Lisa Sofianos, Robin Ryde and Charlie Waterhorse – The Truth of Revolution, Brother


Lisa Sofianos, Robin Ryde and Charlie Waterhorse - The Truth of Revolution, Brother

The Truth of Revolution, Brother: An Exploration of Punk Philosophy (Situation Press) is an interesting look at many of the common philosophies within the rebellious genre and it also acts as a biography for some of its key figures. Through a series of interviews authors Lisa Sofianos, Robin Ryde and Charlie Waterhorse, have crafted an insightful and at times dense examination of the personal beliefs that fuel the music, particularly in anarcho-punk.

Culled from over 20 different interviews with subjects including the likes of former Dead Kennedy’s vocalist Jello Biafra, producer Steve Albini and firebrand Gavin McInnes, The Truth of Revolution, Brother feels like a great documentary that hasn’t been shot yet. Punk isn’t just music, for the faithful it’s an unshakable bond that informs all of their daily decisions. It was an artistic liberation because it wasn’t the usual prog and arena rock that permeated the 1970s. If you had something to say now you can now express yourself even if you can’t play your instrument very well or have a record label to back you up. All the weirdos were allowed.

Punk changed the whole world for me,” says Albini. “Punk changed all of my friends. Everything that I do with my life. This studio. All of this that I am doing for a living. Everyone I know. Every significant friend I’ve ever had. Every significant life experience that I have had, I owe that to the Ramones.”

However, it is also quick to point out that while punk was the undiscriminating genre when it came to musical prerequisites, age or sex; it is also very much steeped in hierarchy as you are allowed to come in and participate only if you wear the right boots and black shirts. The prevailing Do-It-Yourself ethos acts as the backbone that allows punk to stand, but also means that there is less focus on quality control as anyone can come in and take a swing at it. Doing it yourself can sometimes lead to doing it badly.

But for me what was most interesting about this tome is that so many of the interviewed always pointed to anarcho-punk trailblazers Crass as one of their main inspirations and the reason for adopting the punk lifestyle. The consensus is that they were the first punk band to adopt the DIY mantra, foster pro-environmentalist habits and call for everyone to drop competiveness out of their nature in order to improve the community.

What is so deeply emotional for me about Crass, in particular, is that when I was sent to the correctional boarding school I was completely alone” says Jon Gnarr. “And I was so afraid that I carried a knife. I felt so alone, and there was nobody to tell me right from wrong, there weren’t even teachers at that place, so at a very difficult time in my life, Crass was there for me.” Feeling dissatisfied with his government’s handling of the 2008 Icelandic financial crisis, Gnarr would use some of that punk influence and form the satirical Best Party. In a shocking upset Gnarr ran and was elected mayor of Reykjavík in 2010.

So many other of the interview subjects continuously cite the short lived anarchist bent Essex unit, that it starts to feel like that you are getting an oral history of the band. Adding to that feel are insightful chapters directly from former Crass members Steve Ignorant, Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher.

Something worth noting is that with so many citing the same artists and similar philosophies as vital the book can begin to feel a tad repetitive towards the middle, but all things considered it shines a bright light on the inner machinations of one of rock’s most extreme wings. Now if we could only get that complete Crass biography.

8.0/10

HANSEL LOPEZ


Public Image Ltd Releasing What The World Needs Now September 4th


Public Image Ltd (PiL) will be releasing their tenth studio album titled What The World Needs Now on September 4, 2015 via PiL Official (Distributed in the UK via Cargo UK Distribution and in North America via Redeye). Album opener and lead single “Double Trouble” will be released on August 21, 2015. The 10″ vinyl version will be backed by “Bettie Page” and also come with an additional bonus track which is not on the album, “Turkey Tits.”

Last year, the band returned to Steve Winwood‘s Wincraft studio in the Cotswolds’ to record the new album. The band will be doing a 23-date UK and European tour in the fall. The current lineup consists of frontman John Lydon, guitarist/multi instrumentalist Lu Edmonds (ex-Damned), drummer Bruce Smith (The Pop Group, ex-Slits), and bassist Scott Firth (Steve Winwood, John Martyn, Elvis Costello)

Double Trouble 10″ Vinyl Single:

A-side: “Double Trouble”
B-side: “Bettie Page”
“Turkey Tits”

What The World Needs Now album Track Listing:

01: Double Trouble
02: Know Now
03: Bettie Page
04: C’est La Vie
05: Spice of Choice
06: The One
07: Big Blue Sky
08: Whole Life Time
09: I’m Not Satisfied
10: Corporate
11: Shoom

Sep 18: 02 ABC – Glasgow (UK)
Sep 19: Academy – Manchester (UK)
Sep 20: Riverside – Newcastle (UK)
Sep 22: Fibbers – York (UK)
Sep 23: The Copper Rooms @ Warwick University – Coventry (UK)
Sep 25: 02 Academy – Bristol (UK)
Sep 26: Tivoli – Buckley (UK)
Sep 27: Sub 89 – Reading (UK)
Sep 29: De La Warr Pavilion – Bexhill (UK)
Sep 30: UEA – Norwich (UK)
Oct 02: 02 Shepherds Bush Empire – London (UK)
Oct 03: Cheese and Grain – Frome, UK
Oct 04: Engine Rooms – Southampton (UK)

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Supersonic Festival 2015 Confirm Lineup


supersonic festival 2015

Supersonic Festival 2015 has announced their lineup, which is scheduled for June 11-14, 2015 in Birmingham, England (UK).

Apostille
Afework Nigussie
Cicuit Des Yeux
Eternal Tapestry
Flamingods
Gazelle Twin
Happy Meals
Jiří Wehle
Liima – Efterklang + Tatu Rönkkö
Liturgy
Phil Tyler
Ravioli Me Away
Rhodri Davies
Richard Dawson
Selventer
Sex Swing
Six Organs of Admittance/
Slow Magic
The Pop Group
Tomaga!
Wildbirds and Peacedrums
Woven Skull