This is a well-done documentary focused on the early rise of West Coast punk rock, dating back to the early 80s. Director Wills got in touch with the right people to interview, to be sure. Included here are conversations with members of T.S.O.L., the Adolescents, Social Distortion, Circle Jerks (Keith Morris), Dead Kennedys (Jello Biafra), Black Flag (Henry Rollins), and plenty of others.
As it turns out, the SoCal punk scene was indebted to the small club owned by Jerry Roach called the Cuckoo's Nest, which supported most of these early punk bands in a time when punk was considered threatening and dangerous, and fights with "rednecks" and the police were commonplace. "Clockwork Orange County" features plenty of first-hand accounts of this era, when punk was new and idealistic. Wills even deemed it worthy to include some new bands to discuss this classic era with, all of whom admit a tremendous debt to these punk pioneers. It's a fascinating and well-presented documentary, and something any true fan of American punk should see.
This old VHS transfer captures the band in their Henry Rollins days, in front of a British crowd in 1984. It begins with a daring Rollins reading Henry Miller to the rowdy punk rock audience, certainly a harbinger of his future as a stand-up comic and writer/storyteller. Nonetheless, this soon devolves into a melee of abrasive and wild hardcore/punk, complete with a shirtless Rollins bellowing his lyrics like a feisty bulldog. The band, led by the innovative guitar of Greg Ginn, amply back up the charismatic Rollins, as they roar through classics like "Nervous Breakdown", "Slip It In", "Six Pack", "My War", and plenty more.
It's a fine document of an era long gone, and though watchers should not expect an HD-quality experience, this is a great and rare look at one of American punk's legends. And for Rollins fans, a place to see a thinner, long-haired Rollins in his more youthful, raw element. (Visionary via MVD Visual)
If you don't know who Henry Rollins is, I probably don't want to speak with you at all. Sorry, but that's the truth. Usually, I'd feel obliged to do a brief synopsis of Henry's career, but not here. I'm here for a different reason -- to promote his radio program on KCRW, a listener-funded public radio station based out of Santa Monica College in Los Angeles, CA.
Henry's 2-hour weekly radio show (titled "Harmony In My Head") is where he and trusty Engineer X spin tales and tunes from the wildest out-jazz (Coltrane is especially well-represented) to classic punk rock to the finest Sublime Frequencies international sounds to Parliament and James Brown funk to the greatest pre- and post-punk like Wire, SWANS, Cramps, Suicide, Stooges, and tons more. It's a breathtaking mix of styles, genres, and vibes, and essential listening to anyone with an open mind and ear. Actual podcasts of this show aren't really available from the source, but luckily there is a fan-based site to archive and make these broadcasts available for download for those of us not able to listen live.
Rollins' radio shows run 2 hours apiece, and can be downloaded for free from this site:
A novelty item, for sure, but kinda fun in a throwaway sorta way. The CD is a solid covers disc, featuring various all-star guest vocalists (like Dicky from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio, Jim Lindberg of Pennywise, Dave King of Flogging Molly, and Jordan Pundik of New Found Glory(??)) covering classics by Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Dickies, Buzzcocks, Black Flag, Stiff Little Fingers (the awesome 'Suspect Device'), etc. Unnecessary, but amusing. The DVD features these songs as videos, as well as a section of instrumental cuts with the lyrics so you can, theoretically, 'perform' these yourself in the comfort of your own TV room. Likely fun in a bar setting, with the all-star band (members of NOFX, Circle Jerks, Adolescents, Agent Orange, etc.) backing you up. On disc it's rendered reasonably feeble. Some additional footage of live audience members singing these songs is entertaining, with some solid performances (among the embarrassing), but overall this is a pretty lightweight and forgettable set. (MVD Visual)
Now, this one is world-class. Never before have I seen a historical documentary and history of punk rock that is as comprehensive, factual, and fascinating as this one. This years-in-the-making film is, quite possibly, the definitive document of punk's often-misinterpreted and sketchy past (and present).
Featuring interviews with personalities from nearly every notable and essential punk band, there's no skimping on the details and history. Take a look at just some of the participants here: Bad Religion, Black Flag, Ramones, Rancid, Social Distortion, Stiff Little Fingers, Sham 69, Damned, Green Day, MC5, Minor Threat, Subhumans, UK Subs, Sex Pistols, Exploited, Billy Idol, Dead Kennedys...and the list goes on. And beyond their personal insights, there are countless flyers, album covers, images, old movies, etc. to illustrate the 'hows', 'wheres', 'whos', and 'whys' of the 70's most influential and relevant musical and cultural phenomenon, and it's influence on today's music and pop culture.
In Dynner's movie, the history is essential, but her insights go further that that. Punk rock's socio-political relevance is examined, as is it's undeniable influence on fashion (Hot Topic? piercings? tattoos?). The film examines the evolution of the genre - from its' explosive 70's beginnings, to the mostly-forgotten 80's era, when punk quietly inspired some of today's biggest rock stars. And it even looks deeper into today's 'punk', with bands who purists may scoff at (Good Charlotte and Sum 41 are given time here to explain their roots and feelings), yet are included in the style nonetheless. In short, virtually nothing is left out - from arrests and social unrest to selling out.
There are so many great stories told here (from the legends themselves, both known and unknown), with trivia and anecdotes galore, lest you expect a dry and purely scholarly examination of the virtues and downfalls of the genre. It's exhaustive, it's authoritative, and it's a helluva lot of fun.
This is essential viewing for anyone with even a passing interest in the subversive music and lifestyle that has been co-opted by the mainstream, but once flipped its' collective middle finger to authority and the corporate mainstream. Sure, punk swims dangerously close to the sharks these days, but the ideals are still there, submerged in the underground, where it's spawned offshoots not confined by the name or genre 'Punk's Not Dead' is a work of art, and a necessary history lesson with (s)punk. And the nearly 2 hours of bonus features are just about as worthy and watchable as the feature film itself... Get this one pronto! (MVD Visual)
What do you get when you get a bunch of veteran California punk rock stars together to pay irreverent tributes to both Elvis AND pigfuck punk slimester G.G. Allin? Your answer is right here. These 'nardcore' buffoons, eh, liven up these old Elvis songs and do 'em up in grand three-chord punk rock style. 'Blue Suede Shoes' is punk-a-billy to the nth degree, and really pretty fun. I can imagine the old days slamdancing at local punk shows with some rowdy and shady characters. Ah, the good old days! 'Viva Las Vegas' was already done years back by Jello and his Dead Kennedys, but here it's even harder and heavier. 'My Way' is in the drunken sloppy spirit of Sid's infamous rendition, whereas 'Devil In Disguise' is mean and peppy, with Bad Samaritans' Eric Lara (aka GG Elvis) performing gruffy vox. The rest of the band, consisting of members of Ill Repute, Stalag 13, NOFX, and Jughead's Revenge, takes it up a notch with some great classic-style 3-chord punk, with little inner-song tribs to the Ramones, Black Flag, and Sex Pistols, which is nice. Overall, a fun if inessential album, though their live shows would own, I'd bet. The accompanying bonus DVD is full of some indulgent clips and assorted silliness, really pretty insubstantial. (Mental Records)
