Anarcho-punk
Anarcho-punk is a part of the
punk movement consisting of groups, bands and individuals promoting specifically
anarchist ideas. Not all punks identify with anarchism. However, anarchism plays a significant role in punk. Also, punk has had a significant influence on the expression of contemporary anarchism. Some exemplary bands of the genre include
Crass,
Conflict and
Subhumans. More modern influences can often be found in
crust punk.
A surge of popular interest in
anarchism occurred during the
1970s in the
UK following the birth of
punk rock, in particular the
situationist-influenced graphics of
Sex Pistols artist
Jamie Reid, and that band's first single,
Anarchy in the UK. However, while the early punk scene appropriated anarchist imagery mainly for its shock value, the band
Crass expounded serious anarchist and
pacifist ideas, and went on to become a notable influence within various late-twentieth century
protest movements.
Many anarcho-punks are supporters of issues such as
animal rights,
feminism, the
anti-war movement, the
anti-globalization movement, and many other social movements. Though
Crass espoused pacifism as a belief, this is not necessarily the case for all anarcho-punks. Though some anarcho-punks are pacifists and most are in favor of
direct action, others consider "violent" action appropriate and sometimes necessary within context. Many favour a diversity of tactics.
While there is certainly no leadership, it is difficult to imagine anarcho-punk existing without the influence of
Crass, although
Crass founder
Penny Rimbaud has stated that it is a label he dislikes. He feels that the anarcho-punks were actually representative of true punk, while the
Sex Pistols,
The Clash,
The Damned etc. were nothing more than 'music business puppets'.
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The circled 'A' symbol often associated with anarcho-punk. |
Many anarcho-punk bands, as well as
crust punk bands, especially at the local level of unsigned groups, have taken on what is known as a
DIY ethic: that is, Do It Yourself; indeed, a popular Anarcho-punk slogan reads "DIY not
EMI", a reference to a conscious rejection of the major record company of that name. Many anarcho-punk bands were showcased on the
Bullshit Detector series of LPs released by
Crass Records and
Resistance Productions Records between
1980 and
1994. There is an argument that despite promoting an
anti-capitalist ideology, these were commodities sold in the market place and thus were inherently contradictory. It is however difficult to see how such groups could otherwise make their music and ideas available, although some anarcho-punk performers were also a part of the
Cassette Culture scene. In this way an attempt was made to bypass the traditional recording and distribution routes, with material often being made available in exchange for "a blank tape plus self-addressed envelope". The anarcho-punk movement also had its own network of
fanzines (sometimes called
punk-zines) which disseminated news, ideas and
artwork from the scene. Again, these were usually very much 'DIY' affairs, tending to be produced in runs of hundreds (at most) rather than thousands (although there were exceptions, such as
Toxic Graffiti), printed on
photocopiers or
duplicator machines, and distributed by hand at punk shows.
Anarcho-punk has been highlighted as one of the social phenomena which took anarchism in the direction of '
identity politics' (or '
lifestylism'). Some argue that style became an essential ingredient of the movement, sometimes obscuring other factors, although others would reply that the performers who aligned themselves with anarcho-punk in fact embraced a wide diversity of approaches in both format and ideas. This would appear to be borne out by the range of artists and performers listed on the
anarcho-punk bands page. As well, it is often argued that the fashion was simply representative of the ethics associated with anarchism, such as anti-corporate, do-it-yourself beliefs.
*
crust punk*
ABC No Rio*
Anarchism in the arts*
Anarchist symbolism*
Anarcho-skinheads*
List of subcultures*
Mortarhate Records*
Punk*
Punk ideology*
List of anarcho-punk bands*
Photographic archive of anarcho-punk bands*
ROAD Collective Ontario Anarchist Resource
*
Profane Existence Making punk a threat again.
*
The punk band list Bands who have a punk spirit.
*
Development of punk and counterculture in a college town *
Giles Dauve's Letter on Animal Liberation from the Libertarian Communist Library Archive On Animal 'Liberation' and the connection (or lack there of) between Punk, Anarchism and Revolution.
*
SLC Punk! and the Finer Points of Anarchism*
A critical look at anarcho-punk Links to a series of articles and interviews on the subject.
