The Damned - “Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead” Bluray/DVD

Wonderful look at punk's all-time greats

This long-awaited (and downright necessary) documentary was crafted by “Lemmy” filmmaker Wes Orshoski, so you know to expect a comprehensive and quality work full of historical documentation and intimate, honest portrayals of the band. You’d be accurate, as this is a wonderful and lovingly honest look at the boys nowadays, as well as their 40+ year history.

The nearly 2-hour running time is jam-packed with interviews with classic members Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies, and Brian James, who unfortunately don’t all get along or play together these days, but all respect the times dating back to the band’s 1976 debut single, “New Rose”, which of course was the first “punk” vinyl single ever released, ahead of both the Sex Pistols and the Clash. The Damned never got the same acclaim or notoriety, sadly, as those bands, though their songwriting prowess, by my standards, far exceeded them. There is a bit of resentment from the members on their NOT being able to cash in on their history as well as the aforementioned, but that’s beside the point. The Damned are legends, and the fact that the original members are all alive and kicking (and playing music still) is a blessing we all have to be thankful for.

That said, “Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead” also features personal accounts and appreciation from interviews with peers like Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jones of the Clash, Don Lets, Lemmy, Billy Idol, Steve Diggle of the Buzzcocks, Nick Mason of Pink Floyd (who produced the band), Ian MacKaye, Jello Biafra, former members like Roman Jugg and Bryn Merck. Not to mention the chats with Fred Armisen (who professes a serious love for the band and manages to busk with the Captain here), Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode, Dexter Holland of Offspring, and others. It’s a serious and intensive look at the band’s history, with tons of live footage from all eras, including very early VHS clips alongside looks at recent gigs.

A treasure trove for Damned fans, this is the literal Damned bible on video. The package includes both a DVD and BluRay version, and there are plenty of nice bonuses added on, too. A great viewing for fans, both casual or hardcore. 

MVD Visual

Official Damned site

“The Dicks From Texas” DVD (director: Cindy Marabito)

Love those Dicks

This 70-minute documentary examines the legendary Texan punk band, the Dicks, who remain woefully obscure today, despite influencing everyone from Ian MacKaye to Henry Rollins (both of whom appear here, by the way). Director Marabito includes interviews with nearly all members (even archived ones with members and associates since deceased), including the charismatic frontman Gary Floyd, whose sexually ambiguous and unashamedly homosexual persona were quite a 1-2 punch alongside his outspoken and confrontational political and social satire.

“The Dicks From Texas” isn’t a super-slick or necessarily clean film, with some footage being rough and VHS-based. But that’s forgivable, given that most of this stuff is from the early 80s. There are some great stories here, from a time when being “punk” or different often meant harassment from the mainstream. The Dicks live on today with the occasional reunion show, and this film is a loving tribute to one of the weirder (and that’s saying a lot) underground acts spawned in the lone star state.

MVD Visual

Dicksbook

“Salad Days: A Decade Of Punk in Washington, DC (1980-90)” DVD (director: Scott Crawford)

The quintessential DC punk document

A welcomed and superb full-length documentary on the DC punk scene by longtime scene journalist Scott Crawford, “Salad Days” is as comprehensive as they come. Just about every major scene player is interviewed here, including Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins, Thurston Moore, Dave Grohl, J. Robbins, Craig Wedren, Kevin Seconds, and tons more.  

As well, there’s an abundance of great live footage of all the bands, Dischord-based and otherwise (Positive Force and the straight-edge movements are discussed here, of course, too), including Minor Threat, Fugazi, Marginal Man, Embrace, Egghunt, Government Issue, Dag Nasty, Gray Matter, Beefeater, Holy Rollers, Soulside, and more. Detailing the beginnings and endings of the whole scene, from the earliest teenage days to the alternative explosion of the early 90s, “Salad Days” highlights the reverence and relevance that the punk scene had and continues to have today. It’s a loving portrait of the misfits and freaks behind the scenes making a difference and changing attitudes in a city where bureaucracy and corporate interests undermine basic humanity. For anyone with even a passing interest in classic punk rock and the idealism it embodies, this is a must-see. Superb!

MVD Visual

D.O.A. - “To Hell N’ Back” DVD+CD

Bounty of live footage of Canadian punk legends

Ah, the inimitable Joe “Shithead” Keithley and DOA still bring it, being Vancouver’s far-and-away godfathers of punk. This 90-minute selection of live footage covers some of their gigs from 2011 to 2013, and it’s a fine showing of blitzkrieg punk in the classic vein like few others can do. Quality here is decent to good, and certainly better than bootlegs, so fans (you know who you are) need to grab this one pronto.

Plenty of the greats are here, from “Police Brutality” to “Class War” to “Fucked Up Ronnie”, with around 27 others to pummel and educate you, and that’s not even including the bonus footage.

And to further sweeten the deal, there’s a free CD attached, as well, that being the band’s 2012 album “We Come In Peace”, which you can believe is packed with essential punk-ass madness like only Joey Shithead can conjure. You get guest vocals from Jello Biafra on a remake of the band’s classic “General Strike”, and several other less-notable guests to add color to DOA’s already diverse sound. 

DOA’s political side is more than evident as always, as are their odes to marijuana and beer, but that’s not telling you anything you don’t already know. DOA basically wrote the book on punk in Canada, so here’s a toast to one of the greats. Hail DOA!

Sudden Death Records

“Positive Force: More Than A Witness - 30 Years Of Punk Politics In Action” DVD (director: Robin Bell)

Enlightening and inspiring punk doc

The punk music scene has evolved into a fully-established family tree, with branches drifting away from the original sprout in often surprising and diverse fashions. The nihilism of progenitors like the Sex Pistols or Stooges eventually became a lame stereotype, so punks (particularly ones in Washington DC), partially inspired by the anarchist ideology of English band Crass, became “positive”. This film is a lovingly rendered documentary of the Positive Force movement, spearheaded by the Discord Records roster of artists, and most often associated with Ian MacKaye and Minor Threat/Fugazi, who paved a lot of ground for angry, politically, and socially aware punks.

Director Bell brings together loads of pertinent artists, activists, and musicians here, often with slightly different ideologies, but united to make change. It sounds corny and idealistic, but these are people who are fighting for our own rights, confronting issues like racism, homophobia, homelessness, poverty, war, corporate and government corruption, animal rights, and environmental conservation. Positive Force has been and still is driving change like few others. 

This feature-length DVD (which includes a wealth of bonus short films and live performances) boasts of rare music clips, as well as footage both old and new to illustrate the grass-roots movement that Positive Force has driven for 30 years now. Of course, names like Fugazi, Bikini Kill, Nation Of Ulysses, Rites Of Spring, Jello Biafra, Dave Grohl, Ted Leo, Kathleen Hanna, and many more appear here, so you know there are good things going on.

In short, this is a superb document of a movement that may not garner a lot of media attention (naturally), yet is an essential component of our homegrown American music scene. Support work like this, and give this cause a boost, as it can make a serious difference in all of our lives. Word.

PM Press

Meatmen - “Savage Sagas From The Meatmen” CD

Ugly, dirty, and ultimately great return from Tesco and friends!

The immortal Tesco Vee and compatriots are back with their first Meatmen album in 5 years, an the first of all new material in over 20! “Savage Sagas” doesn’t tidy things up neatly for the kids, though. Nope, it’s as offensive, raucous, and out of control as ever before. With such family-friendly tunes as “Pissed Hot For Weed”, “The Ballad Of Stinky Penis”, “Big Bloody Booger On The Bathroom Wall”, or “Rock ’N Roll Enema”, you know it’s gonna be fast, hard, and ugly. And it is.

“Men O Meat” opens it all up with 55 seconds of speedy garage punk. “I’m Gonna Fuck You Up” is an anthem of only a minute and a half. Yikes! Tesco, Danny Dirtbag, Hindu Kush, and Bun Length are certainly firing on all cylinders. Production is perfect — raw but clear, and these 20 songs turn in at a quick and bouncy 48 minutes. “Shecky Presents…” is a bit of a comedic interlude, but fear not, kids, as “Speed Kills (But It Sho’ Feels Good)” is a thrashy, metallic punk monster. This one takes me back to the classic days of hardcore punk — with all the subversive nihilism and attitude. I will never tire of this sound. All hail the Meatmen! 

Self Destructo Records

Tesco Vee world

"Clockwork Orange County" DVD (director: Jonathan W.C. Wills)

Superb punk doc

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.

Celebrity Home Entertainment via MVD Visual

"Punk In Africa" DVD (directors: Keith Jones and Deon Maas)

Superb look at African subculture

This thought-provoking and enlightening documentary traces the evolution of the underground music movement in Africa, from the anti-apartheid rock acts of the early 70s through multiracial punk and hardcore acts of the 80s, and into the modern day.

Obviously a labor of love, "Punk In Africa" is a comprehensive look at the beginnings of "punk" idealism in South Africa and Zimbabwe, where political dissent often leads to police harassment or worse. Bands like Suck, Safari Suits, and Kalahari Surfers were progenitors of modern day African music, melding Western styles with African attitudes and issues. "Punk In Africa" is packed to the hilt with old video footage and tons of interviews with those involved in this scene. It's a beautiful and inspiring look at a punk scene that isn't given the credit it deserves.

I was particularly fascinated how the music itself had developed, with present-day acts like Evicted or Fruits and Veggies being amalgamations of traditional African sounds with Western rock. But beyond styles, it's refreshing to see how music and the arts are still challenging the status quo in Africa, and are continually confronting political issues in these troubled countries. 

A superb documentary, and one anyone remotely interested in underground music should see. 

MVD Visual

Punk In Africa site

"East End Babylon" DVD (director: Richard England)

Fine documentary of British oi! punk legends

Tracing the history of England's influential punk thugs, the Cockney Rejects, this exceptionally well-produced documentary interviews all the appropriate suspects, and features tons of archival footage. It's a treasure trove for fans of the band that pretty well started the "oi!" scene, for better or worse.

Balancing punk rock DIY aesthetics and street-brawling, football-flag-waving hooliganism, the Cockney Rejects were a raw and polarizing force in the original punk rock scene, inviting (against their own beliefs) right-wing affiliations. 

Told by band members (namely part-time pro boxer and founding guitarist Mick Geggus), their story is one of many brawls and battles (with the police as well as other football fans). Their reformation in the early 2000s (which continues to this day) shows them riding the classic wave punk revival bandwagon, and still steadfastly supporting their heroes (the West Ham United football club). 

It's all a fascinating and informative look at a band that deserves a bit more respect in the punk scene, if for nothing else, their longevity and tenacity in the face of such adversity. 

Cadiz Music

East End Babylon site

The Vibrators - "Greatest Punk Hits" CD

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Infectious Garage Disease - "Infectious Garage Disease" CD

Now this is a retrospective/historical release done right! Infectious Garage Disease were a California thrash punk band, and in 1988 they released their one and only LP, which is the foundation for this re-release. Joined by 22 demotape tracks (there are well over 40 cuts here), this disc is filled out to just under the 60 minute mark. With the addition of video files and mp3s of live mayhem, it's all a fan could hope to ask for. Really, it's a comprehensive history of this forgotten band. And I like it.

I.G.D. had a sound that, sadly, doesn't much exist today. Speedy, juvenile, and fun, this proto-hardcore punk was snotty and witty, dealing with important subjects like beer ("Milwaukee's Best"), teenage lust ("Dear Pops"), addiction ("Porno Junkie"), frivolity ("Thongs"), social issues ("Starve & Die"), disease ("Pubic Lice"), and many more. 

The demotapes aren't quite as, uh, refined (maybe "honed" is a better word), but the amount of sheer punk energy here is tactile, and reminds me of a less-complicated time, seeing bands much like I.G.D. locally in small venues. Great stuff, and worthy of such a fine re-release.

Negative Reaction Records/MVD Audio

The Damned - "Live Live Live - Tiki Nightmare" DVD

Ah, The Damned remain one of my all-time favorite of the original punk bands. So many classic songs, and they still bring it, even 35 years later! This live show, from London way back in 2002, features classic members Dave Vanian (the band's only constant from their 1976 debut) and Captain Sensible, joined by the always-enticing Patricia Morrison (now Vanian, best known for her work with Sisters Of Mercy), as well as later members Monty Oxy Moron and drummer Pinch.

That all aside, this is a fine show, shot well with multiple cameras and with solid sound. The band's 19-song set begins with a load of later-period sounds (mostly culled from their "Not Of This Earth" and "Grave Disorder" releases), before diving into the rich back catalog. Yes, we are treated to legendary cuts like "Neat Neat Neat", "New Rose", "Eloise", "Smash It Up", "Love Song", and more. The band obviously still has "it", as these renditions smoke with all the great pop-punk melodies and spike-edged attitude of their earliest singles. Sensible and Vanian don't show any age whatsoever here. The bonus interviews (with each member individually) are also quite fun. A must-have for fans. Long live the Damned!

(Wienerworld)

(Wienerworld)

Official Damned site

Stranglers - "On Stage, On Screen" DVD

Having not been familiar with this legendary punk band (they've been around for 40 years!), this comprehensive live set was positively educational for me. Featuring a 79-minute electric set and a 29-minute acoustic set, the pro-shot "On Stage, On Screen" DVD presents many of the band's greatest tracks, including "Always The Sun", "No More Heroes", and their cover of "All Day And All Of The Night". 

It all looks and sounds fantastic. The band is rock-solid, though (now former) vocalist Paul Roberts' rock-star swagger is a tad annoying. But that's splitting hairs. This is an exceptional set for Stranglers fans. 

As an added bonus, there's a short 18-minute film ("Norfolk Coast") starring the Stranglers' Jean Jacques Burnel that's quite good, detailing a bizarre love affair and a man's struggle against some wicked personal demons. Perfect for serious fans, but casual followers (like me) should do further research.

(Wienerworld/MVD Visual)

Stranglers website

Ramones - "Punk 'N' Rock 'N' Roll" DVD

Ah, the greatness that was the Ramones, here captured on DVD of dubious origin. But no matter, this short (19 tracks, but well under an hour in total) set includes old TV appearances (one recognizable source is England's Old Grey Whistle Test), and the band were in fine form, indeed. 

Sure, it's nowhere near HD in quality, but who needs that window dressing? The rawness here is fine with me, as the band (in their prime) pummel through greats like "Blitzkrieg Bop", "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue", "We're A Happy Family", "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend", and tons more. As mentioned before, this is a shady set of quick-transferred TV appearances, and the "Biography" is nothing more than a few paragraphs of text on-screen with a quickie band history, but (gabba gabba) hey, it's not rocket (to Russia) science. Cool stuff, and you can't discount the quality of these performances, regardless of the medium. 

(XXL Media)

Ramonesworld (official site)

"Beijing Punk" DVD (director: Shaun M. Jefford)

Director Jefford did a wonderful job on this feature-length documentary, delving deeper into the burgeoning Chinese punk rock scene. What's so cool about this is that these underground artists in Beijing are truly underground, as their oppressive government certainly opposes their individuality and message. They are under constant threat from their government more than we in the Western world can imagine.

Skinhead/punk band Misandao, indie band Hedgehog, and classic punkers Demerit are the main focuses here, as Jefford accompanies them to clubs, shows, and on the streets of Beijing, where they are truly outsiders in their leather jackets, mohawks, tattoos, and studded jewelry. The bands' attitudes and thuggish behavior (especially in Misandao and Demerit's cases) may seem juvenile and stereotypical for an English or American punk band, but these artists are at the forefront of a new attitude in China, expressing themselves socially and politically -- a radical step in such a restrictive state. "Beijing Punk" shows a new awareness in a culture, looking at democracy from an outsider's viewpoint. These bands have plenty to shout about, and this documentary is inspiring and engrossing. (Seminal Films via MVD Visual)

D.O.A. - "We Come In Peace" CD

Among classic late 70's punk bands, Vancouver's stalwart D.O.A. have never left the building. After a shit-ton of records and 30+ years, Joey Keithley (aka Joey Shithead) and friends keep on their path, raising hell with politically-aware and socially-conscious punk anthems (alongside the occasional odes to beer and hockey). 

"We Come In Peace" is ripe with classic, raging, full-on punk anthems with guts and  glory. "Dirty Bastards" brings an Irish flair (it's the bagpipes). "Bloody But Unbowed" is a more straightforward rock, whereas "War Hero" has some definite rock-steady ska vibes. "We Occupy" brings in guest vocals by Jello Biafra, but "Who The Hell Do You Think You Are" brings it all back to the classic punk singalong arena. The Beatles "Revolution" is done up in traditional D.O.A. style, but seems to fall a bit short. The dub-tinged "Walk Through This World" is a definite ode to Joe Strummer and the Clash. It all closes out with an acoustic rendition of "General Strike". With D.O.A., you know what to expect, and "We Come In Peace" does not disappoint. (Sudden Death Records)

Toy Dolls - "The Album After The Last One" CD

This veteran UK punk act is still going strong, and "The Album After.." contains all the prerequisite sneer and beer anthems you'd expect from a gang of English punk hooligans. With clear production and lead snarler Michael Algar(aka Olga)'s raspy, streetwise vocals, it's a faithful return to classic punk stylings. 

Not ones to be into politics or social issues, Toy Dolls focus more on topics like "Molly Was Immoral", "B.E.E.R.", "Kevin's Cotton Wool Kids", or "Don't Drive Yer Car up Draycott Avenue". Fans of fun-loving, anthemic pop punk should give these old pros their due, as this is pretty smokin' stuff. (Secret Records)

Toy Dolls official site

"SpokAnarchy!" DVD (directors: David W. Halsell, Erica K. Schisler, Jon Swanstrom, Heather Swanstrom, Theresa Halsell, and Cory Wees)

This fun, energetic, and interesting documentary is subtitled "Where were you in '82?", and that sums up this look into Spokane's loose-knit underground & punk scene in the early 80s. Interviewing a number of scenesters, band members, artists, and associates from the years "before punk broke", "SpokAnarchy" also features a wealth of rare photos, flyer art, and live clips of bands who never "made it", but are now, fortunately, immortalized in digital form.

Suffice to say, if you weren't from Spokane in the 80s, you've likely never heard of these artists, renegades, outsiders, and punks, but I think nearly anyone from a small, conservative town can relate. There are so many great stories and memories, most of which are forgotten as time and technology march onwards. Congrats to all the filmmakers here, for capturing a time and place that would be long since forgotten. I'm inspired again, and wish someone would make a film like this about my own "small-town" punk scene. Hmm. (Carnage & Rouge/MVD Visual)

Spokanarchy site

Black Flag - "Live" DVD

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)

The best Black Flag site out there!

X - "The Unheard Music" DVD

Originally released 25 years ago, this well-deserved reissue is a classic documentary of the legendary L.A. punk band X, recorded at during their prime, and featuring the participation of all members of the band, most notably both John Doe and Exene Cervenka.

Interspersing superb and intense live footage with interviews, behind-the-scenes images, and stock footage to illustrate the times, "The Unheard Music" examines a band at it's peak, and at odds with the music industry. Major record company executives are, entertainingly, also interviewed expressing their confusion at X and their supposed "lack of commercial appeal", while forgotten glam rock bands are mentioned as "the next big thing". Just hilarious! But best of all are the candid and honest conversations with Doe, Cervenka, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake. There's plenty of prime live footage, as well, illustrating how very unusual and innovative X really were in melding their Americana/country-tinged rock with rockabilly and punk.

This movie often gets cited by those "in the know" as one of the great rock documentaries out there, and after seeing it, I'm not doubting the validity of that claim. And having not been too familiar with much of the band's catalogue (and history), this made me a fan. Bravo! (Angel City Media/MVD Visual)

X website