2009 Reading #82: Our Band Could Be Your Life

[snurri]

Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
Books 41-50.
Books 51-60.
Books 61-70.
Books 71-80.
81. Elektra: Assassin by Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz.

82. Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes From the American Indie Underground 1981-1991 by Michael Azerrad. Another loaner from janradder. (I am a terrible book borrower, so I'm trying to get some of this stuff back to him.) Azerrad profiles thirteen bands that were alternative before "alternative" became a marketing category; some of these bands were hugely important for me (Dinosaur Jr, the Replacements), while others I know only by reputation (Beat Happening, Mission of Burma). This is, I think it's fair to say, something of a hagiography; much of the book is nakedly reverent, and even when talking about the foibles of various musicians and label runners it mostly has a tone of fond amusement. I can't say I minded, though. One thing that nagged at me throughout, though, was how many of these stories are boy's stories, and white boys specifically; granted, Azerrad has no control over the nature of indie rock or the timing of when punk broke, but it'd be nice to see someone profile the Runaways, Hole, Babes in Toyland, L7, Sleater-Kinney, etc. in a similar fashion. (Perhaps someone has and I'm not aware of it?) Despite that reservation, this is one hell of an inspiring book--the defiant trailblazing of Black Flag, the DIY ethics of the Minutemen and Fugazi, are humbling, since I feel like I still haven't figured out how to get most of my energy into my art. Punk rock, despite its anyone-can-do-it credo, is as prone to myth-making as the rest of rock 'n roll, and this (along with, say, Please Kill Me) is a sort of Prose Edda of the pantheon. Highly recommended for fans of the era and genre of music.

Comments

[bloodlossgirl.livejournal.com]

I'm working my way through this one, too, having already read "Please Kill Me". I was pretty impressed with the section about the Minutemen, so far. I'm not sure if there's a book about the girls of punk - I'll have to ask Dr. Nick about it. If any one knows, it's surely him.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

Please Kill Me is SUCH a great book. I think this one is not quite as good in some ways, but it's even more of a testament to making your art happen when no one else gives a shit about it.

[bloodlossgirl.livejournal.com]

Too right. You've hit the nail on the head.

P to tha S

[bloodlossgirl.livejournal.com]

My source says that the UK girl-punk bands like the Slits, Raincoats, & X-Ray Spex might be covered a little bit in the book "England's Dreaming", and possibly some in the Simon Reynolds book "The Sex Revolts", but agrees that there is a distinct lack in treatment of the US girl-punk bands like the Runaways. It would be interesting to see a book connecting punk & post-punk up with the riot-grrl stuff like L7 and Sleater-Kinney. A lot of the female bands of the early 80s were a little more on the New Wave side.

Re: P to tha S

[snurri.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recs; I will have to check out those books!