Showing posts with label Hardcore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hardcore. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Straight Edge


STRAIGHT EDGE: 
A Clear-Headed Hardcore Punk History 
by Tony Rettman

Deluxe 400-page softcover book with foreword by Civ of Gorilla Biscuits

This ain't no F#ckhouse! 

This deluxe softcover runs 400 pages, features a foreword by Civ of Gorilla Biscuits, includes a full-color insert, and after is available HERE. This is the latest authoritative and exhaustive leap by Bazillion Points into the vast demi-world of a powerful DIY subculture. Launch events were mobbed at the Sonos NYC store, Bridge 9 Records in Boston, and Hold Fast Records in Asbury Park, NJ, where Tony Rettman sat for a riveting Q&A with Minor Threat's Brian Baker.

Starting in 1981 via Minor Threat's revolutionary call to arms, the clean and positive straight edge hardcore punk movement took hold and prospered during the 1980s, earning a position as one of the most durable yet chronically misunderstood music subcultures. Straight edge created its own sound and visual style, went on to embrace vegetarianism, and later saw the rise of a violent militant fringe. As the "don't drink, don't smoke" message spread from Washington, D.C., to Boston, California, New York City, and, eventually, the world, adherents struggled to define the fundamental ideals and limits of what may be the ultimate youth movement.

Tony Rettman traces the story of straight edge from adolescent origins to enduring counterculture via fresh first-hand accounts from the clear and alert members of Minor Threat, SS Decontrol, Youth of Today, DYS, Slapshot, Uniform Choice, 7 Seconds, Stalag 13, Justice League, Chain of Strength, No for an Answer, Insted, Gorilla Biscuits, Judge, Bold, Project X, Lärm, Brotherhood, Shelter, H2O, Half Off, Resurrection, Raid, Strife, Earth Crisis, Vegan Reich, Mindset, Stop and Think, Mouthpiece, Floorpunch, Ten Yard Fight, Mental, Fucked Up, Trial, Have Heart, Praise, Clear, the Geeks, and many others.

Time Out New York calls the book: "a trip through the storied history of the straight edge punk movement, from its origins in 1981 as a call-to-arms from the band Minor Threat to its later flourishing as a fully-fledged counter-culture manifesto."

QUOTES

"What separates hardcore from punk is that punk was just saying, 'fkck this place.' Hardcore was saying, 'let's make a difference. Let's make our minds stronger and focus.'"
- Toby Morse, H2O

"We were out to create a revolution. We loved the power and energy of hardcore, but not the whole self-destructive punk ethos. We were into being healthy and living clean, mean, and smart."­
- John Porcelly, Youth of Today

"Straight edge became a religion. It's a very strange feeling to be one of the unwitting founders of this religion."
- Jeff Nelson, Minor Threat

"I'm honored to be part of this book, which accurately recalls a counterculture within a counterculture, a movement that changed the course of so many people's lives, including my own. Straight edge gave us some stable footing and handrails in a confusing time, and provided us a soundtrack of hard, positive, and life-affirming music to craft our progressive and positive adult lives. This book will serve as a crucial and authoritative glance into that world, shining light for fans around the globe on a time that we will never forget."
- Ray Cappo, Youth of Today

"I fxcking loved it! The SSD stuff was amazing, they were my game changer. I also really loved the Uniform Choice chapters. It's a great book. Tony Rettman has done it again, and I'm stoked to have a small part in it."
- Mike Ferraro, Judge

"I will look forward to having this on our coffee table and showing it and reading it with pride for my role in this beautiful movement, for what you've done and captured, and what straight edge was, is and will be."
- Dave Smalley of DYS/All/Dag Nasty

"Tony Rettman's book is THE CHOICE for a firsthand account of the history, inner workings, and real truth of straight edge, one of the most important cultural influences of the last century."
- Al Barile, SSD 

"A fantastic read and a true documentation straight from the people who made this small scene an important piece of music history."
- Dennis Lyxzen, Refused

"I love this book! Everyone's stories are tied together to bring validity to the subject. Rettman covered a lot of ground here, and I'm impressed."
- Steve Larson, Insted 

Friday, April 3, 2015

Cheers To Kelly Clarkson!

Kelly Clarkson: Where's The Wine?
Photo: Michael Rozman/Warner Brothers 
Kelly Clarkson has always been the subject of ridicule about her weight. Even when she was on American Idol

Weight is such a boring subject and if it does not bother Ms. Clarkson why the Hell should it bother you? 

The Kelly bomb appeared on Ellen and got a resounding cheer from DeGeneres and the crowd, and didn't apologize about her gorgeous, curvaceous figure for one second. "I yo-yo," she said, "Sometimes I'm more fit and I get into kickboxing hardcore, and then sometimes I don't and go, 'Nope, I'd rather have wine!'"

Hooray Kelly, when in doubt wine should always win!

T.G.I.F! Have a toast with Kelly at:

https://www.facebook.com/kellyclarkson

https://twitter.com/kelly_clarkson

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Rock Out With Your C#ck Out! It's "All Downhill From Here"



For all of you who love something other than pop music, myself in particular, this is the book for you. 

It's February 1st 2014, I wonder if the groundhog will see his shadow tomorrow? If he does...It's "All Downhill From Here!" 

In 2003, the AFI message board spawned a new webzine called Scene Point Blank. AFI were at the top of the charts, The Blood Brothers and The Locust were making waves in hardcore, and a young folk-punk band called Against Me! released As the Eternal Cowboy. The times have changed, but Scene Point Blank is stronger than ever, celebrating 10 years with All Downhill From Here, a new book that highlights some of their favorite material and includes insight on the wide-ranging cast of writers behind some of the webzine world's longer reviews.

Curated from 4000+ reviews and 200+ interviews, Scene Point Blank has put together some of their most popular items, some of their favorites, and their most memorable pieces into three formats: Kindle, eBook, and print, retailing from $7-15 depending on platform. Content includes interviews and features with Ian Mackaye, Henry Rollins, Larry Livermore, Evan Dando, Jacob Bannon, and many more. 

Scene Point Blank isn't limited to punk and hardcore... They're proud of their varied content, ranging from blackened death to drone to hip-hop and even prog. They feel that music shouldn't be limited to genre and, in fact, discussing it in those terms is far too limiting. Their focus is on heavy, independent music, both the well-known and those just getting started. 

After 10 years of online coverage, Scene Point Blank now offers All Downhill From Here to the public on a format they can carry with them and share, 

Available now at: