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TheTyee.com :: Live Fast, Die Young: Is Punk History Up in Flames? by Andrew Pearson

From TheTyee.com

Live Fast, Die Young: Is Punk History Up in Flames?

Music for the week of June 30-July 7, by Andrew Pearson.

Published: June 30, 2006

Punk history: the words almost sound like an oxymoron, at least to a geezer of my advanced years. Maybe people under 30 who grew up with punk rock as a generic cultural touchstone don't find it so weird, kind of like the kids who have never known a world without The Simpsons. When I was younger, and punk rock was still in its early adolescence, punk seemed to me to be the antithesis of such things as "history" or "cultural heritage." Punk rock was supposed to be the brick wall at the end of the highway, the ne plus ultra of popular (or unpopular) music.

Of course, I was very, very wrong. Time stands still for no one, so punk died, drifted for a few years in limbo, was reborn as one of the most popular forms of music around, and then wandered off into what is now a mostly harmless dotage. Most people either already know this, or really don't give a shit.

There are the “don’t give a shits,” and then there are the people who run the website Punk History Canada. Punk History Canada was founded by four old-school lovers of punk rock: Neil, Underexecutive Asshole and General Whipping Boy; Nicole, Secretary of the Interior of Beer Cans; Ron, Treasurer of Beer Funds and Vice President of Ass Kicking; and Steve, Chief Executive Wanker.

From their Albertan home base, and with the help of contributors from everywhere in Canada, they have put together a wide-ranging, informative and entertaining web site that encourages, even demands participation from everyone who has ever been involved in a band, acted as a promoter, attended shows as a fan, or even just staggered around drunk wondering what the hell is going on.

Their mission statement: "Honor the years of 1977-1987, which in our opinion were the formative years of punk rock in Canada. We want to chronicle everyone from the greats to the unknowns who waved the flag of punk rock in Canada and to those who supported them. To all those who drank all our beer, ate all our food and who slept on our couches, beds and even in our bathtubs."

The site features old gig posters (hey, I was at that one! I guess it wasn't just a bad dream!), discussion forums (who was better: The Dayglo Abortions or Bunch of Fucking Goofs?), pictures (boy, do I look wasted there), band histories (I never knew Grapes of Wrath used to be a punk band called Gentlemen of Horror), videos (check out The Jolly Tambourine Man's ”Apple Strudel Man” for an example of one of the best music videos ever), radio (streaming seven days a week, 24 hours a day), and even a store, where you can buy t-shirts or a copy of their compilation CD, Punk History Canada Present Only in Canada, Eh, 1977-1981, Volume 1. The disc features twenty four previous rare tracks from such Canadian treasures as House of Commons, Stark Naked and The Fleshtones, Teenage Head, Hot Nasties and Da Slyme.

I still don't really know what I think about “punk history” and "punks as elder statesmen" ideas; weren't we supposed to "live fast and die young"? In fact, all too many of us did. But for the rest of us, neither we nor Ronald Reagan managed to kill us, and we are left with a legacy. Gawd help us.