Now I am the first one to admit that I have a tendency to be classed with the punk/goth label. Yup have the coloured hair, yup have some piercings, tattoos - check, published designs in Punk Knits - CHECK, fashion sense - check, generally wear all black - check, tend to see the darker side of things _ CHECK!!!! etc....But all of these items do not make one punk. It's an aesthetic and a way of life. To quote my absolute female idol in this world, Siouxsie : "The moment punk was commercialised, she
says, “it lost its teeth. People forget it was an attitude, a mindset,
reacting to what was going on in the world, in music, at that time.
You can’t take that and place it now: that would just be mimicry." It's the common feeling amongst most subcultures that if you have to label yourself than right there you are not what you think you are. Sure I work in corporate America, some would say that right there is a cardinal sin but I need to eat and not all of us can just flip two fingers to the man all of the time but I can put my hand on my little black heart and say that I never don a suit! LOL
But please for the love of all things on this earth - do we need yet another reunion by the former boy band known as the Sex Pistols!!!! Enough already please. Yes I did get to see them on their first reunion tour a few years ago (I was only 3 during the "punk" revolution of the 70's) at that shithole called the Palladium (worst live venue in all of Hell A - and make sure you not only check your guns, chains and cigarettes at the door but most importantly don't even think about bringing in chewing gum!!!) And yes I was bored beyond belief at the gig but then again I was never a huge fan in the first place.
To quote Anthony Bourdain, one of my favourite realists, from Octobers Spin magazine: "The official face of "punk" became the Monkees-like industry creation the Sex Pistols. They looked like an update Bay City Rollers or a proto-'N Sync. Same template. It was all about the clothes.
Don't get me wrong - I am as we all know a big supporter of The Rolling Stones touring even if they are all grandfathers. But The Sex Pistols!!!!! It's not an age thing, it's a "I'm so anti-establishment yet my bills need to be paid so let's do a gig" thing.... Not to mention the fact that Johnny Rotten who is the first one to admonish anything that he thinks isn't rock'n'roll enough, has been featured in several reality shows as well as a children's science program. (I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here or his stint as a wanna be Simon Cowell on Bodog's Battle of the Bands (where he contradicted himself by telling a teenage garage band that they were too young and to come back when they were older - um, they were the same age as Johnny and Sid were when Malcolm McLaren created the whole marketing mission that was the Sex Pistols - Mr. McLaren was indeed a commercial genius who really did put together nothing more than a boy band, down to even picking their wardrobe (and what great clothes they were !!!!!) and co-writing most of their songs Yes, Steve Jones is a great DJ on our local Indie 103.1 radio station. Paul loves his show and tunes in all the time. Not to mention Steve Jones also served as executive producer on the aforementioned Bodog show (I'm a reality tv junkie, I admit it) But please do we really need to see them spit on their cult like followers (who themselves are more than likely businessmen who think that they are out for a wacky night. At $75 a ticket, not much chance those "true punks" will be queuing up to splash out the dosh) while pogoing up and down with their canes....
Not that I am that fond of the Clash (yes, this has been a bone of contention in my house for years as Paul followed the Clash across the UK in the 70's and ranks them among his top ten bands of all time) but in true honesty they were the true essence of punk, who not only sang about the political climate that initiated the punk movement in 1970's Britain but they also explored new avenues and opened up audiences to the likes of reggae. But they called it a day with grace and dignity.
So please Johnny and company, please make this your final farewell show (let's face it the last tour was called the Piss Off Tour so please listen to your own words, boys!) What next The Pistols sign a residency playing a Vegas lounge alongside Celine Dion???
