Left of The Dial--And The RIGHT Thing To Do

“My bummin' slummin' friends have all got new bootsAn' someone just asked me if the group would wear suitsWe're a garage bandWe come from Garageland”

“Garageland” by Joe Strummer of The Clash—The Clash debut album, 1977.

Someone asked me once, why the fascination with “Punk Rock” and the “Post-Punk” bands? The answer is simple and I will direct you to a relatively new documentary called Punk Attitude. Punk is from the gut, it’s a kick in the crotch to wake people up, and it’s a call to expressive and artistic license.

DIY (Do It Yourself) bands were tired of the “corporate” rock world of long instrumentation and annoying solo’s and songs about “twilight realms” (Dream-Weaver) and lame pop ditties (Don’t Go Breaking My Heart and Love Will Keep Us Together) in the mid-1970s. I mean Rock Music is supposed to stand for something.

Rebellion is less of a word and more of an attitude. For those who think “three chords,” followed by indistinguishable “screams,” followed by an “up yours” lyric is Punk Rock, well, you have part of the story, but not the whole novel.

Punk’s foundations are in the rebellious nature of the forefathers of rock (Elvis and Jerry Lee) and the angst over how crappy bands took over the radio. Be honest, Yes even to a person who finds them somewhat interesting as a band, as for the person who marvels at Eric Clapton as a solo player; must admit that after a while, it is pretty dull. “Peace and Love” in the 1960s gave way to complacency, big bucks, and yawn music. Hence Punk came in.

Chrissy Hynde of the Pretenders in the Punk Attitude film said that Punk lasted only nine months because the bands that practiced their craft eventually became better—therefore less “punky.” But she is quick to point out that the experimental aspects and willing to take ownership of the art form is the true message of punk—as exemplified in the “Post-Punk” movement. She’s right. I guess the knock is that Post-Punk is so dark and Goth-like. Actually that critique is more based on stereotyping than it is based on truth.

Henry Rollins, also from the film, said as soon as “Mom knew what punk was, it has to go.” Again, right. When it becomes part of the mainstream, it has to change.

The music is so much more than Green Day, Blink 182, and Nirvana. I like those bands as well, but there is so much more.

Still, I enjoy it. The “we will win” attitude, the expression of noise, the “knock you out and take you by surprise” lyrics, the ability to laugh at ourselves, the ability to believe individuals can make a difference, and the “we do not need anyone to helps us” form of individuality have all been around since this country was founded—I consider Thomas Jefferson an example of a “punk” in his day. The music simply headed in that direction in the mid to late 1970s after the rock world hit a wall of corporate control.

I am not as much a fan of Oi (which is almost exclusively British Bands barking like Soccer Hooligans), but I concede it has a place.

I have listed some great websites if interested on Punk and Post-Punk music. Take a gander. I highly recommend The Punk and Post-Punk Diaries by George Gimarc for your reading pleasure. I also recommend the Punk Websites and the links they offer.

I have been buying up the Punk Singles Collections on Amazon and eBay and enjoying some of the British and lesser known bands (by the way—Punk started in the USA with sick of being glam groups like MC5 and Iggy and The Stooges, and then the attitude and sound hit the UK with the importation of the music of The Ramones.)

I also encourage you to take a gander at what Chrissy Hynde meant by listening to the POST-Punk Chronicles CDs (from Rhino) and Left of the Dial—The Post-Punk Dispatches from the Underground College Radio CD Box Set. Fantastic music, to be honest, that I remember it being played when I was in college.

I have recently completed my collection of Trouser Press magazines from the late 1970s until the run ended in 1984 and have been impressed with the articles in them. There were some great INDEPENDENT bands out there (Suburban Lawns, Other Ones, R.E.M.--when owned by IRS records, Joy Division, Echo and The Bunnymen, Violent Femmes, The Cure, and so many others).

Lastly, go to the video store or check the listings on IMF, Fuse, or the Documentary Channel (see kids—DISH is sooooo much better) and watch Punk Attitude—it is a great film. Jello Biafra (former leader of the Dead Kennedys) has brilliant commentaries, as does Rollins, Tommy Ramone, Hynde, “Legs” McNeil, and so many of the founders and later continued players of the Punk Music scene and the people who dealt with the repercussions of the Post-Punk Independent Music scene.

Also, as a plea to artistic expression—visit INDEPENDENT Record shops to help bring new sounds into your world. In Normal, Waiting Room Records does a fine job and has given people an alternative to Best Buy and the like. In fact, if you live in the area and want to check out the CDs I listed, go in, order from Jared, and help support the local businesses of the community. There is an example of something “punky” you can do.