Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk
A potted history of American punk and it's origins from MC5 through to multiple death by drugs. It's all quotes stitched together to make the history giving a really good insight into the times and how the New York punk set lived. From a classic punk point of view (the UK viewpoint?) it covers Richard Hell and The Ramones but the rest is pre punk or simple rock and roll bands. I think Americans would have a different view. The Sex Pistols make an appearance along with Malcolm M but I think mainly because of Sid's descent into dope and the subsequent arrest on Nancy's death and his own death. There is a lot about the drugs and bands which may have not been as (openly?) into that scene (Talking Heads, Blondie, Devo) have less of a look in if any. The British scene is scathingly dismissed in the most part as copy cat with a few whinging about the supposedly pseudo political stance of The Clash and others. There is little about the background to British punk and their influences but I guess it's an American book of quotes from friends of the authors who lived in New York. Having said that it's got a few holes in analysis it's a damned good read with some very funny bits and getting pretty sombre by the end. And if you're looking for titillation here's the spoiler - everyone seems to have slept with everyone else whether man or woman. Apart from Bebe Buell and Johnny Thunders.
No comments:
Post a Comment