,MUSIC AS A ,WEAPON 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

,FROM ,VICTOR ,J>A TO ,PUBLIC ,5EMY1 MUSIC HAS PLAY$ A PIVOTAL ROLE 9 C\NTLESS CULTURES ( RESI/ANCE4 ,A L>GE PROPORTION ( ?OSE :O P>TICIPAT$ 9 ! AN>*I/ MOVEM5T BETWE5 #ai< & #ba W]E P>T ( ! PUNK C\NT]CULTURE AT SOME PO9T2 9DE$1 MANY W]E FIR/ EXPOS$ TO AN>*I/ IDEAS VIA PUNK4 ,?IS MAY HAVE BE5 M]ELY CIRCUM/ANTIAL3 P]HAPS ! SAME TRAITS ?AT MADE PEOPLE SEEK \T AN>*ISM ALSO PR$ISPOS$ !M TO 5JOY AGGRESSIVE1 9DEP5D5TLY PRODUC$ MUSIC4 ,BUT ONE C\LD ALSO >GUE ?AT MUSIC ?AT PU%ES ES!TIC & CULTURAL B\ND>IES CAN OP5 UP LI/5]S TO A WID] SPECTRUM ( POSSIBILITY 9 O!R SPH]ES ( LIFE AS WELL4 

,YET JU/ AS AN>*ISM WAS COM+ 9TO ITS [N 9 ! ,U,S >\ND ! TURN ( ! C5TURY1 RADICAL ACTIVITY 9 ! DOME/IC PUNK SC5E BEGAN A NOS$IVE4 ,N[ ?AT IT IS NO LONG] POSSIBLE TO DEP5D ON ! PUNK#a SUBCULTURE AS AN 9CUBATOR = AN>*I/S1 WE %\LD SET \T TO UND]/& H[ & :Y IT S]V$ ?AT ROLE = ?IRTY YE>S4 

,PREFACE3 ,:5 ,PUNK ,WAS A ,RECRUIT+ ,GR\ND = ,AN>*Y 

  
  

0,PEOPLE TALK AB\T 'PREA*+ TO ! CONV]T$'--WELL :O FUCK+ CONV]T$ !M80 

-,P5NY ,RIMBAUD ( ,CRASS  
  

,!RE >E C\NTLESS REASONS NOT TO TIE ! FATE ( A REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T TO ! =TUNES ( A MUSIC SC5E4 ,COM+ 9TO AN>*ISM VIA PUNK1 PEOPLE T5D$ TO APPROA* AN>*I/ ACTIVITY 9 ! SAME WAY !Y W\LD P>TICIPATE 9 A Y\? SUBCULTURE4 ,?IS CONTRIBUT$ TO AN AN>*I/ MILIEU *>ACT]IZ$ BY CONSUM]ISM RA!R ?AN 9ITIATIVE1 A FOCUS ON ID5TITY RA!R ?AN DYNAMIC *ANGE1 ACTIVITIES LIMIT$ TO ! LEISURE TIME ( ! P>TICIPANTS1 IDEOLOGICAL CONFLICTS ?AT BOIL D[N TO DISPUTES OV] TA/E1 & AN ORI5TATION T[>DS Y\? ?AT MADE ! MOVEM5T L>GELY IRRELEVANT UPON ! ONSET ( ADUL?OOD4 

,YET DUR+ ! DECADES ( GLOBAL REACTION ?AT FOLL[$ ! #a#i#fS1 ! PUNK UND]GR\ND WAS ONE ( ! *IEF CATALY/S ( ! R5AISSANCE ( AN>*ISM4 ,W]E IT NOT = PUNK1 ANTI-CAPITALI/S 9 MANY P>TS ( ! WORLD MI<T /ILL BE *OOS+ BETWE5 /ALE BR&S ( AU?ORIT>IAN SOCIALISM4 

,GRANT$1 ! AV]AGE PUNK %[ WAS AS DOM9AT$ BY PATRI>*Y AS A COLLEGE CLASSROOM4 ,ALL ! HI]>*IES1 ECONOMICS1 & P[] DYNAMICS ( CAPITALI/ SOCIETY W]E PRES5T 9 MICROCOSM4 ,& AN>*ISM WAS NOT ! ONLY CRE$ ?AT UTILIZ$ ?IS SOAPBOX3 C\NTLESS IDEOLOGIES COMPET$ 9 ! PUNK MILIEU1 FROM ,NEO-,NAZISM TO ,*RI/IANITY & ,KRI%NA 0CONSCI\SNESS40 ,BUT ALL ?IS ONLY MAKES IT MORE /RIK+ ?AT AN>*I/ IDEAS F>$ SO WELL1 CONSID]+ ?AT !Y GA9$ LESS PUR*ASE 9 O!R CIRCLES AT ! TIME4 

,WE CAN ATTRIBUTE ?AT SUCCESS TO /RUCTURAL FACTORS4 ,MANY YE>S BE=E 9T]NET ACCESS BECAME WIDESPREAD1 ! DO-IT-Y\RSELF PUNK SC5E (F]$ A R>E MODEL = HORIZONTAL & P>TICIPATORY ACTIVITY4 ,ORGANIZ+ !IR [N AFFAIRS 9 DEC5TRALIZ$ NETWORKS1 P>TICIPANTS EXP]I5C$ FIR/H& ! B5EFITS ( LEAD]LESS AUTONOMY4 ,ONCE Y\'VE BOOK$ A T\R Y\RSELF1 SIDE/EPP+ ! MONOPOLY ( PR(ITE]+ V5UES1 RECORD LABELS1 & T\R PROMOT]S1 IT'S NOT H>D TO IMAG9E ORGANIZ+ O!R ASPECTS ( Y\R LIFE 9 A SIMIL> WAY4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 9 A Y\? CULTURE F\ND$ ON OPPOSITION TO AU?ORITY1 !RE W]E FEW] BUILT-9 ME*ANISMS TO SUPPRESS RADICAL IDEAS4 

,IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE ?AT AN>*I/ VALUES TOOK ROOT 9 ! PUNK SC5E PRECISELY BECAUSE !Y W]E SO M>G9ALIZ$ ELSE:]E3 9 AN ]A :5 RADICAL IDEAS W]E PU%$ TO ! P]IPH]Y1 P]IPH]AL SUBCULTURES TEEM$ ) !M4 ,?IS CAN CREATE A FE$BACK LOOP ?AT KEEPS ?OSE IDEAS M>G9AL1 AS !Y >E NOT ASSOCIAT$ ) POPUL> OR SUCCESSFUL 9ITIATIVES4 ,! ROMANTICIZATION ( OBSCURITY & FAILURE ?AT MADE PUNK HOSPITABLE T]RA9 = REVOLUTION>Y IDEALS 9 ! #a#i#hS DID NOT 5C\RAGE !IR NEW P>TISANS TO FI<T TO W9 \TSIDE ! PUNK <ETTO4 

,BUT ! SELF-IMPOS$ EXILE ( ! PUNK COMMUNITY WAS ALSO AN EFFECTIVE DEF5SE ME*ANISM ?R\< AN ]A ( CAPITALI/ COOPTATION4 ,! PUNK SC5E HELP$ KEEP AN>*I/ IDEAS ALIVE BETWE5 ! #a#i#gS & ! #b#a/ C5TURY 9 ! SAME WAY ?AT MONA/]IES PRES]V$ SCI5CE & LIT]ATURE ?R\< ! ,D>K ,AGES4 ,AL?\< ! DEM&S & 9FLU5CE ( ! CAPITALI/ ECONOMY RECREAT$ ! SAME P[] IMBALANCES & MAT]IALISM ?AT PUNKS HAD HOP$ TO ESCAPE--LIMIT+ ! PUNK CRITIQUE ( CAPITALISM TO A V>IANT ( ! LIB]AL MAXIM 0BUY LOCAL0--! ANTI-CAPITALI/ ,D,I,Y UND]GR\ND DISPLAY$ A REM>KABLE RESILI5CE4 ,9 A CYCLE ?AT BECAME FAMILI>1 EA* G5]ATION EXP&$ UNTIL PR(IT-DRIV5 RECORD LABELS SKIMM$ ! MO/ POPUL> APOLITICAL B&S (F ! TOP1 SETT+ ! /AGE = A RETURN TO GRASSROOTS 9DEP5D5CE & EXP]IM5TATION4 ,SO ! PUNK SC5E PROVID$ ! MUSIC 9DU/RY A FREE TE/+ & DEVELOPM5T SITE = NEW B&S & TR5DS1 BUT ?IS PROCESS ALSO S]V$ TO CLEANSE IT ( P>ASITES4 

,F> FROM ,M,T,V TAL5T SC\TS1 COMPET+ 9DEP5D5T LABELS1 & ALT]NATIVE CONSUM]ISM1 Y\ C\LD F9D SOME?+ BEAUTIFUL & FREE AT ! HE>T ( ! ,D,I,Y UND]GR\ND4 ,AT BE/1 IT WAS A SPACE 9 :I* ! ROLES ( PROTAGONI/ & AUDI5CE BECAME 9T]*ANGEABLE & ! DICTATES ( ! DOM9ANT CULTURE W]E %AK5 (F4 

,LET'S CONTRA/ ?IS ) ! MODELS ( AN>*I/ ACTIVITY ?AT >E CURR5TLY 9 VOGUE4 ,:ILE POLITICAL ACTIVISM (T5 FOCUSES ON MATT]S \TSIDE ! DAILY LIVES ( ! P>TICIPANTS1 & ?US T5DS TO CO/ MORE 5]GY ?AN IT G5]ATES1 ,D,I,Y PUNK WAS BASICALLY PLEASURE-ORI5T$1 (F]+ ACTIVITIES ?AT W]E FULFILL+ 9 & ( !MSELVES4 ,AL?\< ?IS MI<T APPE> FRIVOL\S1 SOCIALITY & AFFIRMATION >E AS ESS5TIAL AS FOOD OR H\S+4 ,9 SOME P>TS ( ! WORLD1 ! PUNK SC5E WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE WORK+ CLASS & UND]CLASS ?AN MU* ( ! CURR5T AN>*I/ MILIEU2 ?IS MAY 9DICATE ?AT IT PROVID$ = REAL NE$S1 RA!R ?AN CAT]+ TO ! MIDDLE CLASS PROP5SITY = AB/RACTION4 ,9 CONTRA/ TO PROTE/S1 :I* >E (T5 CRITICIZ$ AS REACTIVE1 AT ITS BE/ PUNK EMPHASIZ$ CREATIVITY1 DEMON/RAT+ A CONCRETE ALT]NATIVE4 ,IT WAS Y\?-ORI5T$1 YES2 BUT AS Y\? >E AMONG ! MO/ POT5TIALLY REBELLI\S & OP5 TO NEW IDEAS1 ?IS C\LD BE SE5 AS AN ADVANTAGE4 ,9 FOCUS+ ON SELF-EXPRESSION1 IT 5ABL$ P>TICIPANTS TO BUILD !IR CONFID5CE & EXP]I5CE 9 L[-RISK EF=TS1 :ILE PRODUC+ A GREAT DEAL ( >TWORK ?AT D\BL$ AS \TREA* MAT]IAL2 AS A DEC5TRALIZ$ CULTURAL MOVEM5T1 IT REPRODUC$ ITSELF ORGANICALLY RA!R ?AN ?R\< 9/ITUTIONAL EF=TS4 

,W]E WE TO ATTEMPT TO 9V5T A CULTURAL C\NT]P>T TO CONTEMPOR>Y ACTIVISM ?AT C\LD REPL5I% 5]GY & PROPAGATE AN>*I/ VALUES AMONG Y\NG PEOPLE1 WE C\LD DO WORSE4 ,MEME CULTURE ALONE HAS CONSID]ABLY LESS TO RECOMM5D IT4 

,AN>*I/S (T5 COMPLA9$ ?AT 9 ACTUALITY1 ! PUNK SC5E WAS FULL ( PEOPLE ) NO REG>D = AN>*I/ VALUES4 ,UN=TUNATELY1 IF Y\ WANT TO 9TRODUCE NEW PEOPLE TO AN>*ISM1 Y\'RE GO+ TO HAVE TO DEAL ) A LOT ( PEOPLE :O >E NOT AN>*I/S4 ,?IS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 9 :I* SO FEW PEOPLE GR[ UP ) ANY EXPOSURE TO RADICAL IDEAS AT ALL4 ,9 ,ITALY1 BY CONTRA/1 AN>*I/ PUNKS C\LD SAY 0,PUNK EQUALS AN>*Y PLUS GUIT>S & DRUMS2 ANY?+ LESS IS JU/ SUBMISSION40 

,!RE'S A LOT TO BE SAID = OP]AT+ 9 DIV]SE 5VIRONM5TS1 9 :I* ! IDEAS ( 9DIVIDUALS & ! CULTURE ?AT CONNECTS !M >E /ILL EVOLV+4 ,BECAUSE ! PUNK SC5E WAS NOT BEHOLD5 TO ANY RIGID IDEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK1 IT (F]$ A MORE F]TILE SPACE = EXP]IM5TATION ?AN MANY MORE EXPLICITLY RADICAL MILIEUS4 ,HAD ?IS LESSON BE5 APPLI$ ELSE:]E--HAD AN>*I/S 9ITIAT$ 9FLU5TIAL PROJECTS 9 O!R POLITICALLY DIV]SE1 HORIZONTAL1 NETWORK-BAS$ MILIEUS--AN>*I/ IDEAS MI<T HAVE SPREAD FUR!R AFIELD4 

,?\< CRITICS (T5 ACCUS$ ! PUNK SC5E ( BE+ NO?+ MORE ?AN A PLAYP5 = PRIVILEG$ ,FIR/ ,WORLD CONSUM]S1 PUNK HAS BE5 9TEGRAL 9 ! RESURG5CE ( AN>*I/ IDEAS F> \TSIDE ! ,U,S & ,EUROPE4 ,:ILE PUNK >GUABLY ORIG9AT$ 9 ,BRITA9 & ! ,U,S1 A GREAT PROPORTION ( ! ACTIVITY ( ! GLOBAL PUNK UND]GR\ND TOOK PLACE 9 ,LAT9 ,AM]ICA & ! ,PACIFIC RIM1 NOT TO M5TION ,S\? ,AFRICA1 ,ISRAEL1 ,AU/RALIA1 ,NEW ,ZEAL&1 & ! =M] ,SOVIET BLOC4 ,9 MANY ( ?OSE NATIONS1 PUNK IS /ILL MORE OV]TLY ASSOCIAT$ ) RADICAL POLITICS ?AN IT HAS BE5 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES2 PUNK WAS ESPECIALLY 9/RUM5TAL 9 REVITALIZ+ AN>*ISM 9 CONTEXTS 9 :I* !RE WAS NO RADICAL ALT]NATIVE TO ,M>XI/ HEGEMONY4 ,IT W\LD BE 9/RUCTIVE TO EXAM9E :Y PUNK TOOK ROOT 9 NATIONS LIKE ,BRAZIL1 ,MALAYSIA1 & ! ,PHILIPP9ES BUT NOT ,9DIA OR MO/ ,>ABIC-SPEAK+ NATIONS1 & /UDY H[ ?IS CORRELATES ) ! SPREAD ( AN>*I/ IDEAS OV] ! PA/ ?IRTY YE>S4 

,PUNK & ,RESI/ANCE3 ,A ,TRAJECTORY 

  

,! FIR/ MAJOR WAVE ( POLITICIZ$ PUNK CAN PROBABLY BE TRAC$ TO ! ,BRITI% B& ,CRASS1 :I* DREW ON ,DADAISM & O!R AVANT-G>DE TRADITIONS TO FA%ION E>LY PUNK ROCK 9TO A =M ( CULTURAL AGITPROP4 ,DECADES LAT]1 A VISITOR TO ,BRITA9 C\LD F9D SMALL CIRCLES ( MIDDLE-AG$ AN>*O-PUNKS :O HAD BE5 POLITICIZ$ BY ,CRASS /ILL P>TICIPAT+ 9 ! SAME 9DEP5D5T MUSIC UND]GR\ND & RESUM+ ! SAME >GUM5TS AB\T ,! ,CLA% :5EV] !Y GOT DRUNK4 

,9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 OV] A DECADE LAT]1 ! ,D,I,Y UND]GR\ND ( ! MID-#a#i#iS CONTRIBUT$ TO AN 9CREASE 9 ANIMAL RI<TS ACTIVISM & HELP$ PAVE ! WAY = ! ANTI-GLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T4 ,MAGAZ9ES SU* AS ,PR(ANE ,EXI/5CE 9TRODUC$ RADICAL P]SPECTIVES ON EV]Y?+ FROM FEM9ISM TO FIRE>MS2 ,D,I,Y COMMUNITIES DEVELOP$ 9 :I* EV]YONE WROTE A Z9E1 PLAY$ 9 A B&1 OR HO/$ BASEM5T %[S2 EV5 9 ! MO/ MA*O SC5ES1 EV]Y B& ADDRESS$ ! AUDI5CE BETWE5 SONGS--IF ONLY1 9 SOME CASES1 TO URGE PEOPLE TO DANCE MORE VIOL5TLY4 

,ON ! EVE ( ! DEBUT ( ! ANTI-GLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T1#b HUNDR$S ( PUNKS GA!R$ 9 ,PHILADELPHIA LATE 9 ,APRIL #aiii = ,MILLIONS = ,MUMIA1 A M>* TO DET] ! /ATE ( ,P5NSYLVANIA FROM EXECUT+ ,MUMIA ,ABU-,JAMAL4 ,= MANY1 IT WAS ! FIR/ TIME !Y HAD TRAVEL$ \T ( T[N = A PROTE/2 LIKEWISE1 ?\< NO MAJOR CONFLICT TOOK PLACE ) ! POLICE1 IT WAS ! FIR/ TIME MO/ ( !M HAD ASSEMBL$ PUBLICLY 9 BLACK MASKS & SWEAT%IRTS4 ,?IS MOM5T1 9 :I* POLITICIZ$ PUNKS REALIZ$ ?AT !RE W]E 5\< ( !M TO CON/ITUTE A SOCIAL =CE1 SET ! /AGE = EV]Y?+ ?AT CAME AFT]2 A YE> LAT]1 MANY ( ! P>TICIPANTS F\<T %\LD] TO %\LD] AT ! DEMON/RATIONS AGA9/ ! ,I,M,F_/,WORLD ,BANK MEET+ ( ,APRIL #b 9 ,WA%+TON1 ,D,C4 ,! NI<T FOLL[+ ! M>*1 A /&+-ROOM-ONLY CR[D ASSEMBL$ AT ,/ALAG #a#c1 A LOCAL ,D,I,Y V5UE1 TO SEE ,HIS ,H]O ,IS ,GONE2 !RE WAS A FEEL+ 9 ! AIR ?AT !RE WAS NO REAL DI/9CTION BETWE5 SUBCULTURAL ID5TITY & POLITICAL ACTIVITY4 ,?AT SAME YE>1 ! ,PRIMATE ,FRE$OM ,T\R A*IEV$ A SYN!SIS ( PUNK MUSIC & RADICAL ACTIVISM1 US+ A S]IES ( %[S >\ND ! C\NTRY TO PROMOTE REGIONAL DEMON/RATIONS AGA9/ LABORATORIES EXP]IM5T+ ON PRIMATES4 

,! ,D,I,Y BOOM ( ! MID-#a#i#iS F$ 9TO ! MOM5TUM ( ! ANTI-GLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T4 ,?OSE :O HAD BE5 9 OR >\ND PUNK B&S ALREADY UND]/OOD H[ AN AFF9ITY GR\P WORK$2 OP]AT+ 9 DEC5TRALIZ$ NETWORKS & COORD9AT+ AUTONOM\S ACTIONS CAME NATURALLY4 ,IT WAS EASY = PEOPLE :O R\T9ELY TRAVEL$ ACROSS ! C\NTRY TO 5GAGE 9 R[DY SUBCULTURAL EV5TS TO %IFT TO TRAVEL+ ACROSS ! C\NTRY TO P>TICIPATE 9 R[DY ANTI-CAPITALI/ DEMON/RATIONS4 ,SO-CALL$ 0SUMMIT-HOPP+0 (F]$ MANY ( ! SAME 9DUCEM5TS AS PUNK--RISK1 EXCITEM5T1 TOGE!RNESS1 OPPORTUNITIES TO BE CREATIVE & OPPOSE 9JU/ICE--ALONG ) ! ADDITIONAL ATTRACTION ( FEEL+ ?AT Y\ W]E ON ! FRONT L9ES ( HI/ORY4 

,9 ! P]IOD LEAD+ UP TO ?IS EXPLOSION ( POLITICAL ACTIVITY1 PUNK MUSIC & CULTURE HAD BECOME MORE EXP]IM5TAL AS PUNKS S\<T TO MAT* D>+ ES!TICS TO RADICAL RHETORIC4 ,!RE HAD ALWAYS BE5 A T5SION 9 PUNK BETWE5 ! FOLK >T ASPECTS ( ! CRAFT--?REE-*ORD MUSICAL PROGRESSIONS & H&-DRAWN LAY\TS--& ! DESIRE TO 9NOVATE & *ALL5GE4 ,AS ! SUBCULTURE (F]$ P>TICIPANTS BROAD] CONCEPTIONS ( :AT C\LD BE POSSIBLE1 !Y BEGAN TO PLAY MUSIC & MAKE DEM&S ?AT /RA9$ AGA9/ ! LIMITATIONS ( ! M$IUM4 ,ON ONE H&1 9NOVATIVE MUSIC C\LD MAKE RADICAL IDEAS MORE COMPELL+3 FOLL[+ AN UNFAMILI> YET EXHIL>AT+ EXP]I5CE1 A LI/5] MI<T BE MORE LIKELY TO BELIEVE ?AT AN 5TIRELY DIFF]5T WORLD WAS POSSIBLE4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ?IS EXP]IM5TATION CONTRIBUT$ TO ! FRAGM5TATION ( ! PUNK SUBCULTURE1 AS TRADITIONS W]E AB&ON$ & ! /&>DS = MUSICIAN%IP & CREATIVITY REA*$ PROHIBITIVE HEI<TS4 

,VOLATILE PH5OM5A EV5TUALLY BREAK 9TO !IR CON/ITU5T ELEM5TS & /ABILIZE4 ,! ,SW$I% B& ,REFUS$1 = EXAMPLE1 :O HAD COMB9$ H>DCORE1 TE*NO1 JAZZ1 & CLASSICAL MUSIC ON !IR F9AL ALBUM1 SPLIT ASUND] 9 #a#i#i#h1 & ! MEMB]S W5T ON TO =M MU* MORE TRADITIONAL B&S ACCORD+ TO !IR 9DIVIDUAL TA/ES--NONE ( :I* W]E NE>LY AS 9T]E/+ AS ,REFUS$4 ,ONCE !RE WAS AN AN>*I/ MOVEM5T = ! MO/ POLITICIZ$ PUNKS TO JO91 A SIMIL> PROCESS OCCURR$ )9 ! PUNK SC5E4 ,UNTIL #a#i#i#i1 POLITICIZ$ PUNKS T5D$ TO /ICK >\ND ! ,D,I,Y UND]GR\ND1 AS !RE WAS USUALLY NO L>G] REVOLUTION>Y MILIEU TO MOVE ON TO2 PLAY+ MUSIC & WRIT+ Z9ES W]E SE5 AS POLITICAL ACTIVITY1 DESPITE ! N>R[ HORIZONS ( ! SUBCULTURE4 ,ALL ?AT *ANG$ AFT] ! #aiii ,W,T,O PROTE/S1 :I* KICK$ (F AN ]A ( NON/OP DEMON/RATIONS & POLITICAL ORGANIZ+4 ,MO/ ( ! PEOPLE :O W]E S]I\S AB\T !IR POLITICS %IFT$ FOCUS AWAY FROM ! PUNK SC5E4 ,MEAN:ILE1 ! PEOPLE :O W]E 9VOLV$ 9 PUNK ONLY = MUSIC & FA%ION REMA9$1 & L$ A REACTION AGA9/ POLITICAL 5GAGEM5T ( ALL K9DS4 ,:ILE O!RS FOCUS$ ON AN>*I/ CONV]G5CES1 BLACK BLOCS1 & ACC\NTABILITY PROCESSES1 ! REACTION>IES W]E ! ONES /ILL BOOK+ %[S & RECORD+ ALBUMS1 & !Y SET ! TONE = AN APOLITICAL & MUSICALLY CONS]VATIVE #b#a/ C5TURY PUNK SC5E4 

,BETWE5 #aiih & #b#b1 NE>LY EV]Y B& ?AT HAD HELP$ TO POLITICIZE ! PUNK UND]GR\ND BROKE UP1 & MANY 9FLU5TIAL MAGAZ9ES CEAS$ PUBLICATION4 ,BY ,MAY #b#b1 :5 ,BO/ON AN>*I/S /AG$ ! ,FE/IVAL DEL ,PUEBLO1 A RUPTURE HAD DEVELOP$ BETWE5 ! ES!TIC & POLITICAL ELEM5TS 9 ! SUBCULTURE1 EVID5T 9 T5SIONS BETWE5 PUNKS :O ONLY ATT5D$ = ! %[S & AN>*I/S /RIV+ TO E/ABLI% A REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T4 ,TO NAME A S+LE EXAMPLE1 ! P]SON :O HAD BOOK$ ! ,HIS ,H]O ,IS ,GONE %[ AFT] ,MILLIONS = ,MUMIA & LAT] PLAY$ A ROLE 9 AN>*I/ ORGANIZ+ AGA9/ ! ,REPUBLICAN ,NATIONAL ,CONV5TION ( #b CAME TO P]=M ) HIS B&1 BUT HEAD$ HOME AFT]W>DS RA!R ?AN ATT5D+ ! DEMON/RATION S*$UL$ = ! FOLL[+ DAY4 

,A FEW YE>S LAT]1 ! SPLIT BETWE5 PUNK & AN>*ISM WAS COMPLETE4 ,EV5 ,AGA9/ ,ME61 ! PROG5ITORS ( ! FOLK PUNK REACTION TO ! /AGNATION ( ! AN>*O-PUNK SC5E1 HAD DES]T$ ! ,D,I,Y MOVEM5T & ES*EW$ !IR =M] AN>*I/ POLITICS4 ,FROM ,A%ES ,RISE1 :O HAD BE5 COLLEAGUES ( ! UNCOMPROMIS+LY 9DEP5D5T ,HIS ,H]O ,IS ,GONE1 SIGN$ TO A L>G] RECORD LABEL & RECORD$ A F9AL ALBUM ) SONGS AB\T NUCLE> W>--A REGRESSION TO #a#i#hS NO/ALGIA ALL ! MORE ABSURD 9 ! MID/ ( ! ,IRAQ W>--BE=E BREAK+ UP4 ,PUNK--AT LEA/ = ?AT G5]ATION--HAD REA*$ ! 5D ( ITS TRAJECTORY AS A =CE = SOCIAL *ANGE4 

,TE*NOLOGY1 ,LEGITIMACY1 & ,ACCESSIBILITY 

  

,LET'S RETURN TO ! RESURG5CE ( FOLK PUNK %ORTLY AFT] ! TURN ( ! C5TURY4 ,HIS ,H]O ,IS ,GONE HAD BE5 ONE ( ! FIR/ ,D,I,Y B&S TO %IFT FROM S+LE SPEAK] CAB9ETS TO FULL /ACKS1 & )9 A FEW YE>S EV]Y B& ?AT WI%$ TO BE TAK5 S]I\SLY HAD DONE ! SAME4 ,?IS L$ TO AN >MS RACE & A SORT ( ES!TIC 9FLATION3 NO VOLUME WAS L\D 5\<1 NO RECORD+ P[]FUL 5\<1 NO GE> EXP5SIVE 5\<4#c ,FOLK PUNK WAS A REACTION TO ?IS3 AN ACCESSIBLE1 *EAP1 SELF-CONSCI\SLY UNREF9$ =MAT4 ,YET IT NEV] A*IEV$ ! POPUL>ITY ( GE>-BAS$ PUNK2 TELL+LY1 ! FLAG%IP B& ,AGA9/ ,ME6 %IFT$ TO /&>D ROCK 9/RUM5TATION 9 ! C\RSE ( !IR %IFT TO CORPORATE C>E]ISM4 

,SIMIL>LY1 ONE MI<T ASK :Y1 \T ( ALL ! =MATS ?AT FL\RI%$ 9 ! ,D,I,Y UND]GR\ND1 !RE W]E NEV] ANY TRAVEL+ DRAMA TR\PES4 ,ON ! FACE ( IT1 !AT] W\LD BE ! P]FECT M$IUM = 9DEP5D5T P]=M]S ) LIMIT$ ACCESS TO RES\RCES4 ,A DRAMA TR\PE C\LD TRAVEL )\T EXP5SIVE EQUIPM5T OR NE$ ( A L>GE VEHICLE2 P]=MANCES C\LD TAKE PLACE PRACTICALLY ANY:]E4 ,D>IO ,FO1 ! ,LIV+ ,!AT]444 RADICAL !AT] HAS HAD A RI* HI/ORY 9 EV]Y O!R NATION & ]A4 ,PUPPET %[S W]E PRACTICALLY A CLI*E ON ! ,D,I,Y CIRCUIT--SO :Y NOT DRAMA8 

,?IS 9DICATES A L+]+ MAT]IALISM 9 ,D,I,Y CULTURE4 ,EQUIPM5T1 BE IT A %ODDY C>DBO>D PUPPET /AGE OR T5 ?\S& DOLL>S' WOR? ( AMPLIFI]S1 CONF]R$ ! LEGITIMACY ?AT BO? P]=M]S & AUDI5CES LONG$ =4 0,LOOK10 WORK+ CLASS DROP\TS C\LD SAY TO !MSELVES1 GE/UR+ AT A RU/Y VAN FULL ( GE> ?AT CO/ !M YE>S ( WAGES1 0WE'RE A REAL B&60 

,9 CAPITALI/ SOCIETY1 ACTIVITIES >E 9VE/$ ) MEAN+ PRIM>ILY ?R\< ! M>KETPLACE & ! M$IA4 ,ROCK MUSIC WAS ORIG9ALLY A WORK+ CLASS >T =M ?AT CAME TO BE CULTIVAT$ BY CAPITALI/S AS A CA% CROP2 ! MEAN+ PEOPLE F9D 9 IT IS REAL 5\<1 BUT IT IS G5]AT$ ?R\< =CES L>GELY BEYOND !IR CONTROL4 ,ROCK />S >E IMPORTANT PRECISELY BECAUSE NOT EV]YONE CAN BE ONE4 ,P>ADOXICALLY1 PUNKS TOOK UP ! ROCK =MAT AS A WAY ( ASS]T+ !IR [N IMPORTANCE1 EV5 9 ! PROCESS ( REBELL+ AGA9/ ! CORPORATIONS ?AT 9TRODUC$ !M TO IT4 

,ONE C\LD READ ! RISE & FALL ( ,D,I,Y PUNK AS ! HI/ORICAL 0HICCUP0 DUR+ :I* RECORD-RELEAS+ & PR9T+ TE*NOLOGY FIR/ BECAME ACCESSIBLE TO ! G5]AL PUBLIC4 ,CRASS WAS ONE ( ! FIR/ B&S TO RELEASE !IR [N RECORDS2 ?IS WAS EXCIT+ BECAUSE !Y W]E US+ TE*NOLOGY ?AT HAD BE5 L>GELY UNAVAILABLE TO ! WORK+ CLASS4 ,)9 A C\PLE DECADES1 H[EV]1 ?IS DEVELOPM5T WAS R5D]$ MOOT BY TE*NOLOGICAL ADVANCES & OV]SATURATION4 ,ONCE ANYONE C\LD RELEASE A RECORD1 IT WASN'T MEAN+FUL ANYMORE--IT WASN'T 0REAL0 9 ! S5SE ?AT EV]Y?+ ON TELEVISION IS 0REAL0 :ILE \R LIVES FEEL UNREAL & 9SIGNIFICANT4 

,! PUNK SC5E HAD BE5 F\ND$ ON ! T5SIONS CREAT$ BY LIMIT$ ACCESS TO ! MUSICAL MEANS ( PRODUCTION2 ) ! >RIVAL ( TE*NOLOGIES ?AT EXT5D$ ?IS ACCESS TO EV]YONE1 ITS /RUCTURES COLLAPS$4 ,! 9T]NET REPLAC$ PA9/AK+LY BUILT DI/RIBUTION NETWORKS & Z9E CULTURES ) ! (FH& IMM$IACY ( MUSIC D[NLOAD+ & BLOGS2 SOME ( ?IS TOOK PLACE 9 G5U9ELY DEC5TRALIZ$ /RUCTURES1 BUT MORE ( IT WAS BAS$ 9 CORPORATE C\NT]FEITS SU* AS MYSPACE4COM4 ,! PROLIF]ATION ( ! LATT] WAS P>TICUL>LY IRONIC 9 ?AT ! ,D,I,Y UND]GR\ND HAD BE5 A TE/+ >EA = ! SORT ( NETWORK-BAS$ SY/EMS ?AT ! 9T]NET UNIV]SALIZ$4 

,:5 EV]Y B& ( MIDDLE-CLASS TE5AG]S C\LD HAVE !IR [N WEBPAGE & HOME RECORD+ /UDIO1 ! 5SU+ DIS5*ANTM5T REVEAL$ H[ BANAL ! PROMISE ( ROCK />DOM HAD BE5 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 ,9 SOME WAYS1 IT IS HEAL?Y TO BE DIVE/$ ( ONE'S ILLUSIONS1 ESPECIALLY ! ONES 9/ILL$ BY ONE'S 5EMIES4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 IF NO?+ TAKES !IR PLACE1 ?IS ONLY DRA9S ! WORLD ( MEAN+ EV5 FUR!R--& PURE NIHILISM HELPS MA9TA9 ! /ATUS QUO4 

,PUNK HAD BE5 EXCIT+ BECAUSE1 9 CONTRA/ TO CORPORATE ROCK1 IT (F]$ A RELATIVELY UNM$IAT$ EXP]I5CE3 ONE C\LD MEET ONE'S FAVORITE MUSICIANS1 DANCE & 9T]ACT \TSIDE ! PRESCRIPTIONS ( A REPRESSIVE SOCIETY1 EV5 =M ONE'S [N B& & REMAKE ! SUBCULTURE ITSELF4 ,?\S&S ( PEOPLE ATT5D$ ,BLACK ,FLAG %[S BECAUSE !Y (F]$ A G5U9ELY DIFF]5T EXP]I5CE ?AN ANY?+ CORPORATE CAPITALISM HAD TO (F]4 ,BUT ONCE ! 9T]NET MADE EV]Y B& 9TO ITS [N PROMOTIONS AG5CY & Y\TUBE4COM MADE IT POSSIBLE = EV]YONE TO APPE> ON ! EQUIVAL5T ( ,M,T,V1 9DEP5D5T MUSIC WAS NO LESS M$IAT$ ?AN CORPORATE MUSIC1 & NO LESS VAPID4 

,LE>N+ FROM ,PUNK 

  

,PUNK'S LONG RUN AS A BRE$+ GR\ND = AN>*ISM %[S H[ MU* WE /& TO GA9 FROM SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ?AT >E PLEASURABLE & CREATIVE4 ,9 NURTUR+ ORGANIC CULTURAL CURR5TS1 WE CAN CREATE SOCIAL MOVEM5TS ?AT DO NOT DEP5D ON ANY ONE 9/ITUTION BUT >E NATURALLY SELF-REPRODUC+4 ,IDEALLY1 !Y %\LD BE SUBV]SIVE :ILE NOT IMM$IATELY PROVOK+ REPRESSION--IT'S IMPORTANT ?AT ! L9ES BE DRAWN1 BUT P>TICIPANTS MU/ HAVE 5\< TIME TO GO ?R\< AN EVOLUTION>Y PROCESS BE=E ! POLICE BREAK \T !IR BATONS4 ,A SU/A9ABLE SPACE ?AT NURTURES LONG-T]M COMMUNITIES ( RESI/ANCE CAN ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTE MORE TO MILITANT /RUGGLE ?AN ! SORT ( IMPATI5T 9SURRECTIONISM ?AT />TS ) CONFRONTATION RA!R ?AN BUILD+ TO IT4 

,AS MU* AS PUNK HAS BE5 DISMISS$ AS 9SUL>1 ! SUCCESS ( AN>*O-PUNK DEMON/RATES H[ EFFECTIVE IT CAN BE = AN>*I/S TO 9VE/ !MSELVES 9 ONGO+ \TREA* 9 A MILIEU ( A MANAGEABLE SCALE4 ,ALL ! BETT] IF IT IS A POLITICALLY DIV]SE SPACE 9 :I* DEBATE & DYNAMIC *ANGE CAN OCCUR & NEW PEOPLE CAN 5C\NT] RADICAL IDEAS4 

,AT ! SAME TIME1 IT IS CRIPPL+ = A SOCIAL MOVEM5T AIM$ AT TRANS=M+ ! :OLE ( LIFE TO BE ASSOCIAT$ ) A S+LE SUBCULTURE4 ,LE>N+ FROM YE>S ( AN>*I/ ORGANIZ+ ROOT$ 9 ! PUNK SC5E1 WE CAN SEE ! IMPORTANCE ( CREAT+ SPACES ?AT BR+ PEOPLE FROM MANY BACKGR\NDS TOGE!R ON AN EQUAL FOOT+4 ,LIKEWISE1 WE CAN LE>N FROM ! FACTORS ?AT BO? PRODUC$ & CRIPPL$ PUNK1 SU* AS ! LOVE-HATE RELATION%IP ) ROCK />DOM4 ,*ANNEL+ DESIRES FO/]$ BY CAPITALI/ SOCIETY 9TO RESI/ANCE MOVEM5TS CAN PRODUCE SWIFT GR[?1 BUT ALSO FATAL FLAWS ?AT ONLY COME TO LI<T OV] TIME4 

,TODAY1 9 ! AN>*I/ MOVEM5T1 WE SOMETIMES MISS ! ,DIONYSIAN SPIRIT ?AT *>ACT]IZ$ ! H>DCORE PUNK UND]GR\ND AT ITS HI< PO9T3 ! COLLECTIVE1 EMBODI$ EXP]I5CE ( DANG]\S FRE$OM4 ,?IS IS H[ PUNK CAN 9SPIRE US 9 \R AN>*I/ EXP]IM5TS ( TODAY & TOMORR[3 AS A TRANS=MATIVE \TLET = RAGE & GRIEF & JOY1 A POSITIVE MODEL = TOGE!RNESS & SELF-DET]M9ATION 9 \R SOCIAL RELATIONS1 AN EXAMPLE ( H[ ! DE/RUCTIVE URGE CAN ALSO BE CREATIVE--& VICE V]SA4 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON #a#g? ,JUNE #bba FROM CRIME?9C4COM47 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#d1 #bbb 3 ,MUSIC AS A ,WEAPON -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/