For the Punks

KBO

Hladno Pivo 

Back in my adolescence, I recall seeing the New York Dolls backing up U2 (just after the boy album and long before they began to really suck) in the winter of 1982 at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA.  Mr. Johanson was wearing a beaten up Levi jean jacket with a hugh depiction of Marilyn Monroe on the back.  I have always seen the NY Dolls as sort of a "glam rock" band of sorts my lads.

Punk progressed and to some extent, retained it's original substance through the eighties.  Examples include the Cromags, Naked Raygun, certain melodies from the Pixies Trompe le Monde album..  I was especially charmed by The Revolting Cocks, a collaboration between Al Jourgenson (of Ministry) and members of Front242... if my memory serves me correct.  The Cocks shared the lead into a sort of danceable punk which had a hand in lifting off the industrial scene, I believe.   But again, true punk rock lived in the 70's and early 80's.    I would agrue that punk was under the kingdom of "alternative music" along with new-wave back then. 

But, my friends, when did it all begin??? Truely a great topic for another thread.  Could it have been during the days of Iggy, Bowie and the Velvet Underground?  I dare say that the first American "alternative" or punk song might have come out of Boston in 1972 with Jonathan Richmond and the Modern Lovers with their song "Roadrunner."  But wait; could it have been even further in the past?  What about the garage sound of the early 60's!?  What about The Trashmen and their song Surfin Bird in 1963?  Many of us considered the Cramps to be a punk band.  That qualifies the Trashmen as America's first alternative or punk band.  Simply perplexing!  But, the message here is that punk goes back further than many realize.

Now, if you don't mind, I have a staff of maid that need scolding.

Iggy is the Godfather of Punk in my book and a true hero. But who cares?? As long as someone really enjoys some kind of music it must be good in some sense.

 I direct your attention to exhibit A: Sum 41.

 I always preferred Jimmy, or was it Jimmy, Jimmy?  Yeah, it was Jimmy, Jimmy.

For those of you who are not familiar with The Trashmen's "Surfin Bird,"  the song appears in this nifty Iraq war video short.  1963 my lads!!  This is absolutely the first punk song.  Can anyone find an older one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmhA6z6ieY

I put a Spell on You, by Screamin' Jay Hawkins(1956)

Screamin' Jay used to perform with a human skull on a cane that he would sing to. 

That offering, I believe, begs the question, "what is punk?"  Perhaps that song reached a sort of cult status and most certainly was profound for it's time.  But it appears too structured and orgainized for me.   That is nothing more than one man's opinion.  Interesting nonetheless.  There must be more.  Quite a fascinating topic indeed.  I do know that a lot of genuine punkers from the States and the UK were enamored with some 50's music which reached a cult status, such as the song Twilight Time by the Platters.

Absolutely wonderful for relaxation and meditation.

The thinking punk's music.

bad religion, rancid, pennywise, nofx, lagwagon