Punk-y Power! (Do you Wanna Be Sedated?)

[Carolian]

I get the eyes?! Dennis, you're a saint.

[DennisMM]

I get the eyes?! Dennis, you're a saint.

I meant to imply that I would get the eyes, but ... I'm feeling generous.

I get the brains.

"Fish head, fish heads, roly-poly fish heads! Fish heads, fish heads, eat them up, YUM!"

[Carolian]

Reading comprehension is for the weak! We loves our fish eyes!

[Seppuku]

Erm...Marilyn Manson, what's he got to do with punk exactly?

Personally I'd agree with Peven that Punk is pretentious, but for completely different reasons. It was about coming up with a new set of rules for the Blank Generation, and sure these rules were liberating for about six months, but then even the original Punks started looking at them like a leash. This is why John Lydon came out with Public Image Ltd, and The Clash released Sandinista, and Howard Devoto from The Buzzcocks came out with his new band Magazine, and Siouxie and the Banshees' first album was...not punk, but great nonetheless. (Not to mention The Specials).

I know from being friends with a lot of the original punks, folks who hit the 100 Club when the Pistols played there, that most of them are still hanging on to this loose idea that songs can't be over two and a half minutes and they've gotta be performed by proles on the dole. Take that Blur VS Oasis thing that came out back in '96, they sided with Oasis simply because Albarn looked kinda preppy.

That being said though, there are a lot of brilliant completely pretention-free Punk bands who just released straight-up brilliant music: see- The Adverts, The Undertones, X-Ray Spex, Las Ramonès, The Buzzcocks, The Damned etc.

I seem to remember Peven coming out with some sort of agit-prop statement ages back that said something like, "Hip-Hop's all foul violent EVAL!"...and now you had to go turn that to Punk 'n all? Without Punk we'd all be worshipping The Best of The Eagles at the altar every Sunday, so thank fuck for Joey, Johnny Rotten, Richard Hell a al.

[Chairman Kaga]

punk, collectively. from Sex Pistols to the Ramones, to...to whoever you want to name. talk about pretentious. i don't think there is a music style/form/genre that is more steeped in pretention, whether its the people making it, or listening to it. in fact, the way big fans of punk like to look down their noses at non-fans is even more offensive than the superior attitude of the "musicians"

Um, that's a pretty broad stroke, no? I mean, I can think of a couple of forms of music with more pretentious people, for example, any symphony in the world and Death Cab for Pukey.

/anything emo too.

What about Opera? I mean if we are talking pretentious here....I can't think of too many opera's you see occuring on street corners or filling up major stadiums.

actually, i have seen more opera than i care to, growing up in a house with a father who enjoys it and tuned into PBS all the time to watch, and NO, i don't think the genre or people who are involved in it are as stuck on themselves and look down on others the way the punk collective do. sure, there are divas, but there are also artists who participate in community projects in trying to bring music to the underprivaliged, or donating their time, effort, and money to struggling small theatres in support of the arts. in fact, i had a professor back in college who taight music theory that at one time was an opera singer in NYC in some major productions, and while he obviously loved his craft, he wanted to spread that love and appreciation of music more than act superior for being part of it, or look down his nose at those who weren't.

Pevens, who runs the 'Food not Bombs' program in your town (assuming there is one), or plays benefit shows for the community and underprivileged.

I can obviously not speak for you, but in my town, the punks are the most politically active and socially conscious people, and are caring and non judgmental to boot.

By no means am I trying to influence your taste in music, I am just saying that I have not encountered the kind of punks you are speaking of (at least if they are older than 25)

/edit - Personally, I don't really get or understand the draw of Avril Levin/Brittney/any top 40 radio stuff.

I only understand Black Sabbath, really.

i guess i have just had the bad luck of coming across the arrogant segment of the punk crowd in my lifetime. the people i have known over the years who are into punk have never been content to just say, "i like this kind of music, it may not be for everyone, thats cool, whatever turns you on", but rather, "other genres of music are just lame, shallow, mainstream crap. punk is the one true way and people who don't like it are dweebs" kind of attitude. but i still stand by what i said about Marilyn Manson.

We need to switch places my experiences with Opera are definitely the opposite of yours. Mine have all been with pretentious rich WASPs droning on and on about opera, fine wine, and their finances....

[Keepcoolbutcare]

I seem to remember Peven coming out with some sort of agit-prop statement ages back that said something like, "Hip-Hop's all foul violent EVAL!"...and now you had to go turn that to Punk 'n all?

needless to say, Peven would NOT have fit in with the early 1980's scene in NYC .

[Retardo_Montalban]

Punk does not exist and that's the beauty of it. People who think that dressing like the Misfits and wearing a Dead Kennedy's patch is "punk" are misinformed. There is no punk style in any form. The music ranges from reggae to rockabilly to surf to the common power chord variety that everyone seems to be focusing on. It can be violent, angry, political and humorous. The only thing it is, is not normal. As far as I'm concerned, punk has always been around since before jazz in every musical form. It was only given a name in the late 70's. The best definition of punk I've ever seen was written by Greg Graffin of Bad Religion. I recommend the Punk Manifestoin the essay section of thier official site. You know what else? Pretention is everywhere. there's alwasy somebody who thinks that thier views are the be all and end all of whatever shit they're into. They're also usually the loudest and most ignorant of whatever it is they're hocking. Everybody else just doesn't give enough of a shit to to be more noticeable.


Fuck you and goodnight.

[Seppuku]

needless to say, Peven would NOT have fit in with the early 1980's scene in NYC .

So you don't like our music, eh? Well that's just the last straw...Brian, call this man a cab NOW!!!

[St. Alphonzo]

Sepp, I'd completely forgotten about these jokers! If I recall, they actually sold advertising on their album!

Thanks for the drug-free high-school flashback.

"Shoot it up", indeed.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

what do you know, your just another MAN IN SUIT!

(bout damn time too!)

[St. Alphonzo]

what do you know, your just another MAN IN SUIT!

(bout damn time too!)

No shit... only 10 months!

[Seppuku]

Yeah right on Man [in Suit]!

Say what you will about the 80's, but at least they had something for everyone...even aliens with weird penchants for mink coats, bondage wear and neon red hair (see above).