Punk's Not Dead

Punk's Not Dead

2007, Performing Arts  -   28 Comments
8.00
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Ratings: 8.00/10 from 34 users.

Punk's Not Dead is more than just a tribute documentary. It takes you on an era-by-era journey that puts punk rock's non-conformist reputation under the knife.

Officially sanctioned by the bands in the film who donated personal photos, fliers and home videos, Punk's Not Dead follows the evolution of punk music from its anarchic roots, to its use as a corporate marketing tool and acceptance into popular culture, to its reinvention in today's underground scene.

It is self-financed, independent documentary true to the D.I.Y. spirit of punk culture and combines intelligent, insightful commentary with live performances, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and a killer soundtrack.

Punk's Not Dead takes you into the sweaty underground clubs, backyard parties, recording studios, and yes, shopping malls and stadium shows where punk rock music and culture continue to thrive.

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winter
winter
6 years ago

Video started off slow
turned into a great show
thumbs up

bluetortilla
bluetortilla
8 years ago

I was lucky enough to be 16 in 1980 in Mid-America. I got a spiky haircut, bought the soundtrack to 'The Decline of Western Civilization' and listened to the local college punk radio station. Just about every other day someone in my high school threatened to kick my ass. It was great.
This documentary just goes to show just how dead punk is as a musical style. However the message lives on. I think now the best way to make music is to grab an instrument and play something yourself. Besides listening to the great composers, who the hell needs commercial music anyway?

nathalie villalvazo
nathalie villalvazo
10 years ago

Great documentary! Thought it was going to be lame but was very interested through out the whole film. They didn't mention some of my favorite bands though such as JFA,CRASS,The Germs, Agent Orange,Cockney Rejects,etc..

Randy Young
Randy Young
10 years ago

decent doc....only problem is they don't realize that the real reason all those "Epitaph" bands sold large is because they were watered down versions of the real thing....Offspring punk? hahahahahah puhleeezzz

pusspussbangbang0555
pusspussbangbang0555
11 years ago

Had a band called The Xhileratorz in the early 80s, with Robb Heaton on drums (left and joined New Model Army) Ive also worked as a roadie for The Clash The Damned and Eddie and the Hot Rods, later in life I became a pro musicien, playing Columbian Vallenatos, Mariachi and Zydeco. Last Friday I jammed with a young band, at a pub here in rural France violin, banjo,hurdy_gurdy and accordian and me on guitar,we did Neat,Neat,Neat... I guess old habits die hard

ISA
ISA
11 years ago

love punk even though I am ancient, but was a punk for a short time it was great.

AntiTheist666
AntiTheist666
11 years ago

Punks not Dead

A great doc showing the history of punk and why it still thrives today.

@Richard T

“it's not even a type of music - it's the attitude you have behind it". Best definition of punk ever. This is the way I feel about it.”

I totally agree, Johnny Rotten often stuck out an extravagant V sign when asked what Punk meant to him. I was in my teens when punk kicked off in the uK in the mid 70’s and for many of my age group it was all about energetic rebellion...and being able to pogo over someone’s shoulder into the middle of a mosh pit.

@sknb

“Do you have the time to listen to me whine about nothing and everything all at once?”

And the next line?

Keep letting the music charge your soul and forget those who p!ssed you off in the past. There are good and bad people in all walks of life. Put a tune on and dance away the heartache.

Richard T
Richard T
11 years ago

"there is just something in certain peoples guts that tells them this is way they have to be. It's not a way of dressing, it's not even a type of music - it's the attitude you have behind it". Best definition of punk ever. This is the way I feel about it.

I was heavily involved in the punk scene in the mid to late 1990's and loved every moment of it. I have never met such a interesting group of people in my life. Punk rockers can be the kindest, most compassionate, smartest people in the world. At the same time, within the same culture you can find some of the dumbest, least compassionate, uninformed people you will ever meet.

What is odd about that is you will very often find people that exist on both ends of that spectrum existing with each other side by side without issue because they have something in common. Wouldn't it be great if the rest of the world could take a cue from the punk rock movement? Sadly, outsiders looking in would never pick up on such things due to the fact that you will not understand that connection. All outsiders see is the superficial outer layers of the movement. Now you can buy motorcycle helmets with a mohawk attached to it. There was a time not too long ago where most of the fashion symbols people associate with the punk movement were actually shocking. You had to make your own studded belts, patch covered leather jackets. Anyways, I could go on and on and waste my time typing a super long comment.

In regard to this doc, it is one of the better ones I have seen. Great interviews with Dick Lucas (Subhumans/Citizen Fish), Ian McKay (Minor Threat/Fugazi/The Evens), Henry Rollins (Black Flag), and many many more. What did surprise me is no mention of some of the current bands still carrying the banner like Leftover Crack, Morning Glory, etc. Having a doc called punks not dead, but then not mentioning some of the modern day bands seems odd. Also would have been nice to have a bit more talking about a band like Fugazi - who became huge but did everything on their own terms and released their own records without the backing of some major label.

dmxi
dmxi
11 years ago

good doc even for peeps that were/are not involved.
@earthwinger...great post!
@racoon...certain rap artists are getting more political,but few loose them selves in conspiracy theories due to jay z's alleged illuminati ties & tupacs 'prophecies'.

Rocky Racoon
Rocky Racoon
11 years ago

Well Disco and Margret Thatcher-Don't forget how political punk is was whatever. Very very political we could use a good wave of political rock banks right about NOW!

Rocky Racoon
Rocky Racoon
11 years ago

I think it was hatred of Disco more than anything else that propelled punk. And what greater motivation. The stadium bands maybe but those guys all got their roots from people like Buddy Holly as did many punks. Besides those stadium bands were smart enough to produce their own records with their own labels lol That's how they got the big bucks and their master tapes. Nothing stupid about that aint' EMI then is it?
R

Kenny Redd
Kenny Redd
11 years ago

Punk rock enthusiasts appear to be trying desperately to be different - the artists and the fans. Nevertheless, they look and sound the same. They become established when they adopt anti-establishment ideology in concert with others.

Earthwinger
Earthwinger
11 years ago

I think that the tag "heavy metal" was attached to them later, and at the time they really just considered to be rock bands. It was a term mostly used to describe the Black Sabbath type sound IMO, but it later became a bit of a catch-all term that was used retroactively to describe slightly earlier bands like Led Zep and Purple as well.

AllanA
AllanA
11 years ago

This vid was actually pretty well put together! Lots of really good interviews and documentation of alot of bands. I really thought I was going to see another lame punk vid of the same parameters mentioned before when documenting punk rock. This turned out to show alot of old stuff and a good amount of newer stuff.

Thanks for the good work!!!!!!!!

oQ
oQ
11 years ago

Is punk and metal from the same branch?
1i

dmxi
dmxi
11 years ago

changed my looks but never my punk roots & my world view,i.e. anarchistic perspective.........cheers crass/conflict,subhumans,etc............

GonChalabas
GonChalabas
11 years ago

what is a god?

chard01
chard01
11 years ago

why no SNFU chi pig is a punk god