I don't have an hour and 28 minutes to investigate -- what does Henry Rollins have to say about punk attitude?
Bout what you'd think, but at least they go back somewhat to the past to the rebellion of rock n roll: Bill Haley, Elvis, etc. I just enjoy a doc like that ever so often. I don't care much for punk, and the angst side of it grew old quickly. I've never needed music to blow off steam or get upset over or what have you. Sometimes I'll listen to active stuff, but I always thought, hey let's get wild and kick the shit out of something was a bit ridiculous.
Henry Rollins IS punk attitude. He used to be too intense for me, but he's calmed down for the History channel.
http://www.history.com/shows/10-thin...about/episodes
Punk attitude is the #1 reason I don't like punk. I've never looked to rock music for rebellion, it's just another form of music. And I was never an angry kid or teen. I have great parents and grew up in a nice town. Not sure what I was supposed to rebel against. That being said, I've always admired the energy and agression of punk music. Just not the execution of it.
I thought 'punk attitude" is basically the DIY ethic.
I think there's more to rebel against and get angry about now than that 'punk generation' ever had...but pure punk is largely a singles-only genre for me.
Last edited by JJ88; 12-14-2013 at 12:28 PM.
I just watched West of Memphis and Henry figures prominently.
What can this strange device be? When I touch it, it brings forth a sound (2112)
Early rock'n'roll was born in the US, then adopted by bands in the UK and brought to another stage. Punk was an ethic born in New York and Detroit and was adopted by Brits who evolved it into New Wave. While New Wave had an attitude, in England the situation was so dire that they were more political than their US counterparts. Later, back in LA, bands like Rollins' Black Flag brought a new intensity and bad attitude under Reagan. He became the butt of many jokes from the Ramones, the Dead Kennedys and others.
Punk and New Wave were not essentially negative. They shifted music back to the basics like rockabilly and the three-minute single, and introduced a new audience to reggae, Rimbaud and Krautrock. Behind the safety pins and spiked hair many punks were just nerds looking for expression.
I once read a quote that went something like: "Punk is music by people who can't sing or play their instruments done for audiences who don't like music."
prog is the new punk.
Interesting documentary. I think the attitude is great. Get it out of your system! Be outrageous! "Ess-press yo'se'f!" and what-not. Just don't hurt anybody and please don't hurl s%#t.
It's the music that I don't like.
Hired on to work for Mr. Bill Cox, a-fixin' lawn mowers and what-not, since 1964.
"Arguing with an idiot is like playing chess with a pigeon. It'll just knock over all the pieces, shit on the board, and strut about like it's won anyway." Anonymous
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.” George Carlin
Never was a fan of punk but in the last 5-8 years I've really enjoyed some punk/rock. For me the "attitude" is on the speed and aggression of punk (and thrash/metal for that matter). I couldn't care less about what they're singing about (politics, or whatever), I just like the buzzing guitars and aggression. I have a Ramones compilation that I really enjoy, but have no intention on getting anymore Ramones albums. I also have a Motorhead (are they punk, or metal?) but don't care to go any further. I have 3 Green Day CDs, but that's at least 2 CDs too many. One GD CD would've sufficed.
Now, thrash/metal is another story. That's more my style. It's not "punk" but the influence is there in the speed, aggression, attitude, etc.
It really confused me when Miichael Stipe said AFTP was a punk album because he claimed it was completely different than anything else being released at that time, but I've since learned not to take him very seriously.
Anyone that doesn't like punk music ought to give these guys a chance:
Last edited by davis; 12-13-2013 at 06:39 AM.
I saw the BB's play several little shitholes back in the day. Pretty wild stuff. The way i look at it, the punk thing was mostly about getting out and doing it, instead od sitting around waiting for perfection.
I have almost everything the Misfits have done because I like nearly all of it, not just the Danzig era.
Last edited by davis; 12-13-2013 at 10:07 AM.
One of the best concerts I've ever seen was the Dead Kennedys in the mid 80s. *Great musicians* as were Fugazi and Butthole Surfers. People who don't bother to scratch the surface think it's just nihilistic negativity (as if every punk band was G G Allin, who was hopelessly fucked up). But there was a lot more to it than that (just ask some of your fave prog legends like Hammill, Gabriel, or Fripp)
I know what punk & disco did to the industry, it was faster cheaper music that could be churned out in a day and marketed in cheap cardboard. No music degrees or graphic designers or mastering engineers required. The labels fired all their talent and went into production full-bore, selling cookie-cutter records by people who were happy to work for free.
The labels fired all their talent and went into production full-bore, selling cookie-cutter records by people who were happy to work for free.
Well, that's a bit of an over exaggeration, but I get what your saying, BUT there was still other music around at the time too. It was also I would think a money maker for the music stores and such. I think both eras saw nice profits, whether or not you enjoy the music.
Pretty funny Davis on the YT videos.
I guess you could sort of make the similarity between punk and speed metal and a lot of other metal in general. They sort of cater to a fringe contingent of fans as well. And I guess you can say that all punk wasn't necessarily negative. Some of it was made for fun and less political.
I can't argue with that statement. I wish I had the exact quotes, but I saw an interview with Steve Harris from Iron Maiden. The guy absolutley hated the 70's punk scene. He had some rather amusing comments about it, and wasn't willing to give an inch when the interviewer suggested maybe punk had a bit of an influence or role in the early sound of Maiden. He also had contempt for the fans back then, talked about people spitting on bands and vice versa. It's stuff like that that I think of with the term "punk attitude". Punk is the excuse given for crude behavior and poor musicianship. Yeah, I know some of the punkers really could play, but they seemed ashamed to ever admit it. But really, as much as I don't respect most "musicians" of this scene, I have much more problems with the fans. I remember reading comments by Rollins about terrible fan behavior. And of course that happens with other sub-genres of rock and pop music, but is never acceptable, or at least shouldn't be. Bad behavior in the name of rock and roll is still bad behavior.
What is funny about that is one of the Ramones was actually quite a conservative republican, Johnny Ramone. And politically the punk scene wasn't nearly as one sided as many would believe, thank goodness. Still, I'd prefer musicians leave politics out of their music as it's likely to always tick off a segment of their fan base.
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