Live Fast, Die Young, or Get Off the Stage

In the Fascist Bathroom: Punk in Pop Music, 1977-1992

by Greil Marcus

Harvard University Press

March 1999, 448 pages, $24.95

[3 April 2008]

by Judy Berman

Why wouldn't they burn out instead of fade away? Berman examines the sad spectacle of punk-rock reunions and shows how they destroy the two elements that actually made punk attractive: sex appeal and impermanence.

What you seem to forget is that for many, if not all, of the reunited punk bands just genuinely like playing music.  Perhaps the media made more of the scene and the trend in 1977 than the bands themselves would have liked.  They very likely formed their bands originally because they just wanted to play music.  Why shouldn’t they be able to continue doing this now and at the same time finally make a little money off the music.  Sure, it’s not going to be just like it was in 1977, but aren’t you older now too and able to appreciate it as music and not just a reliving of the punk lifestyle?

Comment by ca — April 3, 2008 @ 9:47 am

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