There is no future in Englands dreaming.

Page 1

There is no future in England’s dreaming.


Published in 2011 by JRP Ringier JRP|Ringier Kunstverlag AG Letzigraben 134 8047 ZĂźrich Switzerland T +41 (0)43 311 27 50 F +41 (0)43 311 27 51 Info@jrp-ringier.com www.jrp-ringier.com

All rights reserved. Song lyrics taken from Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones, Patti Smith and Buzzcocks. Extra Information taken from: Seven ages of Rock - 3rd age of Rock: The Blank Generation - BBC Panic Attack: Art in the Punk Years by Mark Sladen and Ariella Yedgar Merz to emigre and beyond by Steven Heller

There is no future in England’s dreaming. Lauren Radford

2


People would argue that Punk isn’t dead, but the

is there to do? People protest but no one listens,

aren’t always going to like certain music but I

sad truth is, that Punk is dead. Punk meaning

take the Student protests for example students

think some of the lyrics that came from the 70’s

action not theorizing. We no longer take action

took to the streets of London to protest against

punk bands should be celebrated, not only should

when events bother us; we discuss, shake our

Student Fees raising and what happens? Nothing,

their lyrics be celebrated but their culture, their

heads and move on. I think it’s a shame that there

they up the fees anyway. Some people say that the

Anti - establishment views. Punk wasn’t just about

probably won’t be another subculture like Punk,

Punk subculture was nothing special, it wasn’t any

aggression or offending people it was about telling

now we just accept what goes on around us, so

different than today, but I disagree, we are all so

it straight and standing up and doing something.

much so that when someone tries to actually make

much more understanding and accepting of events

changes we just leave them too it, sit back and

around us, it’s 2012 we have more than we possibly

deal with the consequences when it hits us. We are

need in life and therefore no one stand’s up and

all just fucking Sheep.

says “I’m doing what I want, I’m not listening to you

We have seen it all; Wars, murder, terrorist attacks,

anymore!”

riots, protests, an economic collapse and all the

There are only a select few bands that write

other events that we read in the paper, watch on

songs about politics, and even then they may not

the television every day.

be mainstream so not everyone hears what they

We as a nation are so used to seeing some other

have to say. No one has written a song about the

awful, disgusting event and problem and as a

London Riots in 2011, just like The Clash wrote

society we take a back seat and take it, what else

White Riot about the Black Youth Riots. People

We are all just fucking sheep. 4


6


When there’s no future how can there be sin?

Punk was the subculture with a “Do it yourself”

that were more like outpourings that carried a

(DIY) ethic that went hand in hand with the Anti-

beat about the affairs surrounding London. The

Consumerism ideology, but DIY was not a priori

Clash, however, were more political when it

amateurish.

came to their lyrics, they were sensitive towards,

1975, London and New York, cities close to

and understood, the occurrences and would get

bankruptcy and a new music genre developing,

involved rather than becoming hostile.

Punk bands created expeditious, hard-edged music, typically with epigrammatic songs, thin instrumentation, and often political, antiestablishment lyrics. There are four main contributors to the sound of Punk Rock The Ramones and Patti Smith they are the American contributors, The Sex Pistols and The Clash from the other side of the Atlantic, the UK. The Americans both have different sounds, The Ramones were rash and harsh, and Patti Smith Sex Pistols God Save The Queen Never Mind the Buzzcocks: Here comes the Sex Pistols 1977

however was expressive, unrefined and vigorous. Over in the UK the Sex Pistols were writing songs

8


10


Malcolm Mclaren was the manager of the Sex Pistols, it was whilst spending time in New York that he came across Richard Hell. Hell gave Mclaren the inspiration he needed for the punk fashion. He was one of the first to spike his hair and wear torn, cut and drawn-on shirts, often held together with safety pins. Not only was Richard Hell a great inspiration to Punk Fashion but his song and album “Blank Generation” gave the Punk subculture its name.

Sex Pistols Pretty Vacant Never Mind the Buzzcocks: Here comes the Sex Pistols 1977

Oh don’t pretend ‘cos I don’t care.


I belong to the blank generation.

Richard Hell and The Voidoids Blank Generation Blank Generation 1977

14


In 1976 the Sex Pistols arose in a welter of

mind. The clothes, the hair and even the attitude, of

acrimony, chaos, boisterousness and belligerence

the audience had a direct link to the band… As the

as brash Londoners. They wrote songs about the

Pistols pounded out their “music” the image was in

happenings around them, when they released “God every corner of the club.” Save the Queen” in ’77 Steve Jones said “I don’t

Their song “Pretty Vacant” was their debut single and

see how anyone could describe us as a political

was almost like a manifesto, it wasn’t about talking

band. I don’t even know the name of the Prime

about people it was about getting people involved

Minister.” - The song, and its public impact, is now

and talking to them directly, telling them what to do.

recognized as “punk’s crowning glory”. The Sex Pistols took influence from American bands such as The Ramones, Television and The Stooges but putting their own cockney intonation on the music, their songs were just angry rants, but people listened and related. Mark Perry wrote in Sniffin’ Glue “The Sex Pistols are a force, you get that feeling from their audience and it sticks in your

Sex Pistols Pretty Vacant Never Mind the Buzzcocks: Here comes the Sex Pistols 1977

Pretty Va-cunt.


Hiya boys I’m the chosen one.

Sex Pistols Rock’n’roll Swindle Never Mind the Buzzcocks: Here comes the Sex Pistols 1977

Can’t you fucking see?

18


20


Sex Pistols Anarchy in the UK Never Mind the Buzzcocks: Here comes the Sex Pistols 1977

I use anarchy.


I am an Antichrist! I am an Anarchist! People turned against them when they appeared

it was decided that Sid Vicious born John Ritchie

live on the “Today” programme it was when

later known as John Beverly joined the Sex Pistols.

Grundy said that he would meet one of the Pistols

He could barely play his new instrument but he had

entourage backstage after the show as she had

the right panache and attitude. In 2006 the four

always wanted to meet him, Steve Jones then

original members and Sid Vicious were welcomed

began an exchange with Grundy proceeding

to be part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but

to call him a ‘dirty fucker’ and a ‘fucking rotter’.

they refused to attend calling the museum “a piss

The episode made the band household names

stain”.

throughout the country and brought punk into mainstream awareness. In 1977, word leaked out that Matlock was leaving the Sex Pistols, Mclaren confirmed this to NME. Lydon claimed that the belligerently sardonic song; “God Save The Queen” planned as the band’s second single, had been the final straw: “Matlock couldn’t handle those kinds of lyrics. He said it declared us fascists” Lydon Sex Pistols Anarchy in the UK Never Mind the Buzzcocks: Here comes the Sex Pistols 1977

couldn’t understand how anti-royalism equated with fascism but to get rid of Matlock he didn’t deny it so

24


I wanna be sedated.

The Ramones I wanna be sedated Road to Ruin 1978

26


28


The Ramones were a band from New York, a band that was proud to be uncultivated and primed, full of belligerence with a vociferous, squandering and unambiguous musical style. The band was never a commercial success but they were and are still seen to be one of the most influential bands for Punk music in the US and the UK. In 1976 The Ramones toured the UK; it was at the Roundhouse venue in London where they met the Sex Pistols and The Clash that it seemed their exertion was beginning to pay off. In 2002 The Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2011 given the Grammy Lifetime achievement award.

The Ramones Blitzkrieg Bop Ramones 1976

The kid’s are losin’ their minds.


Baby was a black sheep.

Patti Smith Rock ‘n’ Roll Nigger Easter 1978

Baby was a whore.

32


Jesus died for somebodies sins but not mine.

Patti Smith is considered a poet whose vigour and visualisation found voice in the most powerful medium of our culture — music. 1975 released her debut album ‘Horses’ some say one of the most influential albums of all time not only that but it also helped to develop punk rock into the sound that we know today. Patti Smith brought her own signature of angst and poetry to her lyrics and with her voice and outlandish harmonious sounds created a somewhat unique sound that was complicated and subtle. The energy seems to flow from every song, and the angst, fear and resentment of society simply dripped from each song as Patti Smith added her vibrant commentary to the punk scene. As one of the early pioneers of New York City’s dynamic

Patti Smith Gloria Horses 1975

punk scene, Smith has been creating her unique blend of poetic rock and roll for over 35 years.

34


People say “beware!”

Patti Smith Gloria Horses 1975

But I don’t care the words are just rules and regulations to me.

36


38


An’ everybody’s doing just what they’re told to.

The Clash White Riot The Clash 1977

40


Black people gotta lot a problems,

But they don’t mind throwing a brick.

The Clash White Riot The Clash 1977

White people go to school,

Where they teach you how to be thick.

42


The Clash’s politicized lyrics, musical experimentation and rebellious attitude had a far-reaching influence on punk rock. They were different from the Sex Pistols, incorporated different sounds to their first album ‘The Clash’; they integrated reggae, ska, dance and funk. This took the band away from the aggressive sound that the Sex Pistols had.

The Clash Hate and War The Clash 1977

The hate of a nation, a million miles from home.

44


I hate all the English.

The Clash Hate and War The Clash 1977

Hate and war.

I hate all the Cops.

46


48


Their lyrics also took the band away from the

the music industry’s usual profit motivations;

Sex Pistols ideas as they were also bringing

even at their peak, tickets to shows and

politics into their music, the band’s music was

souvenirs were reasonably priced. When the

often charged by a leftist political ideology.

Sex Pistols broke up The Clash went up the

Joe Strummer, in particular, was a committed

scale and became one of the most important

leftist. The Clash are credited with pioneering

punk bands in the world. They became referred

the advocacy of radical politics in punk rock,

to as “The Only Band That Matters” and in

and were dubbed the “Thinking Man’s Yobs” by

2003 The Clash were initiated into the Rock

NME. Their politics were made explicit in the

and Roll Hall of Fame.

lyrics of such early recordings as “White Riot”, which encouraged disaffected white youths to riot like their black counterparts; “Career Opportunities” which addressed the alienation of low-paid, routinized jobs and discontent over the lack of alternatives; and “London’s Burning”, about the bleakness and boredom of life in the inner city. The band’s political sentiments were reflected in their resistance to

50


I get violent when i’m fucked up. The Clash Cheat The Clash 1977

52


Punk Zines were the personification of the “Anybody can do it! You don’t need them!” Attitude in visual form. Punk graphics are what established the punk aesthetic, torn paper edges, misspelled type were the visual equivalent of a loud, out of tune slashing power cord or stained clothes from the charity shop. Punk zine’s were established for communication; they incorporated news, scandal, interviews and cultural criticism. The ‘DIY’ attitude was encouraged especially when it came to making the zine’s as they were easy to make and to reproduce. The content of a Zine was illustrated with newspaper clippings and a marker pen, to reproduce they were photocopied, this meant that they were mainly black and white.

Buzzcocks Boredom Spiral Scratch (EP) 1977

My future ain’t what it was.

54


The first Punk Zine was made in America in

Roundhouse.

1976 by John Holmstrom, Ged Dunn, and Legs

“Sniffin’ Glue” was haphazardly laid out, it looked

McNeil; this assisted to get bands known and

unprofessional. NME commended “Sniffin’ Glue”

also to categorise them, It was in ‘Punk’ that The

as “the nastiest, healthiest and funniest piece

Ramones were first associated with being a punk

of press in the history of rock’n’roll habits” and it

band. Holmstrom has said that “Without ‘Punk’

really became the true chronicle of the early days

there probably would have been no ‘punk rock’

of British punk rock as well as pioneering the DIY

and no punk movement.” Legs McNeil claims

ethic. Fearing absorption into the mainstream

that he called himself a punk before the whole

music press, Perry ceased publication in 1977. In

movement started and it was through the magazine

the last issues he encouraged his readers to follow

that he mapped out his lifestyle; dress and values

him with their own punk fanzines.

defined punk. The zine “Punk” had a comic book

In 2000, Mark Perry published Sniffin’ Glue: The

layout and style, every article rendered by hand.

Essential Punk Accessory, which is a compilation

Over in the UK Mark Perry was taking inspiration

of all the issues of the fanzine with some new

from ‘Punk’ and created ‘Sniffin’ Glue’ in 1976

material written by him.

after seeing The Ramones play at London’s

56


58


Buzzcocks Orgasm Addict Time’s Up 1976

It’s a labour of love, fucking yourself to death.


Jamie Reid is a British artist and anarchist.

letters and words have been taken from newspaper

His work, featuring letters cut from newspaper

clippings. The design suggests that the band

headlines in the style of a ransom note, came close

are holding up for ransom the values exemplified

to defining the image of punk rock, particularly

by the Queen, just as “we” her subjects were

in the UK. His best known works include the Sex

being held to ransom by being compelled into a

Pistols album Never Mind the Bollocks: Here

celebration of her reign.

comes the Sex Pistols and the singles “Anarchy in

Reid’s flyers and posters did not serve their

the UK”, “God Save The Queen”.

purpose of promotion but in fact provided a graphic

Jamie Reid created the ransom-note look used

parallel to the songs and, alongside the music

with the Sex Pistols graphics while he was

and lyrics, complicate the identity that was being

designing Suburban Press, a radical political

constructed to surround the band.

magazine he ran for five years. For the single release of “God save the Queen” have Beaton’s celebratory image of the Queen, except in Reid’s design she is blindfolded by the song title, and gagged by the band name which the

62


www.jrp-ringier.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.