Punk Films That Were Available In The 1980's

The 1980's American hardcore punk scene corresponded with the birth of home video cassette recorders (VHS or Sony Betamax). Film played a key role in teaching kids what it meant to look and be 'punk'.

These were the punk rock movies that I remember from way back when. In addition to home video, there were still a lot of old movie theaters left. It was still possible to see many of these films on the big screen at a good price (as 'Midnight movies', cult films, etc.).

1) SID & NANCY (1986) Directed by Alex Cox of REPO MAN fame, I saw this at Bleeker Street Cinemas. As an outsider to the scene (I was a 14 year old skateboarder) I thought it was amazing. I even picked up the soundtrack album. Yeah, in retrospect it's not the greatest movie, but when I was a kid starved for punk rock it sure did the trick.

2) REPO MAN (1984) Another oddball one directed by Alex Cox. Music by FEAR, BLACK FLAG, CIRCLE JERKS, etc. Starring Emilio Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton. A period classic. Use to be a staple of late night cable TV all throughout the late 80's.

3) SUBURBIA (1983) Directed by Penelope Spheeris. Rented this one at my local video store. Music by D.I., THE VANDALS and TSOL. This one was studied, and REALLY gave a kid ideas on how to dress. Watched a million times!

 

4) RUDE BOY (1980) As far as I know The Clash's pseudo-documentary did not receive an official American home video release until the early 1990's, but bootleg copies were widely available.

5) TAXI DRIVER (1976) Martin Scorcese's classic starred Robert DeNiro as mentally troubled Vietnam vet Travis Bickle. This film would have a tremendous influence on the aesthetic and dark, sometimes mentally disturbed attitude of punk rock.

6) CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971) Stanley Kubrick's futuristic dystopian tale of juvenile delinquency, criminality, behavior alteration and classical music. Again, an influence on the mental attitude and aesthetic of punk rock.

7) MAD MAX (1979) George Miller's tale of decay and chaos in the future Australian wasteland. There was obviously close study of subculture in the fashion and feel of this film.

8) ROAD WARRIOR (1981) George Miller's followup to MAD MAX featured an even more apocalyptic punk aesthetic and atmosphere that became widely mimicked in the subculture.

9) ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981) John Carpenter's futuristic imagining of NYC turned into a maximum security prison, with the President of the United States held hostage within. Snake Plisken had a punk rock look.

10) BLADE RUNNER (1982) Many people feel Ridley Scott's 1982 masterpiece BLADE RUNNER is one of the first 'cyberpunk' films, a punk aesthetic brought to science-fiction scenarios. I agree. The film is brilliant.

11) RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985) A hilarious horror-comedy with a punk rock soundtrack and characters. Very 80's, very awesome.

12) ROCK N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL (1979) Roger Corman's campy RAMONES movie was widely available. Compared to other films of the era it came across as a bit cheesy, but it's aged pretty well. Good fun. Riff Randall!

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

You could buy copies of THE PUNK ROCK MOVIE (1978) and Lech Kowalski's DOA (1980) on videocassette in Manhattan record stores. DOA was released in the US by HIGH TIME Magazine.

TIMES SQUARE (1980) had a punk and new wave soundtrack that was widely available on vinyl. I found a copy of the 1982 film SMITHEREENS used at Blockbuster. It featured Richard Hell.

Bootleg copies of Sex Pistols' THE GREAT ROCK N ROLL SWINDLE (1980) could be found relatively easily for a price.

If you knew somebody higher up in the scene they might lend you their copy of DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION PT. 1 (1981), UK DK: A FILM ABOUT PUNKS & SKINHEADS (1983) or ANOTHER STATE OF MIND (1984). These films were around but were harder to find.

Icons of Filth 'Onward Christian Soldiers' LP/ Discharge "Why?" 12"

It was really hard to find Icons of Filth's music in the US in the 80's. In 1989 when I was 15 I bothered my friend Patty from Long Island until she agreed to give me the dubbed cassette she had on her. It contained Icons of Filth's LP "Onward Christian Soliders" (Mortarhate; 1984), which I desperately wanted to hear. That tape became key for me. I listened to it hundreds of times.

For that reason, because I learned their songs from an unlabelled cassette tape, I don't really know the song titles on that album. As a dj I'm normally pretty good about stuff like that.

Incidentally, 4 or 5 months later I flipped the tape over and it had Discharge's "Why?" 12" (Clay Records; 1981). I had a few Discharge records already (including some REALLY bad "Grave New World" era stuff...ugh) and I wasn't so hot on them, but after hearing that 12"...god damn, I was hooked! Discharge became all I listened to, and I tracked down all their early EPs.

Final album on the tape was Chaos UK's "Short Sharp Shock", which I already had. That was one of the few British Anarchopunk records that had a US and UK pressing. (Concrete Sox "Your Turn Next" LP was another). It was good, but it's not in the same league as their "Earslaughter" split with ENT, or their earlier "No Security" and "4 Minute Warning" stuff. But it was cheap, easy to find and everybody listened to it.

The Best Thing Nausea Ever Released

Nausea Live & Demo 1988
This is a prized possession.

This, and the live tape from the CB's 'Fuck Fascism' July 4, 1987 show.

Hearing that was the sickest shit I had ever heard. The sound of the apocalypse- rumbling bass, buzzsaw guitar, hardcore drumming and the vocals of English Neal Robinson and female grizzly growls of Amy.

I still think that's some of the sickest punk rock ever. Only in NYC, at that time, 1987. Home Sweet Home, Red Winter, Right to Live, Godless.
Yes!

Intelligent NYHC Bands Of The Late 80's/ Early 90's

The crowd at the CB's NYHC matinees in the late 80's had a reputation for being straightedge, violent, right-wing or all three. The punk presence was on the way out, and the metal presence was in full swing.

But even amongst that crowd there were still many bands that featured intelligent, open minded and progressive thinking members.

Because I was asked, these were the hardcore bands that I liked the most from that time. I would go see their shows. I like a lot of NYHC, my collection of the vinyl is quite big. I accept that SOME of the bands in NYHC were messed up, but these ones were definitely cool! I have fond memories, and continue to listen to their music.

1- ABSOLUTION- Most people I knew were scared of Gavin, but he's a very intelligent and obviously intense guy, and has always been involved in good, positive projects. He's a pretty good guitarist- Absolution had a great guitar sound, and Djinji is one of the most talented frontmen in NYHC. I can't say why Absolution didn't break bigger, but they certainly deserved to.

I liked Gavin's post-Absolution band, BURN, as well. Saw them a few times and had their records. Even shared a stage with them. They were good...but not as good as Absolution!

2- YUPPICIDE- They had the NYHC sound, but their mentality was very different. For one thing I think ¾ of the band were graphic artists. Steve Karp tattooed, Jesse Jones drew, and I know the bass player did event staging or something. Aesthetically they were far advanced of everyone else in the field. Graf style, all that crazy RAT FINK looking shit, etc. Their shows were a lot of fun- I saw them MANY times way back when. Jesse Jones is quite the theatrical frontman! They would even play with punk bands, and were on Squat or Rot Vol. 2. Their 1st EP "Fistful of Credit Cards" on Evacuate is fucking GREAT. Over the years I picked up “Shinebox”, “Fear Love”, a live in Germany CD. Every record is good. Caught their reunion show at Wetlands years back. Seriously...great band!

3- SFA- Brendan is one of those NYHC guys that obviously has a punk rock heart and brain. He's got a very dark sense of humor I don't think people understand (SFA were amongst the first bands I remember to brand themselves “Hate Core”, which can always be a double-edged sword because really stupid people hate too). But again, SFA were forward thinking, fun, put out good music, put on fun shows, would play with punks, had a track on Squat or Rot Vol. 1, etc. so I will always give them props.

4- LIFE'S BLOOD- Pre-BORN AGAINST Adam Nathanson. John Krickshun (forget how to spell his name) on drums. Didn't really know Jason O'Toole- I knew he was from upstate like Sam McPheeters. Anyhow, I remember they would play with MENTAL ABUSE a lot for some reason. They also had a kind of rough sense of humor. Played with Nausea, Public Nuisance and The Radicts at CBs! Their EP on Combined Effort/ Vermiform is a must.

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5- BORN AGAINST- I was fortunate enough to catch one of their first shows, at Lucky 13 squat! Picked up their demo- they had just formed, and met Sam and Adam for the first time. Very intelligent guys. Adam was always quieter, Sam is a bit of a smartass (he likes to play with fire). When I first met Adam I remember he was kind of jacked! I guess he lifted weights, and had a shaved head. I thought he was a NYHC tough guy, and was kind of wary of him! Later I got to know him better, and it turns out he's a nice guy. Had a weird, funny sense of humor that takes a minute to figure out.

6- RORSCHACH- Hard-working Charles Maggio. Amazing musically. So fucking metal and brual. Saw them many times. Great. Artistic in their brutality.

7- CITIZEN'S ARREST- Some of the most amazing shows I ever saw in my life. Closest I ever got to being into a band “for the kids”, but CXA shows were events. Pits that were off the hook intense, but not violent. Loved it. Pure power live- start to finish. Saw their last show. Very memorable.

8- KRAKDOWN- I remember skateboarding with one of the guys (Jay?) at the Brooklyn Banks when I was 14, and he told me he had a band. I asked him the name and he said 'Krakdown' (he was wearing one of those really early Gorilla Biscuits 'No Reason Why' shirts if I remember correctly). I remember they also played a Squat Or Rot show at RAPP Arts Center, which I thought was cool. They released a good EP. Still have it.

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9- UNDERDOG- I was never that into them musically. By the time I got to know them I didn't skate anymore, so I guess I was a little close minded to them. Remember them playing the Pyramid a few times. They were kinda cool. Always thought I should have been more into them- they seemed pretty intelligent, but you know how it is with bands (especially when you're buying vinyl). Gotta make choices what to grab, and many factors come into play.

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10- GO!- I saw Go! a whole bunch of times way back when. Seriously, a BUNCH of times. Honestly, I never really cared for them. I liked Mike Bullshit, and use to read BULLSHIT MONTHLY, but musically Go! wasn't my thing (I liked DISCHARGE or BLITZ or NAUSEA). Had all their early records, but never really played them. But always acknowledged they were cool.

Long and the short of it, I went to see Go's reunion at ABC No Rio 2 years ago AND THEY WERE AMAZING! Better then before. Don't know if that's 'cause Mike now has better backup musicians, but I was impressed! Which I suppose makes up for me being underwhelmed in high school.

11- REJUVENATE- The legendary Tommy Rat. Always a man to watch.

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12- BAD TRIP- Saw them way back when. Had an EP. Thought they were good. Saw the reunion show- thought they were good. Never really blown away by them, but I always enjoyed watching them.

More writing on NYHC to come!

A.P.P.L.E., False Prophets Fri 04.15.88 Hunter College (Rock Against Racism)

If you were at this show you remember how amazing it was. A.P.P.L.E. rocking out in a 3rd flr student center, punks being snuck in repeatedly by the same school IDs, over and over.

The show rocked hard. A whole bunch of kids were there from my high school that had never been to a show before. I schooled 'em.

A.P.P.L.E. were in top form. Jae's vocals were at their height, and their sound was heavy. The crowd knew all the songs.

FALSE PROPHETS put on a highly theatrical, energetic, prop filled set.

One for the ages!

The Burning Question

The burning question for those that lived through the anti-gentrification struggle in the Lower East Side in the late 80's and early 90's is how could it have ended differently? Could we have WON anything? We slowed the progress of development and gave the old freak neighborhood a few more years of life, but could we have WON? Clearly the LES needed to be revitalized, but how could this have been done without rich developers? Could it have remained a PEOPLE'S Lower East Side? What alternatives did we have to offer, in terms of future housing and employment opportunities for our side, the people? These are issues I think need to be addressed. These are the questions I took from the whole experience.

Artwork by Seth Tobocman from an old 'Housing Solidarity Network' flier. I think it's from 1991, but don't quote me on that.

Prana, Ahimsa, 1st Ave. 1988-1989

Anyone remember PRANA, the health food store at 125 1st Ave. btwn E.7th & St. Mark's? They also had an affiliated small bookstore next door (the name escapes me), and a corner restaurant called AHIMSA on the southwest corner of East 9th St.

Prana is the place I had my first humus sandwich (on 1/2 pita w/ sprouts, tomato, tahini). Also the place I learned about Edensoy soymilk, the main brand of soymilk available in NYC at the time. This is back in Sep 1988. Believe it or not that first humus sandwich blew my mind!  I'm telling you, to a 15 year old kid from Brooklyn that had just gone vegetarian a few months earlier, but didn't really KNOW many vegetarians PRANA was a godsend. This is long before corporate chain health food stores like WHOLE FOODS. Health food stores were still the domain of true characters. Real freaks.

Also the place I was introduced to Sunshine Burgers and baked tofu sandwiches!

Anyhow, PRANA is long gone now, as is the Lower East Side in general. But for a brief moment in 1988-1989 those freaks on 1st Ave. were the cutting edge for real, healthy food in NYC. Loved it!