alight
I wonder how we'll answer when you say
"We don't like you - go away,
"Come back when you've learnt to play"
I wonder what we'll do when things go wrong
When we're half-way throughour favourite song
We look up and the audience has gone
Will we feel a little bit obscure
Think "we're not needed here,
"We must be new wave-
they'll like us next year"
The Wonders don't care
- we don't give a damn”
From “One Chord Wonders” by The Adverts
Among the many perks of teaching high school kids is the exposure to new rock groups. No kidding, as I am a huge fan of various genres, but more particularly punk.
When I was a kid…as all famous stories go…I was exposed to the late 1970s punk revolutions. Eagerly anticipating various Ramones albums, I was immersed in the raw quality of punk rock.
Here is my list of five potential great “Punk” Rock groups for the kiddies to try who think Blink 182 and Green Day are all that exist.
#5. Stiff Little Fingers—ignored perhaps but Stiff Little Fingers could play quick, loud, and with amazing accuracy. Song highlights: Alternative Ulster, Nobody’s Heroes, Suspect Device. THE ALBUM TO OWN: Inflammable Material
4. The Sex Pistols—they were more of a manufactured image that actually gained popularity by a failed United States tour—they toured the South playing Punk Rock: how successful do you think they would be? They also gained popularity by the bizarre addictions and death of Sid Vicious. Song Highlights; God Save the Queen, Anarchy In the UK, Bodies, 17, and Pretty Vacant. THE ALBUM TO OWN: Never Mind The Bullocks: Here’s The Sex Pistols
#3. The Jam—More mod than Punk, but true innovators. If you are a fan of the Who and early Kinks, you will love the Jam. Their songs are catchy, sophisticated and polished. They are also dubbed “too English” for an American audience. I’ve heard the same mentioned about Shakespeare and it strikes me that he was pretty solid. Song Highlights: In The City, Away From The Numbers, To Be Someone, This Is The Modern World, News of the World, Mr. Clean, When You’re Young, Strange Town, Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, Going Underground, Start, That’s Entertainment, Absolute Beginners, Beat Surrender. THE ALBUM TO OWN: All Mod Cons
#2. The Clash—The ONLY band that matters. They are actually graced by creating the perfect PUNK rock album—twice. Their first self-titled album is so incredible and so powerful. I soaked it up the first time I heard it. Two albums later, London Calling—not only the greatest PUNK album (other than the debut Clash LP) ever made, but quite arguably the greatest ROCK album ever made. They were political savvy and musically incredible. Under the tough vision of Joe Strummer, the Clash did more to legitimatize punk rock than any group ever. Song Highlights: London’s Burning, Complete Control, Clash City Rockers, Police and Thieves, Janie Jones, Garageland, (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais, English Civil War, Tommy Gun, Safe European War, Stay Free, London Calling, Clampdown, Rudie Can’t Fail, Train In Vain, Wrong ‘Em Boyo, Koka Kola, Bankrobber, Armagideon Time, This Is The Radio Clash, Rock The Casbah, Straight to Hell, Should I Stay Or Should I Go. THE ALBUM TO OWN: London Calling
#1 The Ramones—taken from us much too soon, this band never received their due. They were humorous and their sound was coy while being simple. They actually wrote more “pop” songs and owe more to the mid-1960s than any group ever, and the heavy thundering of the three chord wonders left us in awe. Further, their first four albums were considered by many critics as the strongest line-up ever released in succession. Also, their IT’S ALIVE double album is the best LIVE record ever recorded. Obviously these are all opinions, but talk about fantastic. In a career highlight, they poked fun at themselves and the genre by making Rock ‘N’ Roll High School—a feature film that has risen to cult status. It also stars P.J. Soules (she was Bill Murray’s chick in Stripes and was one of the “mean” girls in the First Halloween film) and the shower scene with her, although innocent by today’s standards, was entertaining when I was a sophomore in high school. As the group began to record later albums, their creativity at times seemed sparse, but all of their albums had a few redeeming songs—well—except Mondo Bizarro and their album of 1960s cover songs called Acid Eaters. Song Highlights: Blitzkrieg Bop, 53rd and 3rd, Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue, Glad To See You Go, Gimmie Gimmie Shock Treatment, I Remember You, Commando, Pinhead, Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, Teenage Lobotomy, I Don’t Care, I Wanna Be Sedated (quite possibly the GREATEST rock song EVER RECORDED—and I am not kidding), She’s The One, Rock ‘N’ Roll High School, Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio (Quite Possibly the GREATEST NON-HIT that should have been one), The KKK Took My Baby Away, It’s Not My Place In The 9-5 World, We Want The Airwaves, Psycho Therapy, Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La)—A Song that rips on Corporate America and Wars, My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down—Bonzo Goes To Bitburg (A song that questions how Reagan could put a wreath on a Nazi soldier’s tomb—this is such a fantastic song with one of the best lyrics they ever wrote “You Know What Really Makes Me Sick Is When Someone Tries To Hide Behind Politics”), I Wanna Live, Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight With You), I Don’t Wanna Grow Up, and a remake of the Spider-Man theme. THE ALBUM TO OWN: The Ramones Leave Home although a greatest hits package (Hey Ho Let’s GO The Anthology) would give a more precise picture of their evolution.
I have also put together a list of twenty songs that will fit on your burning CD desires that represent what I feel are the best of the genre—although I took no songs from the previously mentioned bands. These songs capture the spirit and the posturing of early punk rock. I tried to only take one song from each band, but if you ever see a Buzzcocks, Adverts, Undertones, Iggy Pop, or Vibrators “greatest hits” package—buy it.
One Chord Wonders: The Adverts
Blank Generation: Richard Hell And The Voidoids
Wild Youth: Generation X (Billy Idol’s band)
Lust For Life: Iggy Pop
Baby Baby: The Vibrators
Murder of Liddle Towers: Angelic Upstarts
Human Fly: The Cramps
Homicide: 999
Let’s Break The Law: Anti Nowhere League
Police Truck: The Dead Kennedys
Gary Gilmore’s Eyes: The Adverts
Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve?: The Buzzcocks
See No Evil: Television
Do Anything You Wanna Do: Eddie and The Hot Rods
Flares And Slippers: The Cockney Rejects
2-4-6-8 Motorway: Tom Robinson Band
If The Kids Are United (We Will Never Be Divided): Sham 69
The Sound Of The Suburbs: The Members
Teenage Kicks: The Undertones
You’re In A Rut: The Ruts
Lastly, there are some excellent CD Compilations out there. I recommend the Rhino DIY (Do It Yourself) Collections—although they are out of print. I also very much appreciate a BOX SET out there from Rhino called No Thanks: The 70s Punk Rebellion. If you dig around on the Internet (eBay and Amazon and Half.com) you may find a two CD set called Burning Ambitions—it is excellent; The Best Punk Album In The World…Ever (a two CD set that is great); Teenage Kicks (another two CD set that includes some decent new wave as well like some Joe Jackson material and Turning Japanese by the Vapors); and my personal favorite found for $5.99 at Circuit City The Great British Punk Rock Explosion from Dojo records. This is an incredible collection of lesser known punk stuff that is sure to please.
When we traveled to London last year, the Brits were very proud of the punkers, to be honest. On a walking Rock Music Tour, they were pointing out many sites that were made famous by the Sex Pistols—more so than sites by the Who.
Rock music was meant to be rebellious, and I think we have left that behind for corporate Boy Bands, stupid rap influence crapola, and lame boring pop hits. Bottom lines, if they do not play their own instruments, write their own songs, and perform rather than lip syncing in concert—IT IS NOT GOOD OR CREATIVE MUSIC.
I took some heat in high school for liking punk. I want to go back to the 25th reunion and find the guy who made fun of me for carrying around a Clash and a 999 album that I borrowed from Ed (Po) Locke. This guy was in my homeroom told me that I should be listening to “good music like Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Journey, and Yes.” Maybe if I see him, I should "pogo" on his face. Then again, maybe not: Sigh…some people cannot be helped. He is more to be pitied.
Something heavy or something light
Something to set your soul alight
I wonder how we'll answer when you say
"We don't like you - go away,
"Come back when you've learnt to play"
I wonder what we'll do when things go wrong
When we're half-way throughour favourite song
We look up and the audience has gone
Will we feel a little bit obscure
Think "we're not needed here,
"We must be new wave-
they'll like us next year"
The Wonders don't care
- we don't give a damn”
From “One Chord Wonders” by The Adverts
Among the many perks of teaching high school kids is the exposure to new rock groups. No kidding, as I am a huge fan of various genres, but more particularly punk.
When I was a kid…as all famous stories go…I was exposed to the late 1970s punk revolutions. Eagerly anticipating various Ramones albums, I was immersed in the raw quality of punk rock.
Here is my list of five potential great “Punk” Rock groups for the kiddies to try who think Blink 182 and Green Day are all that exist.
#5. Stiff Little Fingers—ignored perhaps but Stiff Little Fingers could play quick, loud, and with amazing accuracy. Song highlights: Alternative Ulster, Nobody’s Heroes, Suspect Device. THE ALBUM TO OWN: Inflammable Material
4. The Sex Pistols—they were more of a manufactured image that actually gained popularity by a failed United States tour—they toured the South playing Punk Rock: how successful do you think they would be? They also gained popularity by the bizarre addictions and death of Sid Vicious. Song Highlights; God Save the Queen, Anarchy In the UK, Bodies, 17, and Pretty Vacant. THE ALBUM TO OWN: Never Mind The Bullocks: Here’s The Sex Pistols
#3. The Jam—More mod than Punk, but true innovators. If you are a fan of the Who and early Kinks, you will love the Jam. Their songs are catchy, sophisticated and polished. They are also dubbed “too English” for an American audience. I’ve heard the same mentioned about Shakespeare and it strikes me that he was pretty solid. Song Highlights: In The City, Away From The Numbers, To Be Someone, This Is The Modern World, News of the World, Mr. Clean, When You’re Young, Strange Town, Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, Going Underground, Start, That’s Entertainment, Absolute Beginners, Beat Surrender. THE ALBUM TO OWN: All Mod Cons
#2. The Clash—The ONLY band that matters. They are actually graced by creating the perfect PUNK rock album—twice. Their first self-titled album is so incredible and so powerful. I soaked it up the first time I heard it. Two albums later, London Calling—not only the greatest PUNK album (other than the debut Clash LP) ever made, but quite arguably the greatest ROCK album ever made. They were political savvy and musically incredible. Under the tough vision of Joe Strummer, the Clash did more to legitimatize punk rock than any group ever. Song Highlights: London’s Burning, Complete Control, Clash City Rockers, Police and Thieves, Janie Jones, Garageland, (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais, English Civil War, Tommy Gun, Safe European War, Stay Free, London Calling, Clampdown, Rudie Can’t Fail, Train In Vain, Wrong ‘Em Boyo, Koka Kola, Bankrobber, Armagideon Time, This Is The Radio Clash, Rock The Casbah, Straight to Hell, Should I Stay Or Should I Go. THE ALBUM TO OWN: London Calling
#1 The Ramones—taken from us much too soon, this band never received their due. They were humorous and their sound was coy while being simple. They actually wrote more “pop” songs and owe more to the mid-1960s than any group ever, and the heavy thundering of the three chord wonders left us in awe. Further, their first four albums were considered by many critics as the strongest line-up ever released in succession. Also, their IT’S ALIVE double album is the best LIVE record ever recorded. Obviously these are all opinions, but talk about fantastic. In a career highlight, they poked fun at themselves and the genre by making Rock ‘N’ Roll High School—a feature film that has risen to cult status. It also stars P.J. Soules (she was Bill Murray’s chick in Stripes and was one of the “mean” girls in the First Halloween film) and the shower scene with her, although innocent by today’s standards, was entertaining when I was a sophomore in high school. As the group began to record later albums, their creativity at times seemed sparse, but all of their albums had a few redeeming songs—well—except Mondo Bizarro and their album of 1960s cover songs called Acid Eaters. Song Highlights: Blitzkrieg Bop, 53rd and 3rd, Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue, Glad To See You Go, Gimmie Gimmie Shock Treatment, I Remember You, Commando, Pinhead, Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, Teenage Lobotomy, I Don’t Care, I Wanna Be Sedated (quite possibly the GREATEST rock song EVER RECORDED—and I am not kidding), She’s The One, Rock ‘N’ Roll High School, Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio (Quite Possibly the GREATEST NON-HIT that should have been one), The KKK Took My Baby Away, It’s Not My Place In The 9-5 World, We Want The Airwaves, Psycho Therapy, Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La)—A Song that rips on Corporate America and Wars, My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down—Bonzo Goes To Bitburg (A song that questions how Reagan could put a wreath on a Nazi soldier’s tomb—this is such a fantastic song with one of the best lyrics they ever wrote “You Know What Really Makes Me Sick Is When Someone Tries To Hide Behind Politics”), I Wanna Live, Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight With You), I Don’t Wanna Grow Up, and a remake of the Spider-Man theme. THE ALBUM TO OWN: The Ramones Leave Home although a greatest hits package (Hey Ho Let’s GO The Anthology) would give a more precise picture of their evolution.
I have also put together a list of twenty songs that will fit on your burning CD desires that represent what I feel are the best of the genre—although I took no songs from the previously mentioned bands. These songs capture the spirit and the posturing of early punk rock. I tried to only take one song from each band, but if you ever see a Buzzcocks, Adverts, Undertones, Iggy Pop, or Vibrators “greatest hits” package—buy it.
One Chord Wonders: The Adverts
Blank Generation: Richard Hell And The Voidoids
Wild Youth: Generation X (Billy Idol’s band)
Lust For Life: Iggy Pop
Baby Baby: The Vibrators
Murder of Liddle Towers: Angelic Upstarts
Human Fly: The Cramps
Homicide: 999
Let’s Break The Law: Anti Nowhere League
Police Truck: The Dead Kennedys
Gary Gilmore’s Eyes: The Adverts
Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve?: The Buzzcocks
See No Evil: Television
Do Anything You Wanna Do: Eddie and The Hot Rods
Flares And Slippers: The Cockney Rejects
2-4-6-8 Motorway: Tom Robinson Band
If The Kids Are United (We Will Never Be Divided): Sham 69
The Sound Of The Suburbs: The Members
Teenage Kicks: The Undertones
You’re In A Rut: The Ruts
Lastly, there are some excellent CD Compilations out there. I recommend the Rhino DIY (Do It Yourself) Collections—although they are out of print. I also very much appreciate a BOX SET out there from Rhino called No Thanks: The 70s Punk Rebellion. If you dig around on the Internet (eBay and Amazon and Half.com) you may find a two CD set called Burning Ambitions—it is excellent; The Best Punk Album In The World…Ever (a two CD set that is great); Teenage Kicks (another two CD set that includes some decent new wave as well like some Joe Jackson material and Turning Japanese by the Vapors); and my personal favorite found for $5.99 at Circuit City The Great British Punk Rock Explosion from Dojo records. This is an incredible collection of lesser known punk stuff that is sure to please.
When we traveled to London last year, the Brits were very proud of the punkers, to be honest. On a walking Rock Music Tour, they were pointing out many sites that were made famous by the Sex Pistols—more so than sites by the Who.
Rock music was meant to be rebellious, and I think we have left that behind for corporate Boy Bands, stupid rap influence crapola, and lame boring pop hits. Bottom lines, if they do not play their own instruments, write their own songs, and perform rather than lip syncing in concert—IT IS NOT GOOD OR CREATIVE MUSIC.
I took some heat in high school for liking punk. I want to go back to the 25th reunion and find the guy who made fun of me for carrying around a Clash and a 999 album that I borrowed from Ed (Po) Locke. This guy was in my homeroom told me that I should be listening to “good music like Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Journey, and Yes.” Maybe if I see him, I should "pogo" on his face. Then again, maybe not: Sigh…some people cannot be helped. He is more to be pitied.
posted by Eric Sweetwood at 7:34 AM
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