Punks in Films

[Mikey]

Not sure if this is punk or new wave but the scene in American Werewolf in London when they are on the Subway and I think there's a few rooster hair kids.

[babycyclops]

How about the nasty gang from 'Wierd Science' who crash Gary and Wyatt's party? "Can we keep this between us...I'd..I'd hate to lose my teaching job."

I'm a fan of Weird Science, and it gets a review in the book. The leader of those crazies was also in Mad Max 2 (Road Warrior) and wears the same outfit in both films!

Not sure if this is punk or new wave but the scene in American Werewolf in London when they are on the Subway and I think there's a few rooster hair kids.

Also included. The authors have gone through many many movies to produce the book

[babycyclops]

I was thinking of the original Surburbia. Loved that film when I was young.

Some films with "punks" that bring back memories… Decline of Western Civilization, Urgh! A Music War, Another State of Mind, etc…

sing in the mike, Darby!!!

Thanks for the heads up on the book. Will make a great coffee table book in our household.
Good to see some folks with great taste in movies.
Suburbia and Decline were great and made by same director, Penelope Spheeris. Cool seeing Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers in that one.

I love Punk! I was 13 when I first started hearing music from The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, X-Ray Specs, The Plasmatics, The Misfits, Black Flag, etc. I was hooked as I disliked disco so it was nice to see punk rock push disco to the side somewhat. Anarchy in the UK is still one of my all time favorites!

Penelope Spheeris' is interviewed in the film, and all her punk films get extensive reviews. 'Decline' is an awesome documentary, which is meant to be re-released soon... can't wait!
I've never seen Urgh! but it's in the book

[babycyclops]

Hmmm...well, what about the dirtballs in those Death Wish films? Some of those guys had face paint and spikey hair and all.
I'd imagine that the Road Warrior and Beyond Thunderdome would fit this bill as well....'Ironbar', 'Blackfinger','Ton Ton', etc..

.And dont forget the Troma films - Nuke 'em High and Surf Nazis were filled with 'punk' stylings...

All kinds of street scum and post-apocalyptic wasteoids are included within the pages, the Troma films, with their cartoony representations of punks, are in too.

Return of the living dead punks in the graveyard...LOL
Awesome,I also loved Class of 1984 of which the cover of the book is from.
STar trek IV punk on the bus...LOL

Ha ha! I'm a huge of fan Class of 1984, with it's super negative portrayal of punk kids. I saw it video when I was a barely a teenager. A real video nasty!

[mazinz]

I cannot believe you posted a topic about this!!! Just today I was going to see if any local Barnes and Noble stores had the book for sale (which they don't-- in store). What are the odds to come home later and then see someone from Australia posting a topic about the very same book??? I found out about it while visiting the Revelation records website not that long ago. I figured I could get it used a bit cheaper, but if I saw it in a store new would have bought it.

[The Bat]

I love Punk! I was 13 when I first started hearing music from The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, X-Ray Specs, The Plasmatics, The Misfits, Black Flag, etc. I was hooked as I disliked disco so it was nice to see punk rock push disco to the side somewhat. Anarchy in the UK is still one of my all time favorites!


Sid and Nancy, as mentioned, is an awesome flick. Gary Oldman totally nailed his impersonation of Sid! We have it on DVD and also another unopened Criterion Collection version.

Another great movie is The Filth and the Fury! It's a must see for vintage punk fans.

The Filth and the Fury (2000) - IMDb

About 4 years ago Maggy and I had the pleasure of seeing the original Sex Pistols when they toured the US. It was at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago where we see tons of concerts and it was awesome. They had some vintage looking amps and they sounded just like they did in the late 70's! Plus Maggy and I were right up front standing about 6 feet from Johnny Rotten (John Lydon) and that just made it that much better.


We have a pretty vast collection of CD's including some of the lesser known, newer East coast punk bands but it's still hard to beat the vintage stuff.

AWESOME Dude! Grew up a Punk Rocker myself...on the Sex Pistols, Ramones, The Clash, etc...I've seen MANY Punk Bands over the years(Black Flag, Social Distortion 3x, Ramones 3x, Iggy Pop 2x, Circle Jerks, 7 Seconds, Johny Rotten with P.I.L., and more!

[thunderbolt]

Basically the entire cast of the Mad Max films, too.

[SeattleEd]

Penelope Spheeris' is interviewed in the film, and all her punk films get extensive reviews. 'Decline' is an awesome documentary, which is meant to be re-released soon... can't wait!
I've never seen Urgh! but it's in the book

You can pick up a copy of URGH! here from the WB shop. It's on DVD-R and is a made to order burn.

Highly recommend this doc.


About time they re-issued Decline. Cult classic.


Just found a copy at a good deal on ebay. Brand new too. Again, thanks for the heads up.

[Tothiro]

Class of 1984!!! That's some of Micheal J. Fox's best work, right there.

[babycyclops]

You can pick up a copy of URGH! here from the WB shop. It's on DVD-R and is a made to order burn.

Just found a copy at a good deal on ebay. Brand new too. Again, thanks for the heads up.

You are most welcome!

[babycyclops]

I cannot believe you posted a topic about this!!! Just today I was going to see if any local Barnes and Noble stores had the book for sale (which they don't-- in store). What are the odds to come home later and then see someone from Australia posting a topic about the very same book??? I found out about it while visiting the Revelation records website not that long ago. I figured I could get it used a bit cheaper, but if I saw it in a store new would have bought it.

The lattice of coincidence

[torgospizza]

I was talking to a younger guy I work with the other day about how wrong a lot of those portrayals were. When I first met a real punk in college, it shocked me that he was probably the most moral, honest person in the entire dorm building. It was us metalheads that were destructive wastrels.

[Spawn67]

We are also into Speed and Death Metal and that is mostly what we see currently. We see Slipknot every time they play in our area and I would love to see Cradle of Filth and Morbid Angle again as those shows really kicked butt! I saw Morbid Angel and Motorhead at a small bar in Dekalb, IL called Ottos around the summer of 2002. It was awesomel I couldn't hear anything when I left the bar to go back to my car. I also remember Lemmy wondering where the **** they were as Dekalb is surrounded by corn fields.

I have seen Morbid Angel many times since 1989. I have known the guys for many years. I am a big fan of Black and death metal and have been involved in the scenes for many years.
I grew up with punk/hardcore as well. DISCHARGE,THE EXPLOITED, D.R.I., CIRCLE JERKS, BLACK FLAG, GBH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES (First album) etc etc.

[SeattleEd]

I just got the book and ready quite a bit of it.
The cool thing is the idea of the book started back in 2004 here in Seattle and grew over time since the coverage of punks in movies was vast and to get synopsis of each film, and at times interviews, certainly was a major undertaking for two guys.
Great that Fantagraphics put out the book as well.
I was VERY impressed with the plethora of knowledge these hardcore fans exemplified. More so on the coverage of The Screamers, seminal cult underground punk band ever from L.A.
Here is a sample.
Also enjoyed the extensive coverage they give "Valley Girl" and "Class of '84"

Great book indeed and I have it on our coffee table.

Thanks again!

[The Bat]

I was talking to a younger guy I work with the other day about how wrong a lot of those portrayals were. When I first met a real punk in college, it shocked me that he was probably the most moral, honest person in the entire dorm building. It was us metalheads that were destructive wastrels.

It's funny you should mention that. I was talking to a young Guy at Newberry Comics...and he was asking me if things got rough at the Punk shows. I told him of all the shows I went to(MANY)...that I had never seen a fight. And I was right down in the mosh Pit with them. It was always just good natured FUN. Hell, if some fell...somebody would help you back up. For us...it was all about the music.