Hardcore Punk

Wot a bleedin racket

Incredible to think what one demo tape can spawn.

Thanks Andy for sending me his copy of American Hardcore by Steven Blush

I'll post a few reactions or other stuff that seems interesting on this, our dedicated Hardcore thread

Still really enjoying American Hardcore

One of things it is helping me to work out is why I've never been particularly attracted by Hardcore as a genre

Obviously the lack of tunes and melody has always been an issue but also, as I read American Hardcore, I realise it's all blokes

Not only is it all blokes but it is quite a macho scene. Although punk and what the Americans call Jocks would seem an unlikely pairing it seems that a lot of scenes were quite Jock-centric. People who wanted to fight, be aggressive and vent their frustrations through receiving and inflicting pain. Each local scene was different and it was a lot more nuanced that just a load of blokes who wanted to express themselves physically but there is an undeniably macho culture to a lot of the scenes. Being a lover not a fighter I have always instinctively disliked the boorish macho type of bloke.

This section is quite instructive and discusses how slamdancing became a thing...

...no, that's a sweeping generalization. Hardcore in America, attracted all kinds of misfit kids, like early Punk did in the UK, but as it got more popular, the Jocks started to infultrate it.
What started out as young kids letting off steam got so violent in the bigger cities, alot bands decided to mellow their music to seek a new audience. 

Oh... undoubtedly, it did become macho in some cities, i guess it all depends on where 'Hardcore' tookover from 'Punk' ...and where 'Post-Hardcore' begins.

In the late 70s alot of women were involved in 'Punk' but... yes, it was rare for their to be an all girl Hardcore band... but i'd recommend reading the book Banned In DC about women involved in that scene throughout the 80s... it wasn't just a Boys Club in that city.

In America, women picked up instruments enmasse with the advent of 'Riot Grrrl' in the 90s

7 SECONDS wrote a song about macho stupidity at Hardcore gigs...




Man you've gotta problem, who made you fuckin' king?
A macho pig with nothing in your head.
No girls around you, their place is not at gigs,
Don't want 'em on the dance floor 'cos they're weak.
A woman's place, the kitchen, on her back,
It's time to change that attitude, and quick.
[Chorus]
Showing us your phobias, you're scared to see 'em think,
You'd rather dress 'em up in pretty lace,
All nice and coloured pink.
You feel so fucking threatened,
When they stand out in front,
A stupid, passive piece of meat is all you really want
But it's:
Not just boys' fun [4x]
There's girls who put out fanzines, others put on shows,
Yet they're not allowed to get out on the floor.
Some make the music, well that you can accept.
Hell, maybe live you'll get some tits and ass
You fucking moron, your brains have run amuck,
A girl's only lot in life is not to fuck!