You know what, this has bugged me before. I don't remember who it was, but I gagged when I saw "Only Rich Punkers Need Apply" on some stores stuff. The collector part of me doesn't mind paying too much for toys, but the punk part of me who went to see 5 bands for $5 or bought shirts at the same shows for $8 - $10 feels weird about buying something (non-collectible) tied to the Punk subculture for $50. Yet I have done it.
Nothing said "punk is dead" for me louder than witnessing so-called punk rock band Green Day unconvincingly muttering "keep sticking it to the man!" while accepting their Grammy last year. Little confused, guys? Congrats. You're cool like Toto. Although as I see it the true spirit of punk is eternal and as old as rebellion and the "do it yourself" ethics themselves, "Punk Rock" was commodified from the get-go to some extent, as two of its most important seminal scene'n'stylemakers, being Vivienne Westwood and Malcom McClaren, established the original UK "look and feel" ... at a fashion boutique, and were both deeply cynical about the whole scene that they helped create. Anyone remember Poseur on Melrose? Luther Blue in San Francisco? Very cool punk fashion, but not exactly a kid writing "Love Like Anthrax" on an old t-shirt full of holes in sloppy handwriting with a Sharpie. Pardon my drift. It's Friday and Friday-itis is here!
yes.. i think Green Day is pretty lame now... but then again, how many other bands/musicians can get anti-war playing on clear channel? (that's new from the past few years)
Well, Green Day, I dunno. Don't love them or anything, but they bring something to the mainstream that someone needs to say, punk or not. I just find them to be more contemporaries of the Dixie Chicks more than Black Flag. And yeah, you are right about the fashion component and sadly, I am old enough to remember Poseur. I think some of the people like Westwood and McClaren were influenced by the older generation that had the "punk" spirit, but it was filtered through the world they knew, so they didn't find it weird to commodify it. I know this is going way off topic, but I want the values of Punk to go mainstream, and when I see good people do well in that arena I am happy for them and don't question their integrity like a lot of other people do. I think the throwing around of "sell-out" holds a lot fo good people down, but still, the ideas that abejr. brought up still resonant with me.
I remember true 'punk' values...;ike stealing beer, beating up hippies, sneaking into shows, trahing peoples parents houses at parties, doing as much dope (preferably free) as possible, skipping out at night to avoid paying the back rent and annoying everyone aroud with super loud music, living off our girlfriends trustfunds, stealing pizzas outta the dude car... lol. the good old days.
I was around 'punk' and going to shows as early as 1978 ( although as a 'civilian ' more or less) and, BACK THEN the 'real punks' claimed it died in late 76 early 77 and never left England. 'my' suppossedly real 'punk rock unnatural dreamtime' was from 1980-to maybe 1987...1980 was the year I got my first 'funny haircut' and modified my clothes to look 'rad'....around 1987 I was pretty bored by it all and started to be interested in other forms of entertainment. anyway..'grunge' ..the popularity of grunge and the fact that most 'punk' bands sort went metal around then pretty much has my Estimated Time Of Death For Punk happening right around october of 1987. but I guess if you where like..3 years old then , you could maybe 'pretend' to be a 3rd or 4th generation 'punk'
I think the question raised by Matt's blog relates to scarcity being used as a marketing tactic. I think "manufactured" scarcity IS used as a tactic to sell stuff and also to inflate prices. With vintage stuff availability is what it is. With new stuff availability is what the makers make. DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS: I declare no financial interest in any toy. (Other than what I SPEND!)
Actually, not. Many companies prefer to make enough product to meet demand. Like P&G, Chrysler, Pfizer, etc. "Out of stock" is actually considered a death knell by many marketers.
Yeah it's funny how each region that had an actual punk scene any time between about 77 and 82 thinks it had one of the "real" scenes, and if a place did have a scene during those years, I'm sure it was "real." It's just that the reasons for punk existing in different places were different. UK punk obviously started in the UK and had amazing bands and a strong identity, but even OG UK punks can usually admit "well, the Ramones came first," and people who were into the Ramones early on can admit "well, the New York Dolls were proto-punk," and their fans can cite Iggy and the MC5, and then you can argue about how bands like Count Five and Music Machine were 60s punk and so on. I remember declaring "punk is dead" in 1981 LOL. Little did I know or want to admit ... If it ain't got snotty attitude, it ain't rock'n'roll. Just ... when you get a little older and look back, the attitudes are more charming than convincing.
NOT IN TRENDY GOODS DUDE. sheesh. If u could buy a pushead toy or an iphone in any 7-11 for 1.99 u wouldnt want it.
LOL!!! So why is it so many people bristle at the fact they are being targeted by smart marketers and that the whole "limited edition but unlimited colorways" thing is marketing. Oh wait - maybe because the whole pricing scheme then becomes shakey???? Oh well -it's like my house. I can always sell it for more than what I paid, right?
Ouch, ouch, ouch. Lost 1/2 of it to a flood in 1982, thanks to a dorm-mate who got drunk and decided to fall asleep in the shower, and the rest two years ago when my meth-head neighbors burned my house down. You have no idea how much I wish I could see them, too. Sorry man. The only vinyl I have now are toys.
