"Punk Rock and the Cold War" Topic

Punk rock is no stranger to violent politics. From decrying statist militarism to embracing revolutionary upheaval to reveling in the nihilistic specter of nuclear war, the genre has a lot to say about conflict…

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If I had a rocket launcher…Some son of a bitch would die

In Sensurround sound in a two inch wall
Well I was waiting for the communist call
I didn't ask for sunshine and I got World War III
I'm looking over the wall and they're looking at me

It seems very odd to write a piece on Punk and Politics and never mention one of the most overtly political bands of all, TRB.

I'm not sure if it's intentional, but the piece both captures and reflects the largely incoherent approach of punk to politics. A striking contrast to the rather well-focused, and largely successful, mobilisation of reggae and ska by the SWP in Rock Against Racism.

And I'm surprised the writer can mention mercenaries without mentioning this, another fine example of political incoherence, but great music all the same:

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All the best,

John.

"It seems very odd to write a piece on Punk and Politics and never mention one of the most overtly political bands of all, TRB."

Or Crass, and the whole sub-genre of anarcho-punk.

As I recall at the time though, we hated everybody and everything (and they hated us). Politics and related stuff only really started to happen around 1978ish, primarily with the Anti-Nazi League which paralleled the rise of the National Front. Another SWP front, but a worthy cause.

The real radicalism took place in the early 80s as Thatcher destroyed the country, but that was all rather post punk really as youth subculture had already fractured into a zillion sub cults. I recall some music journo bemoaning 1979 as the year all the old punks voted Tory, and frankly I would have too if I'd been fractionally older. Sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for.

An interesting time.

No Gods and no masters.

Sorry to join the conversation rather late, but it is an interesting topic and I lived through this time listening to these bands.

I want to point out that their are many punk and hardcore bands that were voicing a critique of society and culture that were interconnected: Reaganism, Thatcherism, capitalism, statism, corporatism, consumerism,racism, anti-feminism, anti-authoritarianism, violence, and conventional and nuclear war.

The article is very good but brushes past many political bands playing in the USA at the time. I think about Bad Brains, Millions of Dead Cops, the Crucis, the Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, the Minutemen and many other bands who wrote and played songs that spoke out against all the issues mentioned above (as well as many other issues).

The other thing that occurred to me as I read these comments and thought about the Cold War is that many other more "mainstream" or new wave bands were commenting on these issues as well. One example is the Police, who wrote: "One World, Not Three" about the "third world nations" being ignored or dismissed by the first world governments and news media. Another song by the Police that critiques the nuclear build-up and saber-rattling of the East and the West is: "I Hope The Russians Love Their Children Too". So, of course the Russians and Americans both do, and the Police hope the US and Russia will re-chart their course away from mutual destruction.

In the ska world, the Specials, the Beat (the English Beat) and the Selector all critiqued their society, racism, sexism, nuclear war, and violence. The Specials wrote "The Man at The C and A" about fears of nuclear war and the UK being trapped between the USA and Russia. The English Beat wrote "Dream Home in New Zealand" about "seven extra minutes in a dream home in New Zealand" if nuclear war is started. "Two Swords" (by the English Beat) is written by Dave Wakeling about the violence between the right and the left only continuing the to stoke the fires of violence and hatred. "Stand Down Margaret" was a plea to stop the neo-conservative PM of the UK.

The pop/new wave band XTC wrote frequently about political issues as well. "Living Through Another Cuba" was a reference to the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the US and Russia nearly launched their nuclear arsenals, and how it was close to that in Europe in the 1980s as well. "Melt the Guns", "Put Your Knuckles Down" and "The Cockpit" are all critiques of war and violence. There are many more musicians and bands who spoke out about these issues during the punk, post-punk, hardcore, and new wave periods of music in the late 1970s through the 1980s. Interesting thoughts, folks. Thanks for helping me remember this wonderful era and it's music.

My two cents….

Good survey, peterx. Brings back memories, as you say.

It has been said, Rock and Roll, blue jeans, cars and TVs with most US households helped to end the Cold War …