I'm very much a live and let live kind of chap when it comes to music and fashion; clearly I have my preferences with either, as I believe those who listen to Jack Johnson or wear oh-so trendy ill-fitting clothing in East London to be complete tits. But every now and again my goat is well and truly got.
Earlier this week, source of much web-based merriment Buzzfeed published an article on why punk is dead (http://www.buzzfeed.com/alexnaidus/pieces-of-evidence-that-punk-is-dead) and continued to cite 23 instances of popular starlets wearing classic punk-style regalia or having their merchandise plagiarise famous punk imagery. To be honest, it really shouldn't have pissed me off as much as it did. I know that a tonne of alternative music sites are nonplussed by the whole affair but I cannot help but be filled with a monumental rage.
Seeing r'n'b bellend Chris Brown bowling around in a studded leather jacket with The Exploited and Cro-Mags written on it is not cool. The man who famously beat the shit out of his missus is not worthy of the punk world. Operation Ivy t-shirts being sold for multiple hundreds of dollars is NOT punk. And fucking One Direction wearing Top Shop Ramones shirts makes me want to be permanently sedated...THAT'S A RAMONES REFERENCE YOU BASTARDS!
Things like Taylor Swift dressing a bit punky can't really annoy anyone but to have iconic bands ripped off or adorning the millionaire frame of individuals who are clearly doing nothing more than tapping into a high street trend riles me. There are of course counter arguments, which it shall now rebuff:
1. Punk is a trend, it always has been, so why should it be different now?
Because punk had a sound and punks had a look. Yes, it is/was a trend, but it's something adopted by people who love the bands and don't want to (I hate to use this phrase) conform to the perception of 'normal'. By pop stars and major celebs wearing punk garments they're destroying the very meaning of punk.
2. How can you be elitist about what people wear? They might really love the bands
In which case, why are they fucking ruining their legacy? I have no doubt in my mind that I give more of a shit than the remaining Ramones about One Direction using their logo, but if you were doing it genuinely and not just following trends why haven't you always dressed like this? Why hasn't your merchandise always looked like this?
3. Punk clothing has often ripped off the mainstream, why can't it be vice versa?
Because the point of punk is that it is anti-mainstream. The point of the mainstream is not to be anti punk, you knob.
4. Isn't it a good thing that these celebs are raising awareness of bands that younger generations may never have heard of?
No.
5. Punk and alternative imagery has always had some presence in the mainstream, why does it matter now?
Look, 'that' Rolling Stones t-shirt and H&M selling AC/DC tops is a different thing altogether. These are multi-million selling crossover bands; they could sell out any arena anywhere in the world. The irritation comes from celebs who, in their quest to be edgy and left field, festoon themselves in images of bands they probably know nothing about, and a scene they know nothing about. Simply put, If I see someone with a tidy beard, skinny jeans, Ray Ban wayfarers and a diamanté Leatherface t-shirt I will kill myself.
I appreciate that this opinion is not shared by everyone, but it is mine, and it is right.
M
\m/
2 comments:
So, so true. The big that grinds my gears is that like metal fans, punk fans wear their colours to identify themselves to each other as well as make a statement about their musical choices and are immediately ostracised by most of society for doing so. Then along comes some manufactured boy band or tabloid seeking starlet who wants some attention and uses OUR colours to seem, as you put it, 'edgy'
this is true - you are correct :)
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