YPUK
Young Punks UK
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Words & Photography: Arabelle Zhuang Yuru THIS SPREAD: Noah Ringnose & Dave Cohen in Camden Town, London, 2017.
77.
78. “Either way it's pretty obvious that at least half of society has a negative view of punks and the other half don't seem to give a shit!”
PREVIOUS SPREAD: Dave Cohen’s DIY-ed jacket with spikes and band patches in Camden Town, London, 2017. THIS PAGE: Noah Ringnose in Camden Town, London, 2017. Noah Ringnose, Dave Cohen and Andy Stitch in Camden Town, London, 2017.
UK has been the breeding ground for the punk subculture where the history of punk ideologies, music, fashion and art have evolved throughout the years. Punk encompasses elements such as music, style and attitude. The days of The Clash and Sex Pistols will forever live in our hearts but punk has since varied spreading into different subcultures and influencing new music genres. Arabelle Zhuang walk the streets in Camden Town, London, with young punks and uncover their views on punk as of today. Young punk Dave Cohen started out with bands such as Black Flags, The Exploited and Discharge, which led him to heavier bands in the grindcore, noise, powerviolence and crust genre; all influenced by punk. With the help of the internet, it was not difficult to find bands from all over the world, in particular, Sweden and Japan. The music created a space for punks to be creative and productive, using music to bring across messages with similar themes such as non-conformity, equality and to fight against sexism, racism, homophobia, xenophobia.
Venues such as Temple of Boom in Leeds, Chelsea Inn in Bristol and T Chances in North London provide platforms for the community to come together and enjoy the music. The community organises DIY punk gigs every other weekend. Bands such as Overload, The Migraines, Active Slaughter, Faintest Idea, AOS3 and Pot Pourri come out regularly to play at these venues.
With that said, music isn’t everything. Punk also encompasses style. Dave believes that the punk style represents what they stand for and who they are. Society might look at them and scowl at their ‘over-the-top’ clothing but it is all part of being a punk and saying “fuck you” to the social norms of fashion. The most important thing about being a punk is your attitude and beliefs. This embodies the political stances, social views, activism and world views that punks have. With being involved or supporting anarchist marches or direct action, to being actively against everyday homophobia, sexism, racism and inequality. The punk subculture is aware of the world’s flawed political system and inequality throughout the world and they are wanting to make a change, either little by little or in big movements.
THIS PAGE: The crowd at The Flex show at Stag & Hounds Old Public House, Bristol, 2017. Noah Ringnose & Tom Hunt in Camden Town, London, 2017. Noah Ringnose & Dave Cohen in Camden Town, London, 2017. All images © Arabelle Zhuang