Oral history sounds dirty but so does punk rock. A new book is out by John Robb, former leader of The Membranes and a noted public figure in the UK. He was there and he waited a really long time to tell us all about it. With a forward by our good ol pal Henry Rollins chances are good as gold that it'll take off like a bullet.
I have not yet read it but when you get us old punks talking, the stories never end. That was such a vibrant time and I don't think there is a one of us that wouldn't want to go back if only for a day.
Taken from the PM Press site, the description is enticing
With its own fashion, culture, and chaotic energy, punk rock boasted a do-it-yourself ethos that allowed anyone to take part. Vibrant and volatile, the punk scene left an extraordinary legacy of music and cultural change. John Robb talks to many of those who cultivated the movement, such as John Lydon, Lemmy, Siouxsie Sioux, Mick Jones, Chrissie Hynde, Malcolm McLaren, Henry Rollins, and Glen Matlock, weaving together their accounts to create a raw and unprecedented oral history of UK punk. All the main players are here: from The Clash to Crass, from The Sex Pistols to the Stranglers, from the UK Subs to Buzzcocks—over 150 interviews capture the excitement of the most thrilling wave of rock 'n' roll pop culture ever. Ranging from its widely debated roots in the late 1960s to its enduring influence on the bands, fashion, and culture of today, this history brings to life the energy and the anarchy as no other book has done.
"John Robb is a great writer…and he is supremely qualified in my opinion to talk about punk rock." —Mick Jones, The Clash
That quote cracks me up cuz I didn't think you had to be qualified to talk about punk rock. Silly Mick Jones. Anyway, I'm gonna read it and tell you about it soon. But in the meantime you should order a copy just to support the scene that changed the face of rock and roll forever.