Perspectives on Punk Rock

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Page 01Perspectives on was 13 when I got a second hole pierced in my ears. It had been a pretty typical the day of school, followed by a trip to the MUSIC Monmouth Mall with my first boyfriend Zach, accompanied by his younger sister Peri and chaperoned by his mom Stacey. We the Ethos ran rampant through Hot Topic, sifting from band t-shirt to band t-shirt to band t-shirt, gig- gling at the vaguely sexual keychains at Spen- cer's Gifts (not yet understanding why a bear the lifesTyl with a ball gag and leather briefs was funny or what it meant), and landing at Piercing Pagoda. Ah yes, Piercing Pagoda; The kiosk embedded somewhere between The Gap and Aéropostale

Page 02Nicole Vitale PHOTOGRAPHED BY KARJAKA https://tinyurl.com/2p8z3xaw

Page 03that allowed disillusioned and unamused high school- the human experience. Life is our greatest and most sig- nificant game of “choose your own adventure", the likes ers looking for extra income access to piercing guns and, of which I certainly don't want a bunch of old white men judging by the multiple piercings they each had them- selves, a pretty rad employee discount. Supposedly with dictating every aspect of for me (especially as a woman, my mom's blessing (the details are fuzzy), both Zach and especially in 2o23). But nothing really brought the ex- I got pierced that day. I got simple titanium balls, increas- perience of challenging authority and convention to the ing my piercing count from a modest and girly 2 to a forefront of society with the intense vigor and piss and vinegar of punk rock. I'll define the societal meaning of very rock 'n roll 4 (what a goddamn badass), and he got his left lobe pierced with a very cool looking black tung- punk and shed light on the origins of the movement at sten stud. When I came home later that day, slurping on large; But for a more well-rounded grasp on what punk means, I went straight to the source, interviewing some the remnants of my food court Pepsi and feeling quite of the most badass colleagues I know. I've had the plea- chuffed, I walked into a shitstorm. My dad went totally ballistic and my sister started crying, telling me I looked sure to work very closely with both Michele and Austin like a freak. It is here where I would like to state for the who both grew up during the apex of the punk move- ment. Naturally, I needed to know more about their ex- record that my sister did end up getting a second hole pierced in her ears a few years later, but I digress - I perience and their individual perspective, how punk has was punished (the conditions of this punishment I can't shaped them as individuals, and what it truly means to embody the punk ethos. Austin re- recall) and I was absolutely pissed off. Why should anyone tell me what I can members his initial exposure to punk, do with my body? They were my ears. when a girl he had a crush on gave him a mixtape, which he says was “full of and I would get them pierced if I want- ed to! I was like, 13 years old, which is pretty much every artist on the Look- out! Records roster at the time from basically an adult anyway. Why was Screeching Weasel to Green Day." His "because I said so" anywhere close to first punk show was Offspring. “[It was] a legitimate reason to be sequestered just as their album Smash was released to my room? This, I would say, was the and Rancid opened. I met a bunch extent of my teenage rebellion. I was a pretty straight laced, rule-following of kids about a year or two younger kid. I did go against the grain a little. than me at that show, but went to my high school and really started to feel wearing mostly black, owning a pleth- ora of the aforementioned Hot Topic that sense of community that comes with the scene. A couple years later I t-shirts donning the logos of my favor ite bands, and sporting those studded helped a friend with a zine and started leather cuffs that told the world - nee, my own, and got to interview a ton of my middle school classmates - that I bands that were fantastic and became definitely didn't give a fuck about how friendly with many I stay in touch with to this day." From then on, he was pret- popular they were and that they didn't accept me, even though I secretly did. punk era. Yearning to play drums since the age of 6, but Growing up comes with its share of, well, growing pains. There's a lot of fumbling on the road to self-dis- given a violin in the school band instead, she finally got covery. The overarching theme of Lewis Carroll's Alice's those drum lessons at age 23 (her drum teacher's first fe- Adventures In Wonderland" (more colloquially “Alice In male student) when she moved to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and has rocked in bands like Flowers Inside Wonderland") is growing up. In the text, Alice struggles with identity, explores curiosity in her journey, and learns and Loki the Grump ever since. Michele recalled her first show, which was the catalyst to her concert obsession."It to adhere to conformity and authority in order to rise through the social ranks, represented by the Red Queen. was Billy Idol at the local college where my friend's sis- Depicted as an erratic tyrant and a sadist, it can be said ter went. She took us - we wore matching black plastic/ that the Red Queen exemplifies the establishment, the nylon outfits and thought we were cool (we weren't). I'm pretty sure we were the youngest kids there. The show class system, and the principle that actions have con- was AMAZING," Michelle recalls. “A small venue, packed, sequences and at times punishment - whether just or and so exciting. By the end of his tour his album blew unjust. One thing I think we can all agree on is that the up and he added arena shows to the end. Went to one of older we get, the less we want to be told what to do. For some, the questioning of authority starts a little sooner those, too. Still great, but nothing like the college ven- than others. This can be authority from parents, teachers, ue show. After that I went a bit concert-crazy...when we could get a ride of course." bosses, cops, and of course, the United States Govern- ment. It's argued that rules and regulations aim to keep The punk subculture of the 197o's itself encom- passed not only music, but also art, literature, film, and the general populous safe, to retain order and mitigate chaos. However, challenging authority is innately part of fashion, and was a giant middle finger in the face of con-

Page 04cepts that America abided by such as gentrification, white accessibility - that those on stage weren't couched and supremacy, consumerism, and capitalism (you know, the pampered rock stars, but just someone with struggles, building blocks of this great nation). According to Nation- frustrations and something to say." The lyrical content of al Geographic's Simon Ingram, “the word punk was orig- most formative punk songs sought to bring attention to inally an archaic term for a prostitute -‘Puncke' was used societal privilege, global crises, political corruption, and by Shakespeare as such in Measure by Measure, though acted as a call to arms in some respects. While some may ambiguously - and was later a common slang term for argue that punk is simply an ethos, it is nearly impossible separate politics from punk. Punk birthed any kind of miscreant, or charismatic, good-for-nothing t o threat to authority." Punk was all about nonconformi- a new wave of activists, accompanied by a ty and individuality, advocating for causes soundtrack of rage and angst personified. Punk had roots and drew influence from and concepts such as free thought, animal rights and gender and ra- more mainstream genres, such as rock- cial equality...which sound a lot abilly, reggae, and, even in some cases, like modern Liberalism. Punk rock country. The evolution of punk birthed was rooted in what was then called a multitude of sub-genres; Hardcore garage rock, which was characterized married together thrash metal and by a rough and fuzzy sound, simple punk to make a louder, faster, meaner, chord structures, and aggressive lyrics and more aggressive sound that definitely with a nasal tone that sometimes came worried parents everywhere (examples being Misfits, with an arrogant snarl. New York's Low- Black Flag, and Minor Threat). Post-punk bands like Joy East Side (and specifically the iconic music venues CBGB Division and The Cure experimented with production techniques used in jazz, dub, funk and disco and meld- and Max's Kansas City) was where it's said that punk rock was born; Out of frustration with adhering to the status ed with more intellectual pursuits like art, literature and philosophy. Pop-punk was arguably the most mainstream quo, rising rent prices, oppressive regulations and over- all mounting classist and racist ideologies, punks wrote product of the punk movement and now more likely grace music that reflected the growing dissent of the American the car stereo's Contemporary Hit Radio or even [gulp] Classic Rock station (think Green Day, the Offspring, and youth. Some of the earliest and most recognizable Amer- ican punk bands were The Ramones, The New York Dolls Jimmy Eat World). Punk is also regarded as the forefather and The Stooges whose sound swept the nation and reso- of Grunge, the musical and cultural phenomenon of the nated with so many of the discontented youth. Across the late 8o's and early-mid go's; We can thank Naked Raygun pond, London's own punk scene was making strides with for injecting punk directly into the veins of Nirvana drum- The Sex Pistols, The Damned, and The Clash. But aside mer/Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, who has since for years adamantly gushed over the Melvins, the Pixies, and from the punk rock sound, London was the place that so- lidified the look of punk. Chains, spikes, safety pins, Huisker Di among others and the influence they had on tartan, and clothes with rips and tears were staples in his music. the punk community, spearheaded by now fashion While punk might encompass fashion icon Vivienne Westwood and then-partner Malcolm and music that bear the same name, McLaren (also then-manager ofThe Sex Pistols) at Michele argues that punk is more than their King's Road shop SEX. According to Ma- what meets the eye (and the ear). “In rie Claire's Kat Lister, it “was a backlash against general I consider 'punk' to be a state of the etherealness established by the late six- heart/mind as opposed to conforming to ties' Summer of Love ethos - all waves, flares, a way of dress or very specific music (oth- drapes, peace and love. In its place came su- er people most likely don't agree -- but I don't give a rat's ass!). It's doing what I want, per tight jeans, leather jackets, ripped tees, sweat and anger." dressing how I want, listening to whatever The music itself was the soundtrack to I want without anybody else dictating what the dissent and frustration of the youth should or should not be. But that was an epiph- any that happened after feeling for a long time at the time. Rebelling against showy, elit- ist and star-focused bands like The Rolling like I had to do the same as everyone else, other- wise I wouldn't be accepted' in the scene." Recall- Stones with that cocky, pillow-lipped motherfucker ing a specific incident in college, Michele elaborates Mick Jagger peacocking around, punk music sounded a further, “it was a very, very hot day and I said 'fuck it' and lot like, well, just noise. At its roots, punk cut out all the bullshit excess. “Eliminate the unnecessary and focus on wore a very plain grey tank top and shorts outfit with my the substance," as Tommy Ramone once said. Via Simon black Chucks, no makeup, very little jewelry, hair up in a Ingram again, "Punk rock, when it arrived, was edgy, brief ponytail...all of which was not my typical way of dress at and unpolished, with unpredictable and chaotic live per- the time. This one guy (who I knew through the alternative scene) dressed in his leather boots, black jeans, and leath- formances which sometimes ignited pent up crowds into violence. Out went virtuoso solos and twinkly stagecraft: er jacket came up to me and very nastily said, 'What...did musicianship came second to attitude, and the feeling of you get a college transfusion?' And then he just turned

Page 05and started walking away. I remember at first I felt real- performers often called for 'all girls to the front, to en- ly embarrassed - probably turned an interesting shade courage participation of women in the crowds at punk shows, where they were often harassed or overlooked." of crimson, but then almost immediately I got really angry and yelled after him, ‘I didn't realize I had to Some of my favorite vitriolic lyrics of the riot grrrl era conform to be a nonconformist!' The freedom I felt come from Bratmobile's “Do You Like Me Like That", after that was incredible. [That] changed everything wherein Allison Wolfe sings, "The only thing you know for me. And that's what punk now means to me...free- is your rich boy world/You're talking politics on your dom to be who you are!" Austin shares that sentiment pedestal/And you half-baked idea of 'what it means to be a girl'/But you can't feel how we suffer or we bleed/ of individuality and self-expression, emphasizing that within that collective unbothered attitude, community You can't give us what we want, much less what we is also created. “There was always a fashion element need." Simply put, men ain't shit. Austin is even help- to it, but the real draw to me was the community", ing to rear the next generation of riot grrrls, bringing says Austin. “I actually think that has gotten stronger his 8 year old daughter to shows like The Interrupters & Frank Turner. Need- over the years as ini- less to say, she's got the tially it was very seg- coolest dad. Michele regated between sub- genres like pop punk, uses her punk roots to give back and do good, crust punk, hardcore, and the mainstreaming having been a long-time that happened in the member of an organiza- tion called Girls Rock & mid-9o's with Green Girls Rule, founded by Day, Offspring and the her friend Gail Silver- punk explosion. I always found an element of man. “The mission of GRGR was to get girls punk ethic across many genres beyond ‘Punk and women inspired to especially in industrial learn how to play instru- and metal of that era ments and get out and but that definitely was play some music", said Michele. “We played so not the popular opinion back then, so I guess I many shows, organized and went on two tours, was pretty punk. Ha!" While on its face with local female rock- ers on each bill in ad- punk may seem hy- dition to our 4 bands. It per-masculine, make was full female empow- no mistake that women erment! We raised mon- were an integral part ey for Willie Mae Rock of the punk crusade Camp, Habitat for Hu- Though it came at the manity Women Build, latter part of the punk and VOW which deals movement, the Riot Gr with domestic abuse." rrl subculture and sub. sequent subgenre was Growing up in an innately capitalist, mi- the original battle cry of sogynist and classist so- "girl power" before the Spice Girls kicked it with their platform boots into the ciety, it may be hard to forge your own path. Conformi- global lexicon and covered it in bright pink and glitter. ty is easy - you follow the White Rabbit down the hole Via Mia Avendano of wav zine, “Riot grrrl ideologies and let the Red Queen tell you what to do, lest your focus on equality for all genders and a fight against head get cut off, right? Wrong. If punk has taught us anything, it is to challenge authority, stand up for what gender based violence. Many Riot Grrrl groups were known to host meetings and chapters that aimed to you believe in, demand change, create waves, and make friends and enemies along the way. In the end, the Mad support and uplift women in the punk scene, which still occur today." Izzypedego of wav zine elaborates Hatters might be the sanest of them all. From my first further: “Bikini Kill and Bratmobile were two of the brush with rebellion 2o years ago to present-day with big driving forces in the Riot Grrrl movement in the 7 piercings (and 2 tattoos) total, I've obviously grown a early 'gos. They recognized that if you wanted some- lot, doing things my way, even when told I shouldn't or thing to come to fruition in a punk scene, your best bet couldn't. Enjoy the accompanying playlist, in which I was to communicate it through music. At their shows, created a fun little rollercoaster through the evolution

Page 06of punk rock. I'll leave you with Austin's resonant message from years of embody ing the punk lifestyle: “Find your path, find your community, support them, sup- port the marginalized and fight alongside them, be an ally, listen and learn to form new ideas and continue to grow. Sounds like hippy stuff, right, but nah, it's punk as F@&%." - NV

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