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P.E.,
Being the DJ alluded to in two issues of PE as being hassled by Epitaph Records for " not playing any of their Epicrap," I feel obligated to clear things up just a little bit. I was never contacted directly by anyone from Epitaph - i.e. they didn't call WRFL-FM here in Lexington with the expressed purpose of finding "the punk rock guy" or whatever. I never spoke directly to any representatives from Epitaph on the phone, through the mail, or otherwise.
Basically, I cruised by WRFL one evening after getting out of class and found Sami Ibrahim, my friend and then-WRFL Music Director, sitting at his desk with a black cloud over his head. This is a common for music directors at college radio stations, as their job is to see that the station retains a good influx of music (even if it is hokey, watered-down crap), and that involves endless hours of conversing with blowhard record company workers whose job is to solicit "product." When I asked Sami what the problem was, he handed me a piece of paper with Epitaph's phone number on it. He then recounted his phone conversation with a representative from Epitaph who called him as he was doing his duty as MD. This person had apparently called looking for information on the WRFL punk show, which I'm in charge of. They got to discussing music and said the representative asked what music I played on the show. Sami was only able to pull one band off the top of his head (3-WAY CUM), and the gut reportedly got really pissed, leaving his phone number behind so I could call him back. By the time I had heard what happened, I wadded up the piece of paper with the number on it and threw it away.
Since then, no one from Epitaph has, as far as I know, called WRFL looking for me or anyone else to tell them what gets played on "Burning Sensations" every week. A computer record is kept of bands and songs, but they never become a part of chart or playlist to be sent to record companies. I don't "report" to anyone, and never will, and the fact that I don't agree with Epitaph's dealings is only another reason why I don't like anything they release, from musical standpoints or otherwise.
But over-repeated digs at Epitaph aside, this phone call (which I didn't even receive) was a totally isolated incident and Brett Gurewitz may have been telling the truth when he stated that Epitaph does not employ anyone to call college radio stations and harass the DJ's. But the "no Epitaph chain - wallet core" on "Burning Sensations" still stands; especially in the face of their distribution deal with Sony.
Up the punks-Burning Sensations/c.o. Doug Saretsky/PO Box 777/University Station/Lexington, KY 40506-0025
Dan,
It's sad when you attempt to deliver a certain message, and that message is blown out of proportion, or worse yet, entirely misunderstood.
In the last P.E. issue, you printed my message concerning unemployment. However, you failed to read the part, "save the food, shelter, and charity for those who really deserve them!" This; including minorities, single mothers, elderly people, etc. I was attacking the young, healthy people given every opportunity their middle class parents provide, yet still choose to live the street life sponging off of others.
Putting words into my mouth, such as calling the welfare mothers, or volunteer workers "lazy", totally degraded the meaning of my letter. Yes, medicare, medicaid, and other such forms of welfare are an essential part of a well structured society, however they should not be misused the way I so often see.
In the future, save your attacks for the conservatives, not the supposedly "progressive punks"!!!
Animal
Animal,
Thanks for responding. I was in no way attempting to point-by-point address the parts of your letter I found disagreement with; I would have responded in the letters section if that was the case. My column last issue was a general response to people's attitudes towards Welfare, homeless people and poverty. Sure, there are a lot of so-called punks who "sponge" off other's work; we call them "jitters" and sometimes "crusties". However, there are genuinely those who do throw off their middle class backgrounds, refuse to work for political reasons, and maintain a lot of constructive energy. There is a big difference between the scabies-infested street trash and active individuals who refuse the 9-5 wage-slave bullshit. My column tried to emphasize the positive aspects of the latter, not create an excuse for the former. I apologize for the misunderstanding.
Dan
Dear folks at P.E.,
Greetings from the rectum of the beast. I just wanted to write and let you know that I think yall are a really kickass punk zine and I know a lot of other folks really appreciate the work that you do and the fact that you remain true to your ideals. Knowing that there are a significant number of folks out there who hold those ideals gives me a glimmer of hope for a real counterculture anti-authoritarian revolution.
Maybe you thought this issue fell short of it's potential and maybe it did. But I personally thought the pictures and stories of Chaos Days '95 were fuckin' explosive and inspiring to say the least. To boot, I really dug the interviews with Fleas and Lice, Assrash, and Defiance.
So I just thought I'd say, maybe yall are so spread thin with projects and fatigued out that you didn't think you hit the mark but I got a lot out of it and I just wanted to flap yer ear about it.
Also, I was wondering if yall could spread the word in some of your circles that a prisoner John Perrotti is still trying to get a transfer out of Lucasville, Ohio State Penetentary to another State facility. He just finished a 77 day hunger strike towards this end with no success. The prisoncrats there at Lucasville have been giving John some severe stick for syndicalist activities as well as litigation they don't like. Deluge Governor Voinavitch (77 South High Street/ Columbus, Ohio 43215) with letters protesting John's ill-treatment and demanding that Director Wilbinson transfer him out of state immediately! Letters of support can be written: John Perrotti/ SOCF #167712/ PO Box 45699/ Lucasville, Ohio 45699.
Kevin Glover
Dear Profane Crew,
Having spent many years going to gigs and reading zine's and witnessing the crap that moronic redneck punx do and say, I try to ignore them if possible. However, as a major distributor of P.E. I was saddened to see you let "Pukey" of Assrash reply to the letter in PE 26. The irony of this idiot in claiming that "he's been through" his embarrassing moments long ago and then proceeds to make the most excruciatingly dickhead macho comments I've ever heard for a long time would be almost funny if it wasn't so sad 'Big Man' punx who drink excess alcohol and call others "cowards" and "crybabies" really should think about joining the marines or the KKK, they have stupid uniforms too and their social attitudes would suit them fine. (Maybe taking a look at Too Drunk To Fuck lyrics may not be a bad idea either).
I would be a lot more enthusiastic about distributing P.E. and it's contribution to our struggle to change this world for the better if it didn't give such idiots the space to waste with their fucked up egos.
Well good luck,
Jon Active.
P.S. I am returning all the ASSRASH 7"'s we were going to distribute, Active doesn't want to support such crap.
Dear Jon,
Thanks for your thoughts. I pains me to read such an angry letter from someone who has worked so closely with PE for so many years. I can almost understand you point of view for taking such an aggressive and rigid stance towards Assrash based on Pukey's response to the letter from "anonymous" in PE 27. On the other hand, your response seems nearly as kneejerk as Pukey's! F.Y.I. Pukey is an essential worker at the P.E. "anarchist grindstone," contributing daily to our efforts in a limitless number of ways. I believe that Pukey had many reasons to justify his original response, although the tone of it was disturbing and non-constructive in it's finality; a shared trait with your response. It seems we can find more constructive ways for all of us to work out our differences with a more constructive attitude than quarrelling and name-calling within the anarcho-punk movement and especially within the confines of the P.E. collective and distribution network. Both instances seem to illustrate a need for more comprehensive effort at positive communication, which is something we all need to work on.
Dan
HELLO P.E. AND P.E. READERS!
Time passes by so quick that it leaves someone else behind (i.e. the weak and that of those uniformed and misguided).
Poverty is a good reason why a hard-earned money to have one's food intake and acquire (if there was) a slum shelter was the only choice to survive rather than fighting back the ruling class oppressors, the state and their mercenaries. I think our poor condition is not a hindrance to resist. I, together with some (un)helpful fellas do a photocopied zine. I/we can't finish it early (one issue got finished after 14 lonnng months), due to ever tight financial budget, lack of resources, and lack of education. OUR HOPES ARE HIGH BUT OUR FEET ARE STUCK.
We're also still forming to be a 'collective' (for 3 long years getting to be formed). We desperately need money and reading material donations!!! You can donate or you can lend us some money to keep our zines early and up to date and still alive, spread education and turn our 'dream' punk projects come true (like organizing a good gig distributing a lot of reading materials and music/noise). For the record, there were still no anarchist punk- and/or anarchist (on pure politics) collective/ organization/ federation here. There were individuals but not working or still forming (still) as a group. I hope you'll help us out forming one. We're on it too. Please wait for us!!!
Thank you very much!
To any one interested in helping us; please write first: D. Reckons Zine c/o Ban' Maralita' Cabuguang/ #07 Emerald St./ 1636 Tagig, M. Mla./ PHILIPPINES
Dear Profane Existence,
I just got your December issue #27 and as I read your letters section, I came across a letter sent by Wesley Baesal. I read this letter twice because I can relate to his situation. I too am an Incarcerated Anarchist in the Massachusetts Prison System. I have been down 5 years and have roughly 9 months left before I am released. The Department of Corrections (DOC) have me down as an (S.T.G.) Security Threat Group for various security infractions. The Inner Perimeter Security (IPS) seem to believe that I am a anarchist "leader", I laughed and explained to them that there are no leaders in anarchism. I even showed them the definition of anarchy - they still to think I'm full of shit, and some sort of leader. It's like talking to a brick wall.
I have a lot of anarchist literature, at one point the I.P.S. tried to confiscate my books. There is a policy 103 OCC 400.00 INMATE MANAGEMENT. I'm sure from state to state but Wesley B. should look in his inmate law library and read up on inmate management. These DOC officials cannot ban books regarding political beliefs, race, creed, or religion. They can deprive the U.S. from the Anarchist Cookbook and other literature regarding the manufacture of weapons and explosives - that's only logical. As far as Profane Existence goes, I have no problem getting your zine in. Once I jammed the 103 OCC 400 (IMP) in their faces, they had no choice but to return all of my books.
I really appreciate the free subscription, if I had it like that I'd send you a donation. If it weren't for your zine I'd be going right out of my mind right about now. I would also appreciate it if you could print my name and address, I want to correspond with other punx and anarchists.
Thanx for the zine and keep the faith! Tim Nishibori/ W - 50516/ 1 Administration Rd./ Bridgewater, MA 02324
P.S. I got a real kick out of the "anonymous" letter, - fucking cowards! That's right Pukey - D- Drunk you tell 'em! Fuck off you wanker!! Fucking crybabies, grow the fuck up! Smell the motherfucking dogshit!!
Hi folks!
Everything's cool? I've been reading Profane Existence since a while ago and I've noticed that it is getting worse issue after issue.
In issue #26 the only thing that was in fact, interesting were the News & Protest to Resistance (OK and the Fleas and Lice interview which could have been better, in-depth, I think...). The rest of the zine was shit! I've noticed that you took a more musical approach to punk and forgot a bit about it's ideologies (what punk is really about). It's not very hard to see this when you read interviews like the DEFIANCE or ASSRASH one's. Who cares what ASSRASH's favorite show was when they played in Europe? Both questions and answers were stupid, crap, and everytime you at P.E. tried to ask a more intelligent question the bands just made a fool out of themselves and showed how stupid they really are (concerning more political, interesting subjects. Really I am interested in musical or drunk talk). Why waste time dealing with them? Just because their music is cool? I'm sure that there are plenty of bands who play great music and have great lyrics with something to say, but you hardly take notice of them (one of the bands that seems to have a lot to say is WLOCHATY or KOCHISE. They will for sure make proper use of your time and paper).
Also look back at Los Crudos or Contropotere Interviews. It's that kind of " stuff" you should support, they are working something out instead of just playing. I learned a lot about Italy, in the Contropotere Interview, besides a lot of other things. (I'm glad you'll start printing scene reports again).
Another thing I've noticed, is the huge amounts of ads. I know it's due to the fact that it keeps the prices low but really what's the point in that? I'd rather pay more and actually read something interesting (I know you can do it...) Hey, what's a Victory Records ad doing in P.E.?)
A bigger letter section would be nice to! But if you are going to fill it with letters like the Shannon one, better end it! I didn't understand what the point was in printing it, as she lost most of her paper/time talking about clothes and shit like that, without realizing she's exactly the same as the one she's criticizing. (Was it for us to have a laugh?)
Really you all should stop and think and see the direction you are taking, and what you are doing with the zine because you are making punk more of a joke than a threat.
Love,... Afonso/ Apartado 346/ 2750 Cas Lais/ Portugal
Dearest Profane Existers,
I am writing to yez about Chaos Days 1996, it is happening August in Berkeley and Oakland, California, it is not a joke. It is a punk party for all of us punks and crusties to get together, get drunk and have a good time. If you read that letter by a certain Jake useless (a friend of mine who needs enemies with friend like these???) you will probably enjoy knowing that I am the "DICKHEAD" and "STUPID ASSHOLE" who made the flier and made the call for the U.S. to have it's own Fuckin Chaos and maybe you remember another person: Erik who wrote in, he and I are part of the group of "Drunken Cider Punks" who used our precious change to photocopy and send out Chaos Days fliers and give 'em out on the street and at shows. It is the apathy and jaded-ness! of American punks that made the Chaos Days a so-called failure here in the Bay Area.
Punk is what you make of it, and if Chaos Days sucked for you then you must suck cuz I had fun. Got pissed all three days, played with the cops, and in general, had a great chaotic time! It was not a joke but it was funny. So there you go. I don't know what people's problems are. Oh and Chaos Days are not in opposition to the Resist and Exist fest in Eugene. But, we're the real deal, Chaos!
Chaos is what will destroy the system, society, and power in general, and after the chaos subsides we've got freedom. We are shaped by our surroundings and then we have the choice to do or don't.
I have no idea what I'm talking about..... or do I? Anyhow, hope all you punks in our Amerikkkas come out for this and mostly, have a good time. Do you need someone organizing yer life to have fun?? Or are you a punk? We shall see?
Sincerely in Punk Chaos, Medieval Anarchy, and Gaelic Spirit,
Sean Goblin/ P.O. Box 3635/ Oakland, CA 94609/ U.S.A.
Hello P.E. Folks,
I am writing to you for several reasons. First and foremost is to give you a pat on the back for putting such a great zine that is intensely political and anarchistic while still covering the punk which I like best, real anarchist - political punk. To me the two are inseperable and intertwined.
I am from a shitty suburb of Chicago where the usual nothingness shit goes on. Two days ago there was a protest in Rosemont (about 15 minutes away) against Newt Gingrich's contract with America, but smog stopped his plane from coming. In the fall my friends and I protested against the KKK who had a rally on the steps of the county courthouse. We were even in solidarity with the local Hispanic Council and made some new friends there.
We are currently trying to contribute to the Struggle zine or start our own. The lack of good politically charged punk rock zine information is disheartening. With a few exceptions (including yours) there is a definite void of information getting out.
Currently we are just starting and it's only about ten of us but we are trying to spread the word about Student Unrest day to whoever we can. When I say "we" I'm speaking for our group but this is really my letter. I'm trying to get more information about anarchism as I've only recently come to realize what a political force and way of life it can be, just like D.I.Y. punk.
There is a lack of literature here with the local Autonomous Zone in the middle of moving but still operational so they are up in the air at the present time. We hope to be able to produce the Chicago scene reports but nothing is concrete yet.
I went to Chaos Days expecting much but finding little and even worse. Let me explain. On the Saturday after my companion and I arrived there we saw a group of about forty punks gathered on a hill who said "they" were Chaos Days. They waited until some cops arrived and smashed the glass from a bus station stop. No arrests were made then but when they started walking down the street they smashed the windows out of a car on the street and, in predictable fashion, ran in all directions when the cops tried to arrest two punks. Typical California solidarity, I guess.
The only riots that took place were on the mural downtown wall. It ended up not being a total disappointment as i met some cool people and got to squat and see the city.
Oh, I forgot to mention. The owner of the car walked out it was (seriously) an almost toothless woman in her sixties wondering why those "punks" smashed her car. Just total bullshit and it just made all punx look bad in the eyes of the citizens. Well, I think I've rambled on enough so thanks for listening and for keeping up the punk - anarchist spirit.
Take care. Sincerely,
Dominick DeLeo/1965 S. May/ Bensenville, IL 60106
Dear Profane Existence and Fellow Anarchists,
I just received your December '95 - #27 issue, passed it onto my one true punk friend here in the hole at Western Pen in Pittsburgh. Me and my friend have been under 23 hours lockup since the Camphill riots in Harrisburg, in 1988. All the others have been either sentenced on new charges or released!
Because me and my friend have numerous punk/anarchy tattoos, we have been named the instigators of the clash between police and inmates at Camphill, we were both due to be released in due maximums on April of this year. But now the fucking scum F.B.I., has lodged federal detainers against us! Just recently a group of people got together and hired us an attorneys! They are from some civil rights organization. We will beat these fucking maggots, and when the smoke clears anarchy will prevail!
Your story on "Dumpy" was good, I had the pleasure of meeting him here on the streets of Pittsburgh once in '86, and again just before I was framed on this weapons charge in '87. He is a good man with a lot of heart. It's really good to see him going to Brazil, and more countries. Someone needs to pass the word around to different countries and let the anarchists everywhere know they are not alone.
The story from Daniel about oppression in his high school really pissed me off! I can't understand why him and his friends didn't show those scum fuck assholes, what happens when they instigate violence. I, just like the next guy would rather avoid violence. But if someone knocks my friend out, then kicks him in his head, then as far as I'm concerned the fucking war is on!
Years ago, when I entered the punk scene, what attracted me was the togetherness and trust among punkers, the safe feeling that even though we weren't looking for trouble, if it did come along, we had each other's backs. Now, more and more I see the punk/anarchist scene getting weaker and changing their values.
Your interview with "State of Fear" was good, when I read about some of their equipment being stolen by punks, that is what I'm talking about. I mean fuck, if we don't stay strong and look out for each other, then we are just like all the other thiefs, etc.
Punk is here to stay, Anarchy is here to stay and I hope you print this letter and the fucks that stole Jon's bass are reading cause you motherfuckers should come and stay here for a day. You think being punk is just some fucking leather jacket with studs, some patches, and spikes. You don't know what fighting for a "cause" is!
Me and my friend Rich are the only two true punks/anarchists here out of 2,000 prisoners. We got shit from all directions and we choose to fight for our beliefs 'cause punk and anarchy are something we believe in and will die fighting for anyways!
Your zine is the closest us brothers locked down can come to being back in the scene we love so much! I was surprised about Chaos Days being changed. But if a miracle happens and me and my friend are free August '96 we will be in Eugene, Oregon for the "Resist and Exist" gathering. Those crusty assholes need to put the energy they use fucking up useless shit towards unity and true resistance against the fucking feds, cops, and all other scum who continues to hold us down.
If you could, we'd appreciate ya printing our address so maybe we could get some mail from you brother and sister punks/anarchists. We are truly alone here in the states cage, it would really mean a lot to us to get some thorough correspondence from out there!
Anarchists by birth, Punk by choice! Bill
William Moss BH-4994/ P.O. Box 99901/ Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Richard Taylor BM-6245 (same address as mine).
To those on the receiving end at P.E.,
I picked up the Spring '95 issue on an accidental trip to the @ bookfair at Conway Hall in London and was glad to see an article devoted to resistance in Scotland and the mention of Faslane Peace Camp where I am currently based.
The camp is currently facing eviction and would appreciate donations or preferably a physical presence to resist as we would prefer the camp to go out with the bang it deserves! So please include this article in the next issue and pass onto others!
Yours in peace, Scott de Voy (Only resident punk-type at present, WHERE ARE YOU PUNK MOVEMENT?)
The following is a follow-up to the Scotland scene report from last issue. Although some of the relevant information is now dated, we felt it still contains some important info:
Even post-Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Faslane Peace Camp is still here at the roadside of Loch Long next to Britains Nuclear deterrent.
The now infamous C.J.A. has heralded more dubious powers all aimed at resistance and protest movements. For instance, M.I.5 have turned there repressive powers towards Eco/Peace/@ movements with the IRA cease fire. There new powers include being able to bug places if there is suspected conduct "by a N (?2 or more if that, we suspect!) of people in pursuit of a common purpose", this however doesn't make a shitload of difference to the camp anyway as our phone line has been bugged for the duration of it's existence along with 24 hour surveillance from our local Ministry of Defense (M.O.D.) police assholes!
Presently, the camp has Activists (3-4) helping resist the Newberry Bypass (Eng) all under threat of being banged up or worse!
So far in the camps 14 years of history it's residents (not elitist as proposed by an enraged writer at Class War after criticism of CW's condemnation of the A.L.F., I support both by the way!) have held enumerate Actions/Demos etc. resulting in a great many convictions, jail sentences for campers and activists alike, as well as alerting the general public to Nuclear power/weapons are a threat to ALL!
The camp is now facing an uncertain future, (well that's a lie we know we're going to be evicted) because of changing council boundaries ie. the Dumbarton 'Authorities' approve our bid for disarmourment, if not our methods, eg. break-ins, stopping nuclear Convoys, Blockades and Mass Trespasses, even an incident where a camper boarded a Trident Submarine, only gaining acknowledgment from armed M.O.D. Plod when introducing himself to them.
Unfortunately, we will be moving into the Argyle and Bute district as from April 1st, their publications stating that they intended to do away with the "so-called" Peace Comp, is this just a big April Fool's joke being played on us, if it is it ain't funny!
So under the threat of eviction after 14 years we desperately need help in the form of a physical presence referably (the camp ain't full yet, Caravans are empty) of if you are unable to come convince others or send donations cause we need a van to acquire equipment needed and for daily use.
Make donations out to Faslane Peace Camp. If you intend to come and stay here it's only 10 pounds a week to pay for food (vegan).
Faslane Peace Camp/ Shandon/ Helensburgh/ Dumbartonshire/ Scotland. Phone No: (01436) 820 901
To Profane,
Please print this, as it is an idea (influenced by movemento Anarcho Punx!) I think it could be put into effect!
OK, so maybe this will have been said a million times before, but aren't most of the records you own just as redundant? Election year '96 is here. Promises (made to be broken) like health care reform "Balanced Budget", etc. Compel this "One Nation Under the Cathode Ray" to try and make a change by X-ing off the ballot. Even MTV is involved too!! "Hey, if MTV says I should vote, I should right? I mean they report on issues which affect me and my generation, right? "Says the 18 year old "Generation X-er". The news flashes of stories of politicians acting like they care. Fuck all that!
As Anarchists, Punks, Radicals, Etc.- it's our duty to take the streets and show people that putting them in power will only make things worse for us, and only benefit ruling class scum!! It especially sickens me that these bastards are trying to reach the working class the most! Like I said, promises made to be broken. If you are already actively involved in anti-voting propaganda and protest, I commend you. But if not, make an honest effort to see nobody really wants to vote, but feels so obligated from bastard TV news broadcasts! I mean with candidates like Dole, Clinton and Buchanen, who'd want to vote anyway!!
Also, anybody who sees that fucking "choose or lose" bus in their town, take some of that anti-MTV aggression out (ha-ha).
Also, I am currently involved in a small collective in a small town. So far we have taken some action to help a certain political prisoner. His name is Harold H. Thompson. Send stamps, funds, letters of solidarity, etc. to: #93992-W.T.H.S.F./ Unit 5-A-106/ Route 2/ Box 1050/ Henning,TN /38041-1050. Also his close friends have set up a legal defense fund to raise money for a lawyer. Send a donation if you can to: Harold H. Thompson Legal Defense Fund/ P.O. Box 2231/ Cleveland, TN/ 37320-2213.
We are a fairly new collective (3 people as of now) and would like to network with other small collectives regarding ideas and actions. Send mail to: Chris Edwards/2872 Sonnet Dr./Randleman, NC/ 27317. Replies are guaranteed, as we love communication, which strengthens our movement. Alright, take care and keep fighting!!
Profane Existence
We are writing this letter to express our gratitude for what you are doing towards the anarchist movement. We are currently incarcerated in the state of Texas. We are trying to start an anarchist movement within the walls of this facility. There may not be very much we can do by being in prison, but we feel we can reach out and help each other anarchist's incarcerated and on the streets, by showing our ideas and by offering support to those who need it. Our goal is to reach out to as many people as possible that will support the anarchist movement. In the near future we hope to put out a zine. We would appreciate it if you would send us any information that would help advance our goal. We would also like to know of any other anarchist movements in the prison system that we could write to that would tell us how to start our movement. Thank you for your time. We hope that this letter reaches as many anarchists as possible who may be able to help. We would like a response as soon as possible.
Yours Truly, forever in struggle, Donald "Bones" Barrios and Terry "Chaos" McGregor
Terry McGregor #665811 / Dolph Brisco Unit / Rt. 1 Box 4 / Dilley, TX 78017
Hey, What's up punkers!
This is the bass player from the band Presidentes Muertos and we just moved up from the U.S. / Mexico border to the city of San Antonio, TX. We are a band that works as a collective, label, fanzine, and distribution and we would like to get involved with people from the US and Texas area. Also in the works we have a 7" record of our band and a DIY fanzine in Spanish for all the Spanish speaking countries in the world to create better communication between bands, labels, collectives and revolutionaries. So people in the US get in touch; we are here! Bands that want to tour Mexico, get in touch as well because we can help you!
Presidebtes Muertos / P.O. Box 49 35 / San Antonio, TX 78280
PE #28 COLUMNS: DAN - ADRIENNE - SLUG - TED
Catechism of the Anarchopunk
(Apologies to Sergi Nechayev)
Principles by which the Anarchopunk Must be Guided
THE ATTITUDE OF THE ANARCHOPUNK TOWARDS HIMSELF
(1.) The anarchopunk is a dedicated individual. (S)he has no interests of (her)his own, no affairs, no feelings, no attachments, no belongings, not even a real name. Everything in (her)him is absorbed by a single exclusive interest, a single thought, a single passion-anarchopunk.
(2.) In the very depths of (her)his being, not only in words, but in deeds, (s)he has broken every tie with civil order and the entire mainstream world, with all its laws, properties, social conventions and its ethical rules. (S)he is an implacable enemy of this world, and if (s)he continues to live in it, that is only to destroy it more effectively.
(3.) The anarchopunk despises all indoctrination and has rejected the mundane sciences, leaving them to future generations. (S)he knows only one science, the science of destruction. To this end, and this end alone, (S)he will study mechanics, physics, chemistry, distortion pedals, and perhaps medicine. To this end (s)he will study day and night the living science: people, their characters and circumstances and all the features of the present social order at all possible levels. (Her)his sole and constant object is the immediate destruction of this vile order.
(4.) (S)he despises public opinion. (S)he despises and abhors the existing social ethic in all its manifestations and expressions. For (her)him, everything is moral which assists the triumph of revolution. Immoral and criminal is everything which stands in its way.
(5.) The anarchopunk is a dedicated individual, merciless towards the state and towards the whole of educated and privileged society in general; and must expect no mercy from them either. Between (her)him and them there exists, declared or undeclared, an unceasing and irreconcilable war for life and death. (S)he must discipline (her)himself to endure torture and Green Day CD's.
(6.) Hard towards oneself, the anarchopunk must be hard towards others as well. All of the tender and effeminate emotions of kinship, friendship, love, gratitude, and even honor must be funnelled into the basis for cold and single minded passion for the anarchopunk cause. There exists for (her)him only one delight, one consolation, one reward and one gratification-the success of the anarchopunk revolution. Night and day (s)he must have but one thought, one aim-merciless destruction. In cold-blooded and tireless pursuit of (her)his aim, (s)he must be prepared both to die (her)himself and to destroy with (her)his own hands everything that stands in the way of its achievement.
(7.) The nature of the true anarchopunk has no place for any romanticism, sentimentality, rapture or enthusiasm. It has no place either for personal hatred or vengeance. The anarchopunk passion, which becomes a habitual state of mind, must at every moment be combined with cold calculation. Always and everywhere (s)he must be not what the promptings of (her)his personal inclinations would be, but what the general interest of the anarchopunk revolution prescribes.
THE ATTITUDE OF THE ANARCHOPUNK TOWARDS HIS COMRADES IN REVOLUTION
(8.) The anarchopunk considers his friends and holds dear only a person who has shown (her)himself in practice to be as much of an anarchopunk as (her)himself. The extent of this friendship, devotion and other obligations towards (her)his comrade is determined only by their degree of usefulness in the practical work of total revolutionary destruction.
(9.) The need for solidarity among anarchopunks is self-evident. In it lies the whole strength of anarchopunk work. Anarchopunk comrades who posses the same degree of anarchopunk understanding and passion should, as far as possible, discuss all important matters together and come to unanimous decisions. but in implementing a plan decided upon in this manner, each anarchopunk should as far as possible rely on (her)himself. In performing a series of destructive actions each anarchopunk must act for (her)himself and have recourse to the advice and help of (her)his comrades only if this is necessary for success (of the plan).
(10.) Each comrade should have under him several anarchopunks from the second or third category, that is comrades who are not completely initiated. He should regard them as portions of a common fund of anarchopunk capital, placed at (her)his disposal. (S)he should expend (her)his portion of the capital economically, always attempting to derive the utmost possible benefit from it. (S)he should regard (her)himself as capital consecrated to the triumph of the anarchopunk cause; but as capital (s)he may not dispose of independently without the consent of the entire company of the fully initiated comrades.
(11.) When a comrade gets into trouble, the anarchopunk, in deciding whether (s)he should be rescued or not, must think not in terms of (her)his
personal feelings but only of the good of the revolutionary cause. Therefore (s)he must balance, on the one hand, the usefulness of the comrade, and on the other, the amount of anarchopunk energy that would be necessarily be expended on (her) his deliverance, and must settle for whichever is the weightier consideration.
THE ATTITUDE OF THE ANARCHOPUNK TOWARDS SOCIETY
(12.) The admission of a new member, who has proved (her)himself not only with words but by deeds, may be decided upon only by unanimous agreement.
(13.) The anarchopunk enters into the world of the state, of class and of so-called culture, and lives in it only because (s)he has faith in its speedy and total destruction. (S)e is not an anarchopunk if (s)he feels pity for any power structure in this world. If (s)he is able to, (s)he must face the annihilation of a situation, of a relationship or of any person who is a part of the hierarchy of this world-everyone and everything must be equally odious to (her)him. All the worse for (her)him if (s)he has family, friends, and loved ones in this world; (s)he is no anarchopunk if they can stay (her)his hand.
(14.) Aiming at merciless destruction the anarchopunk can and sometimes must live within society while pretending to be quite different other than what (s)he is. The anarchopunk must penetrate everywhere, among all of the lowest and the middle classes, into the houses of commerce, the church, the mansions of the rich, the world of the bureaucracy, the military and of literature, the Third Section [the Secret Police] and even the White House.
(15.) All of this foul society must be split up into several categories: the first category comprises those to be condemned immediately to mockery. The society must compile a list of those condemned persons in order of the relative harm they may do to the successful progress of the anarchopunk cause, and thus in order of their removal.
(16.) In compiling these lists and deciding the order referred to above, the guiding principle must be individual acts of villainy committed by the person as well as by the hatred he provokes among the society or the people. This villainy and hatred is useful to a certain extent because it helps incite popular rebellion. Thus the guiding principle must be the measure of service the persons character assassination will necessarily render to the anarchopunk cause. Therefore, in the first instance all those must be annihilated which are especially harmful to the anarchopunk organization, and whose sudden mockery and attacks will also inspire the greatest fear in the government and, by depriving it of its most cleverest and most energetic figures, will shatter its strength.
(17.) The second category must consist of those who are granted temporary respite to live, solely in order that their bestial behavior shall drive the people to inevitable revolt.
(18.) To the third category belong a multitude of high-ranking cattle, or personages distinguished neither for any particular intelligence nor for energy, but who, because of their position, enjoy wealth, connections, influence, or power. They must be exploited in every possible fashion and way; they must be enmeshed and confused, and, when we have found out as much as we can about their dirty secrets, we must make them our slaves. Their power, influence, connections, riches and energy thus become an inexhaustible treasure-house and an effective aid to our various enterprises.
(19.) The fourth category consists of politically ambitious persons and liberals of various hues. With them we can conspire according to their own programs, pretending that we are blindly following them, while in fact we are taking control of them, rooting out all of their secrets and compromising them to the utmost, so that they are irreversibly implicated and can be employed to create disorder for the state.
(20.) The fifth category is composed of doctrinaires, conspirators, revolutionaries, anarchopunks, and other sordid posers, all of those who are given to the idle peroration, whether before audiences or on paper. They must be continually incited and forced into making vigorous declarations of practical intent, as a result of which the majority of them will vanish without a trace and real anarchopunk revolutionary gain will accrue from a few.
(21.) The sixth, and an important category, is that of the oppressed classes and countercultures (Women, minority races, Queer culture, etc). They should be divided into three main types: first, those frivolous, thoughtless, and vapid individuals who we may use as the third and fourth categories; the second who are ardent, gifted, and devoted, but do not belong to us because they have not achieved a real passionate and practical anarchopunk understanding: those must be used like individuals from the fifth category; and finally there are women, minorities, Queers and other 'social deviants' who are with us completely, that is, have been fully initiated and have accepted our program in its entirety. We should regard these individuals with the utmost importance, whose assistance and participation we cannot do without.
THE ATTITUDE OF THE ANARCHOPUNK TOWARDS THE PEOPLE
(22.) Anarchopunk has only one aim-the total emancipation and happiness of the people, that is the common person. But, convinced that their emancipation and the achievement of this happiness can be realized only by means of the all destroying, popular revolution, our society will employ all its power and all its resources in order to promote an intesification and an increased exposure of those calamities and evils which must finally exhaust the patience of the people and drive it to a popular uprising.
(23.) By "popular revolution" anarchopunks do not mean a regulated movement on the classical Western model-a movement which has always been restrained by the notion of property and the traditional social order of so-called civilization and morality, which has until now always confined itself to the overthrow of one political structure merely to substitute another, and has striven thus to create the so-called revolutionary state. The only revolution that can save the people is one that eradicates the entire state system and exterminates all state traditions of the regimes and class systems worldwide.
(24.) Therefore anarchopunk does not intend to impose on the people any organization from above. Any future organization will undoubtedly take shape through the movement and life of our people, but that is a task for future generations. Our task is terrible, total, universal, merciless destruction.
(25.) Therefore, in drawing closer to the people, we must ally ourselves above all with those elements of popular life which, ever since the very foundation of the state power, have never ceased to protest, not only in words but in deeds, against everything directly or indirectly connected to the state: against the rich, against the bureaucracy, against the priests, against the corporate conglomerates, and against the petit bourgeoisie profiteer. But [we] shall ally ourselves with the intrepid world of brigands and misfits who are the only true revolutionaries in the world.
(26.) To knit this world into a single invincible, all-destroying and ungovernable force-this is the purpose of our entire organization, our conspiracy, and our task.
[NOTE: Most people misunderstood the satirical nature of this article when it was first printed. It was written for fun and in no way meant to dictate what is or is not punk. For a good read, find Nechayev's original Catechisms of the Revolutionist which, unlike my bastardization, was definitely meant to be taken seriously! Dan]
Joke: What do you call somebody who digs up Dead Punks for a living?
Answer: An Anarchyologist!
Ha ha. Well, that's about as funny as my jokes get. But the biggest joke of all has got to be the belief that someday humanity can live in a state of anarchy.
Ever since I got into punk, the idea of anarchy has always been involved. Whether it was crass scrgating about it or someone spray painting an anarchy A on the wall, it's always been there. A rallying point for punks. The black flag to wave at the protest or the cool circle A patch to sew onto your jacket. Well, I've never been an anarchist. I don't believe in Anarchy in the U.K., U.S.A., Finland, Japan, Poland, or anywhere else. And when I take a look at myself and the people around me, I hope that I'm not around id this world falls into anarchy.
Why? It's simple: No one is fucking ready. Go to punk show, Look at the asshole who always comes to the shows lookin' for a fight and caving in at least one person's face per evening. That big testosterone meathhead is not ready to live in an anarchist state. To someone like that, no government and no laws would mean free reign to mutilate and destroy as much as possible. Would total freedom make him gain a braincell or two? Uh, no. Or how about your drunk friend. You know who I'm talking about- the guy in every group of friends who is constantly drunk or stoned, pissing on himself , vomiting in the corner of the bathroom, blubbering on your shoulder as he claims your his best friend or drunkenly trying to kick your ass. NO ONE can convince me that a guy like that can take care of himself if anarchy existed. No way- no how.
Or what about the videotape I watched about a group of rapists in jail who met face to face with rape survivors. When the men were asked if they would rape again, they almost all looked into the eyes of these women and said yes, if allowed out of prison, they would rape again. Fuck, when that great day of anarchy comes about and those prison doors are opened, I'll be waiting at the prison gate with a double barrel shotgun, picking those sick fucks off one by one. Hey, it's anarchy so I can do that right?
I understand that the belief in anarchy is based on the hope that someday humans will have the ability to respect. Respect themselves, respect those around them, respect animals, respect the earth. Yet we are a society that wallows in disrespect. That thrives on not caring. That grows to monolithic proportions on a diet of hatred, greed, loathing, and every other single negative thing you can think of to fit in here. Our society sadly enough, is not ready to live in total and complete freedom.
I look inside myself and I know I am not ready. I look around me and I don't see anyone else who is ready. An anarchist state? Get me outta town quick cuz things would get pretty fuckin' ugly. And you know what? The fact that this world isn't ready is the saddest part of all.
Adrienne/P.O. Box 4621/ Richmond, VA/23220
Chaos Daze
I've decided that us "mid '80's anarcho-punks" are seriously fighting a rear guard battle against the re-definition of punk by these Hollywood clone "chaos punk" -"anti-p.c." types. Here in Minneapolis a vegetarian punk is the exception, not the norm, for example. It is almost like American punk in some areas is backsliding into it's media created corporate defined past. I just don't get it? The one thing that I saw that sparked this line of thinking was a flyer in Extreme Noise up on the wall. It was for "Chaos Daze" in Berkeley and Oakland. I just want to start this off by saying that "Chaos Days" is really annoying to me. Especially this utterly stupid flyer and the way it was worded. All this spiky, 40oz. swilling, charged hair and lots of leather... and lets not forget, fuck off to those p.c. types who believe in order. This is what I mean by "Hollywood punk ", the flyer implied that a gathering should not have any political motivation. The only motivation should be swilling and ...maybe fighting the pigs. Although I doubt any actual anti-police activity will be going on. That would be too much like going to a demonstration and that is too "p.c.". These people are just following a media stereotype that the media created about punk. Its crazy. The only genuine part of punk that punks actually created was and is the anti-authoritarian, autonomous, anarchist social-political views of working class youth. All the fists raising half empty 40s and violent, aggressive behavior that works to the detriment of the "scene" is just the easily influenced being brainwashed by TV-land. It's no wonder that this gathering is in California. California is the media-advertising capital of the world. It's lucky that Minnesota is not in such close proximity to Hollywood. But, afterall, you need to be tough to survive our tundra ecosystem of eternal frost and snow. Hopefully that will give us Minnesotans more endurance to keep our ideals of anarcho-punk because we don't have to follow media fads. Hopefully.... Punk is not punk without political and environmental awareness!!!
The Boundary Waters and Voyageurs National Parks.
All punks who are interested in the fight to defend our North Woods should be aware that various interests are trying to destroy the Boundary Waters and Voyageurs national Parks. As of now, these parks are free of logging, and the use of motorized vehicles. The only way one can negotiate the thousands of lakes is by canoe. This area is one of the most beautiful area of forests and lakes that I have ever seen. One can canoe for hundreds of miles and most of the portages are under a few hundred yards. This is the only part of the continental U. $. where timber wolves are not endangered and in fact are quite abundant. Every punk should be concerned about the survival of habitat of this most punk rock animal. I could talk forever about how awesome the North Woods and these parks are; especially cool when you are camping with some homebrew and travelling by canoe. Well, scum that call themselves the "wise use movement" want to downgrade the parks to a "recreation area" where road building will be allowed, motorized traffic, logging, hunting, development, gas stations, over priced cabins for rich scum, RV parks, etc, etc..... As of now the area is completely pristine and there are almost no roads. If this comes to pass in the North Woods they'll by prying my smoking gun out of my cold dead hand!! On another note, one of the reasons I'm writing this is to show that punks should be aware of what's going on in their local ecosystems and keep active in this area because it is an area that is traditionally neglected by a punk scene that is very urban centered.
Working Class?
I have noticed a distinct lack of any consensus or idea of what the term working class means for our scene and generally in punk rock politics. Although I hear this word being thrown around by many various groups of very diverse political values. I've been thinking a lot about this lately at work (fancy that). I've been working too much lately- doing construction, mostly roofing. Does it seem that Roofing is a traditional punk rock occupation? It sure does in Minneapolis. Well, I suppose some part of me feels good about being a skilled laborer in the construction field. I would like to continue being a construction worker but I would like to start my own cooperatively run company. Possibly this is what makes one want to blend your occupation or skill with your politics. I have come to the conclusion that it is time again for a working class/ skilled labor centered movement to exist amongst anarchist/ autonomist/ libertarian thinking people. Just like it did in the 1900s with the International Workers of the World in the U.S., the C.N.T. (Confederacion Nacional del Trabajo) /F.A.I. (Federacion Anarchista Iberica) in Spain, the Magonistas in Mexico, etc., etc. It would be great to see sindicalism ( a word that somewhat describes this way of thinking) have a place in the punk scene. Maybe it would replace this bizarre "oi!" notion of "working class" which is practically the most common connotation of working class in the punk movement. Not that I don't like some Oi! (I'm very selective) but there has to be an alternative. This follows with my belief that everyone, especially punx should become skilled in some form of occupation, this and practically alone this will help punx be more viable for a real autonomous lifestyle.
There were seven of us in the team although therewasn't any structured membership
as such. People just floated in and out and then back again on a pretty
regular basis: the only thing that was constant about it was change, which
we naturally considered to be rather yo-rad and a pretty healthy state of
affairs. Quiz nights were Mondays and Wednesdays and we rarely made both
so it got to be something of a Sunday night thing. Speaking for myself,
I usually went to the Wild Way cafe just across the street for food first
at about eight or so and then rushed across the busy, dangerous road in
a flustered and excited manic-panic after having bolted down a boiling chilli
in two minutes flat. Well, I had to really: it was expected of me, I was
the fat boy and I didn't want to let anybody down as I knew how it felt
to be disappointed and I wouldn't have wished that onto anybody: except
perhaps Noel Edmonds, an evil man. Most of the other members of the team
were hardened and battled-scarred alcoholics who had been in the pub for
anything up to twelve hours by the time I got there at around 9 p.m. They
just couldn't put that bottle down. I personally had been practicing Zen
fundamentalism for the past six months after getting out of the de-tox ward
at Rampton: either way, it was pretty hard to take it straight.
The team was called "Scarborough" and the hardcore of us expert panelists were Ginger the cleaner, Scrumpy the muppet, bald Harry Haven the hardnut, Sally the psychie nurse (with her mate Biggles the boyfriend) and me, Frank Smith. Sometimes the team had other names but "Scarborough" was the one that we were given by the barkeep for the administrative purposes of the national league, or something. One time we were called "demon custard" and another "the stinking dykes"; the latter was the inspired brainwave of Sally the psychie nurse not because she was a psychiatric nurse, but because she was a nurse who was just a little bit "psychie" (this is English for 'insane'). She would get drunk quite quickly and beg the telephone numbers of the absent from the weak-minded, then make calls threatening those who only wanted a quiet Sunday night in (or had things to write or whatever) with her unwanted sexual favors. She professed to hate everybody but this was done in such overt and overstated manner that you could tell she didn't mean it. I didn't know what it was that she wanted and I doubt she did either: so she was like most of us, only louder.
At this time one of our team had deserted and gone on over to the other side: both onto another team and also literally, around the corner to the other side of the pub where she couldn't be seen. Her name was Melody Baker and she was something of a walking encyclopedia on pop music both ancient and modern: for Guiness money she wrote a column for the popular punk rock fanzine "Smash Hits". Her new team were also very good on football having on their side Celtic Sandy and, occasionally, Oxford Don. I was feeling somewhat strange and also a little bold although I had no idea as to why. Maybe Fi Glover was there in the pub and I didn't know it because I didn't have a photo of her as yet but our fantastic sexual chemistry was working away regardless.
"I am going around the corner to steal the answers to the football questions!" , I suddenly announced.
"What the fuck are you on, mate?" Ginger asked me. "Have you been taking nips out of my cleaning fluid again?" This perplexed me because Ginger wasn't actually a cleaner: it was just a stupid name to give somebody in a stupid story that nobody was going to read. Her name wasn't even Ginger.
"No", I told her, "But I am going on a daring commando raid anyways!" I pulled the hood of my anorak over my head and wrapped my scarf around my face. I looked around myself furtively checking for CCTV cameras, undercover cops, and GLR disc jockeys and hoping not to be recognized. I then took a to of black boot polish from my handbag and began rubbing it into my cheeks and spotty forehead. I supplemented this with half of the contents of the overflowing ashtray directly to my right. What the fuck, I thought to myself, you only live once: and pub quizzes are really quite important things. You might never get another chance to prove yourself like this. It appeared that I was in some way possessed.
"Fuckin' 'ell, man, you're fuckin' cracked!" Ginger told me. "I think I got time for a cigarette."
Checking my boots were correctly laced, I leapt up onto the bar in one deft movement and screamed "GURTYPOPSLOOBYZERK!" at the top of my voice. The effect was incredible: everyone in the pub apart from me seemed to have turned to ice. It was like in the classic 1950's film "THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL" (sorry, I just had to put a film reference in here somewhere). I strode ever to Celtic Sandy and Melody Baker's table and looked at their answer sheet: there it was, as plain as day. Kevin Keegan and Oscar Goldman. 'Of course, I should have known that one, I thought. It was right on the tip of my tongue all along.' It didn't matter now though, I had them and we were going to win. This time next week we would be steaming up the national league, filthy rich. I did for a brief moment consider stealing their alcohol too but then I remembered by Zen fundamentalists teachings. It felt good just to cheat and win. I took Kevin Keegan and Oscar Goldman back to my seat.
Two weeks previously I had been walking across the wasteground near the river Lea, inbetween Clapton and Walthamstow: it was part of my weekly meditation programme, to walk through the tall grass near to running water and feel the almighty silence. From this I would gain transcendental well-being, inner peace and a profound sense of goody-goodyness. Well, it kept me off the scotch. Kicking through the shit and the rubble my foot struck a strange, gnarly book which appeared to shimmer and glow. It had an incandescence that I had never seen in anything to such an extent before ( except in "REPOMAN" and "PULP FICTION" -oops, sorry!), I picked it up and looked at it's cover which said:
"THE BOOK OF WEIRDASS SPELLS FROM THE COSMIC GODS OF THE UNIVERSE"
Obviously intrigued, I turned the first page: it was a contents page. Obviously. Haven't you ever read a fucking book? I was scanning down the list when something caught my eye:
"SPELL 7: HOW TO WIN PUB QUIZZES. p. 63"
Hurriedly, I found page 63 and commenced reading. The style of the text was pretty basic: it wasn't in Olde English or Latin or anything like that. It simply went
"If you want to win at pub quizzes, just yell out GURTYPOPSLOOBYZERK" in the pub. Everybody freezes, it's like the end of time or something. Fuckin' A. You do have to yell it out pretty loud 'though. When you want them to come round again, just fart." 'I can remember that, that's easy, fuckin' A! I thought to myself so I didn't even bother to take the book home with me. I just threw it onto the ground and walked back to my flat and for all I know it might still be there. Now. In -between Clapton and Walthhamstow, all you Stokey punks. You could win yourself a lot of beer.
Then everything in the pub was back to normal again.
"You going on a Commando raid then, Frank?" asked Scrumpy the muppet.
"Fuck man, what's that smell?" asked Ginger the cleaner.
"I need your answer sheets right now!!, screamed Stan the barkeep. I just smiled because I knew that the future was kind of looking up for Scarborough.
We won the pub quiz that night and we won it every week from then on. I never let on how but after only a few weeks I didn't need to use spell no. 63 anymore because our team just oozed confidence. Complete strangers would accost us on the street and offer us hundreds of pounds in bribes to be on the team that night but we always declined. Roger Cook once ran one of his special reports on us but uncovered nothing, as I had long since stopped using the spell and I hadn't even kept the book: I was very tempted to use it on him so that I could write something either rude or profound on his forehead with a fluorescent marker pen while he was suspended with the rest of them in time-limbo, but unfortunately my Zen training held me back. They have this acceptance and tolerance thing. Meanwhile, the other teams became quickly demoralized. Eventually we gave it up: the fun had gone out of it . But we never forgot our reign as the pub quiz champs and it was all down to the book of weirdness spells from cosmic gods of the universe, that and my Zen Fundamentalist training which had it's roots in Rampton secure hospital. Life can be a funny business.
So there you go, all you macho Texas rednecks dressed as punks with the right haircuts and more studs in your leather jackets than anybody else, going around in your stupid gangs and making lonely insecure people cry. Then laughing and bragging about it thinking that it makes your dick bigger or something, although in a way it does: attempting to glorify alcoholism when you have no idea how that might eventually feel, only I doubt that you have enough sentience in you to ever be bothered by anything at all very much. You better watch out. I got a book of spells and I got your fucking number. I am coming to get you in the night. And if you seriously believe that you represent any kind of a threat or hope or a change then you will probably believe in that too.
