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Are We Too Mainstream?

Contributed by Someone. Posted by Aubin on Thursday, June 22, 2000 at 3:26 PM (EDT)

Every once in awhile, I get an e-mail or two, from some self-described hardcore punk guy, who tells me that I'm too mainstream, for covering Epitaph, Fat and whatever else. I just wanted to answer these in this place instead of writing a million e-mails. 95% of this site is built on what you guys send me. If people send me news about Fat or Epitaph, or some band no one except you has heard of, I'll post it. That's how it works. So don't put all the responsibility for maintaining 'punkness' on me. I like it all, from NOFX, to Every Time I Die to Jawbreaker. I don't care. I love the music, I love the lifestyle, and I don't discriminate. So make this site the way you want. Click that Add Story button and submit some news.

Rants! (1 comment)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

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Evilive (June 22, 2000)

Punk has too many rules. Punk was supposed to be an alternative to what was out there. The dinosaur rock of the 70's was killing music. Punk had no rules. It is small minded people that have placed so many damn limitations on what you can or can't like. Do I feel weird when a band I have listened to for years gets a big single? Hell yeah I feel weird, but I don't automatically dislike the band. Who in the hell wants their favorite band to starve and work shitty jobs all their life just to be able to give us their music. What is wrong with being able to afford to eat regularly? I have played in bands for years and lived in houses with 6 or 7 people. I know what the fuck it's like to struggle to pay rent, book shows, eat, take a shower. Most of the people I hear bitching have no idea. Punk rock isn't about being poor or secluding yourself from t

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Evilive (June 22, 2000)

Actually I have put 17 years into punk rock. Wanted to clarify that.

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M (June 22, 2000)

Its nice to see that there are some intelligent people that visit this site. You rock, man!

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trendy poseur girl :) (June 22, 2000)

Amen, he just said it all. The three words

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trendy girl (June 23, 2000)

I'm beginning to take it personally that this thing always cuts me off...anyway, just wanted to say that you were right on and made a great statement. I wish some people would stop turning being a punk fan into a contest of trying to prove who's more punk than whoever else. I try to have a sense of humor about it (hence e-mail address), but it just gets irritating when people attack each other's taste so much.

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SkA (June 23, 2000)

You know the saying, Why don't you say anything about this band, is basicly just saying this but in a different way "why are you doing this to me!"

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P (June 23, 2000)

this "I am more punk than you" shit is really annoying and sadly it fills ezines, mailing lists, message boards. Stop with it...i don't give a shit! And punk rock at the beginning wasn't at all about undergound or anything it was just about rock n'roll. I don't think the ramone s or the pistols where playing only in squats and recording for independent labels...they made videos and promoted their stuff. So, as long as the bands keep the attitude and don't become fuckin rockstars, and as long as they don't change their music to pop I am happy that they earn money. that s why i still like bands such rancid and nofx. And well...after 20 years in the pounk scene you have the right to try to become a rockstar. so i am not angry with bad religion. bye

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Evilive (June 23, 2000)

I am glad to see a few people agree with me. Feel free to check out the site for my radio show.

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evilive (June 23, 2000)

Didn't I just say all of this? I only said I had been around for a long time because I get a little tired of rants from 15 year old kids that have no clue what it like to live out of mom and dads house. I had no "More punk than you" attitude. Take a bit more time to read before you attack. You basically repeated what I said. So we agree, calm down.

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Mike (August 27, 2000)

The real problem about complaining about corporate punk comes in when you're just complaining about punk being corporate. What you should be saying is that the real problems are cause by the corporations who are exploiting their employees and resources so they can make a profit for themselves. Apply this to any corporation. For Nike it's denying workers the right to form unions, chaining them to their working quarters and many other things. For Epitaph it's getting their bands on MTV, lots of other press, etc etc and it just happens to be punk that they're using as their means for the cash. Sure you realize punk is about being free and living the way you want to, but so is life -- those workers in Indonesia employed by Nike or the animals being tested on by Proctor & Gamble are the same. Who denies them the right to be free? The corporations. Bands like Pennywise,

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Someone (June 12, 2001)

I agree with you on most parts of your rant. Even punks have to put food on the table, and lables like epitaph and fat are a great way for bands to do that. But at the same time, we should still be somewhat seperate from the majority of mainstream culture. Becase it seems like whenever a band goes on a major lable, they seem to change their style and there music. No matter how "punk" the band was before. Just look at the offspring.