2002-12-28 | DUKAKIS CONFESSIONAL

Did any of you catch MTV2's punk weekend a couple weeks ago?

It was okay.

The history of punk thing they showed was excellent, but I don't think that was an MTV production.

I've seen it before, I think.

It was probably part of the History of Rock N' Roll series they had a few years back.

Anyway, after that they had a history of punk videos....

It was sad.

This was the exact lineup of the videos they showed:

Sex Pistols

the Clash

Rancid--Tim Armstrong was wearing that beanie in this video (i think it was Ruby Soho) and he had this stupid Mohawk mullet at the time. When he wore the beanie, the hair that stuck out in the back looked like a fucking mullet.

Undertones--a video they have never shown, from a band they have never mentioned, and that they will never play or mention again. (unjustly)

the Strokes--not really punk at all...

Sum 41--I like them a lot, now. (hated them when that fat lip song was popular) But do they deserve a spot on the history of punk videos program?

Elvis Costello--again, not punk at all. I don't care if his attitude was supposed to be punk or whatever. His music is commercially accessible. Whether he's singing about controversial things or not. (I like him, so don't jump my shit, yo.)

Dashboard Confessional--not punk at all. and so disturbing that I can't think of anything else to write.

the Ramones--thank you...on the right track again

Blink 182--oh. no.

the Runaways--god I hate them

the Donnas

the Distillers--god I hate them. I worship the Runaways, compared to how much I hate the Distillers. I don't care how punk rock she supposedly acts on stage, or in person or whatever. She sounds like Courtney Love, which isn't the most punk thing in the world, and she bores me. Being married to Tim Armstrong doesn't make you punk.

the Damned--another band they will never play or mention again (unjustly)

Buzzcocks--see "the Damned; the Undertones"

Green Day

Blondie--not really that punk. but I don't mind them as much as some of the bands that are actually punk.

No Doubt--not punk. not cool. Once you've got Glen Ballard producing albums for you, and you marry the lead singer of Bush, you can't be punk. Not to mention that their music has never really been punk, ever.

the Jam--they're on the verge of being not really that punk at all, but they are a great band nonetheless

the Hives

Sex Pistols (again)

Nirvana

Chris Carabba said he's heavily influenced by Elvis Costello. The thing that sucked is he sounded more genuine then all the punk rock guys they were interviewing. Why does he have to be nice? I want to hate you, not embrace you.

His music is like a carwreck. Especially live. Watching Unplugged is so hard. But you have to watch it. It's so disgusting, but you just have to see how bad it gets.

Why are his eyebrows so out of control?

They should re-name the band "Dukakis Confessional"

It is very chic to say the Clash is an influence on your music now days. Five years ago, nobody mentioned them. It'll be even worse now that Joe Strummer has passed. Every punk band will claim allegiance with the Clash.

MXPX, Unwritten Law and the Used, all mentioned the Clash as an influence.

None of those bands sound like they have that influence in their music.

I have a friend who says the Clash is his favorite band of all time, and he's upset that there hasn't been a band like the Clash around for all these years.

But he won't get off his ass and buy a Strummer & the Mescaleros album, or a Rancid album.

I think if you're a huge fan of the Clash, you should like Rancid at least a little bit.

He won't even admit that Rancids music even remotely sounds anything like the Clash.

They're the closest thing to the Clash as far as brand new music goes, and he's whining about no Clash, no Clash. Crying like Carabba.

He's like the guy in High Fidelity complaining about nothing like Echo and the Bunnymen being around, but not owning anything by the Jesus and Mary Chain or Love and Rockets, etc.

Here's some bands that they didn't mention at all during the video history thing. (a lot of these bands don't have videos, or don't want exposure, but they could've at least mentioned them as a footnote or something. and I know I'm forgetting a few bands, but i'm not perfect)

the Dickies--not the punkest band really, but they were the first punk band to sign to a major

Devo--not really punk, but a lot of punks loved them. And if you've got room for Costello on the list, why not Devo?

the Offspring--sure they suck now, but remember when "Come out and Play" came out? Don't tell me you weren't excited about punk at that time, you snobs.

MC5--again, not the punkest, but you can't deny their influence on the scene.

Dead Kennedys--they're music speaks for itself.

Bad Religion--one of the most influential bands in punk history. Influenced a lot of bands that started the whole pop punk wave.

the Descendents--see DK

Minor Threat--Jim Shearer had a Minor Threat shirt on, but never mentioned them. The shirt looked like it was purchased that day. It was so shiny. Minor Threat shirts shouldn't be brand new and shiny. He was also wearing a beanie, with an unidentifiable logo. Didn't go with the Minor Threat shirt. Neither did Jim Shearer, I guess.

Fugazi--no videos, but wow. At least mention them, right?

Black Flag--they would've shown TV Party again, but at least they would've been represented.

Dead Milkmen

Dag Nasty

the Germs

Minutemen--Jim Shearer says "who?"

the Police--all bands that have reggae elements in their music always mention the Clash. But they never mention the Police, because it's not cool, or it's not punk. Fuck that shit. If you don't see the beauty in their music, because you care too much about what your friends think, or because you hate his solo music, then you're an idiot. They were incredible.

Stiff Little Fingers

Bad Brains

Suicidal Tendencies

the Vandals

Angry Samoans

NOFX

X--always thought they would've been better if Exene didn't sing so much, but you can't deny their influence on the scene. Almost every punk band cites them as an influence.

Fear

etc. etc. etc.

anyway.

since I'm talking about punk, I might as well say once again: R.I.P. Joe Strummer.

What can we say about you?

You were part of a musical revolution.

Your music was a revelation.

Your relevence cannot be measured.

- premature ejaculation | tantra +