Riot Grrl is a feminist movement that originated from the Seattle underground music scene, that gained popularity in the 1990s. It incorporates the DIY ethos of punk and indie and was orginially created to provide a voice, support and community for females within those scenes. Fanzines have played an important role in the development of riot grrl (well obvisouly, considering there is actually a zine called "Riot Grrrl")

The Riot Grrl movement is believed to have started with the protests against the ruling against abortions and the Mount Pleasant race riots both of which happened in 1991.

Although the members of the riot grrl movement were involved in the punk scene they often felt left out - this is also another reason as to why the movement was started. As Kathleen Hanna. member Bikini Kill (which has a male member) which is considered to be one of the leading riot grrl bands and co-founder of the fanzine by the same title said ...

"I feel completely left out of the realm of everything that is so important to me. And I know that this is partly because punk rock is for and by boys mostly and partly because punk rock of this generation is coming of age in a time of mindless career-goal bands" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_Grrrl)

Another band that has influenced the riot grrl movement and that embodies its mentality is Bratmobile, they created the zine "girl Germs" and also contributed to "Riot Grrrl"

The International Pop Undreground Convention in August 1991, a function which celebrated the underground music scene, saw the transformation of the music industry begin - the bill for the first night was all female - girl power had begun.

Riot Grrl is focused on creating a community for women who appreciate the DIY mentality - they creaet their own music and zines and participate in political activism.

Although the movement was gaining international interest, mainly thanks to the mainstreams interest in the underground music from Seattle at the time, the movement remained pretty much independent - people still made their own zines, their own music with independent labels etc.

The riot grrl zines dealt with issues that primarily effect females - they provided a voice and a space for the articulation of concerns such as sexual abuse, anorexia and bulimia, stalking etc. Conventions, such as Lady Fest which is still active, were held for females to get together and discuss stuff.

You can access the riot grrl zines through wikipedia and the Riot Grrl Press.

This quote from Ann Magnuson pretty much sums up the importance that zines have had on not only the riot grrl movement but for the formation of idenity for females in general ...

"When I think of how much benefit my teenage self could have gained from the multitude of zines that have proliferated over the past decade, I weep for all the lost potential. Except for Joan of Arc and Anne Frank, the thoughts of teenage girls have rarely been taken seriously." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_Grrrl)

Like punk, the riot grrl movement also suffered from media attention and its misuse of the riot grrl term - the media labelled pretty much any band that feature some aspect of the riot grrl mentality as an example of the movement - this created disgust amongst those who were aware of the true ethos of the movement. The mis-representation by the media contributed to the decline of riot grrl - some people still live by it today and its ethos are still evident within the underground punk and indie music scene.

A Contemporary Zine

Absolute Punk

This site has a variety of features dedicated to punk eg interview sections, reviews, tour updates, etc. The section im interested in is the journal component and how it acts as a contemporary version of a zine in that it provides a space where people can write about anything that interest thems, bugs them or whatever - people are given the chance to become authors and express their feelings and share their views with anyone who wants to read about them, this is one of the key motivations behind zines. With it being an online publication, the users actually have the ability to contribute to other peoples entries - the end result being that a forum is developed and a cummunity is created between those who participate.

The journal thread "Music mends broken hearts" features an exhaustive amount of entries on a variety of topics. I thought it was interesting to see how Lawrence Grossberg's Affective Alliance theory was being put into practice by these people as they wrote about how music is what gets them through the day and that some songs hold a special place in their hearts because it signifies an important moment in their lives.

The site is interesting because you are given an insight into a variety of people's lives and minds - rather than just the editor which was the case with the traditional printed version of zines. Its amazing where new technology has taken us.

Punk Magazine

Punk Magazine

This is an electronic magazine dedicated to anything punk. I thought it was an interesting site that provided heaps of info.

I believe that the site acts as a zine in some ways because it creates a community for the users - the spatial barriers are broken and people can become a member of this community and find like-minded people who value punk music and its mentality.

The magazine features interviews with well known punk bands, photographs that havent been published by mainstream (their personal photos that fans have taken or photos that the writer has taken), reviews of new punk bands and their music, and comic strips. There is also a section for readers rants - where people can write in and get their letters published, this is a good way for new bands to get some attention and for people to voice their opinions on anything to do with punk. If the magazine was a true example of a zine it would have a more personal feel - it would involve self-storytelling and break down the barriers between the authors and the readers - instead the majority of the content is stuff that would feature in mainstream publications

If you dont want to actually subscribe and purchase the magazine you can still access interviews and letters on various topics.

There is also a links section where you can gain access to sites on vairous punk musicians and also to more material by the writers of the magazine.

There is also an online shop where you can purchase punk merchandise.

Here are some links from the site that you might find interesting...

The Ramones a site dedicated to the band

Blondie for info on one of the successful female punk musos

Punk Planet - an independent site that includes a forum, blogs, and a magazine

Cool Beans - an online magazine that incorporates elements of zines - one of their issues has a segment written by a renowned zine writer- this magazine reflects the self-storytelling aspect of zines.

Old Punks Web Zine - pretty self explanatory.

Hope people enjoy these sites - they have some interesting stuff on them.

Punk quiz

Hey guys,
i found this quiz on the net - its kinda silly but thought it was interesting. Go on and give it a go - see which original punk band you are.
http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=14360617125303321792

Punk Today

What is the public face of punk today?? You ask any 14 year old this question and the answer will be as follows: Simple Plan, Good Charlotte and My Chemical Romance etc

Many true punk fans would be disturbed at what is considered to be punk today - these bands do not reflect the punk mentality of rebellion, angst and a dislike of commercialism. Instead these so called punk bands produce songs that whine about how much they hate their girlfriend and how life sucks. These bands all look and sound the same ... why? Because their lyrics, image and sound are designed for maximum profit. Punk today is the result of mass media control - when the media believes something can be profitable it jumps onto it, creates a massive fuss and turns it into a product, the punk product is now a more 'society-friendly' package that is being beamed directly into the lounge-rooms of tweens thanks to the clever marketing of the media and the popular programme MTV.

Yes there are still some bands that produce music that reflects the true mentality of punk, eg Pennywise and NOFX, and some pop-punk bands do

maintain the punk attitude eg Green Day and Sum 41 but the problem is those bands that fail to capture the true essence of punk, the bands that are portrayed as being punk but in reality they are just a part of the "corporate sponsored version" (http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=14360617125303321792)

UK punk website

Hey guys check out this site - http://www.punk77.co.uk

This site is dedicated to the original punk movement in the UK from 1976-1979. It features information on a vast number of bands who were involved in the scene, it goes beyond the work of the sex pistols and The Clash and acknowledges all musicians who worked against the mainstream and had the courage to give it a go. The site also provides an account of the history of the US punk movement aswell.

You can sign up to the site and receive its monthly fanzine that features anything to do with punk, the publication includes interviews with musicians and fans, reviews of music, a section on myspace bands, and pretty much anything else that strikes the writers as being interesting.

The site also has a section dedicated to women and punk and discusses how punk enabled women to play an active role in the production of music. This section includes, pictures, interviews, news about bands, and information about the role women played.

There is also a forum on the site where users can discuss issues relating to the subculture, users can also review books, music, dvds etc. There is a section for advertising where users can actually advertise for fellow musicians or advertise their bands upcoming concerts.

This site not only provides information about the UK punk scene it also acts as a form of alternative media where users can be involved in the scene and can actually create their own fan base for their music - the site helps those artists who stay true to the punk mentality of DIY. The site keeps punk alive and also blurs the boundaries between nations - as its on the internet people from all over the world can gain access to it and become a member of this scene.

Just some thoughts

Ok so I've been thinking about what is considered punk today, I know that there a variety of punk subgenres eg hardcore, street punk etc but the punk im interested in, for this particular question, is what the media has constructed as punk to the youth of today - pop/rock punk.

The reason as to why I think pop/rock punk has become popular - It's pretty hard to be considered contraversial and to shock people these days, which are two elements that helped define the orginal punk movement of the 70s. There is now a space in the mainstream market for those bands that criticise society and provide an anti-authoritarian voice for those who often feel invisible within society. There will always be people who are discontent with society, so there will always be a space for those bands who are willing to voice their true feelings, its just that in today's society, its no longer shocking to have people swearing and openly criticising society in their songs. So, does the music have the same affect these days?

The Sex Pistols "God Save The Queen"

God save the queen
The fascist regime
They made you a moron
Potential H-bomb

God save the queen
She ain't no human being
There is no future
In England's dreaming

Don't be told what you wan
tDon't be told what you need
There's no future, no future,
No future for you

God save the queen
We mean it man
We love our queen
God saves

God save the queen
'Cause tourists are money
And our figurehead
Is not what she seems

Oh God save history
God save your mad parade
Oh Lord God have mercy
All crimes are paid

When there's no future
How can there be sin
We're the flowers in the dustbin
We're the poison in your human machine
We're the future, you're future

God save the queen
We mean it man
We love our queen
God saves

God save the queen
We mean it man
And there is no future
In England's dreaming

No future, no future,
No future for you
No future, no future,
No future for me

No future, no future,
No future for you
No future, no future
For you

Green Day's "American Idiot"

Don't want to be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new media
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue

Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along to the age of paranoia

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.

Don't want to be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information age of hysteria.
It's calling out to idiot America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.

Ok i know that it's only two examples but it will do for now, ill post some more lyrics and look at the voice they convey and how it reflects the punk mentality.

Now back to the above two songs ...
They both deal with social issues, the bands obviously have an angst about their countries current situation. It is this angst and anti-authority attitude, aswell as the actual sound of the music that makes the subculture - people identified with the raw/harsh music and the lyrics spoke to them because it voiced their concerns. The themes of the two songs reflect the different periods of the bands - "God Save the Queen" was an affective song because it was released during a conservative period (and a conservative event) The song voiced the band members concerns with their country. Whereas "American Idiot" reflects the 21st century and its infatuation with media and the effect its had on the nation and its people. Both songs succeeded in capturing the angst of their time.

Hmmm so what then can be said about the music of so called punk bands Good Charlotte and Simple Plan?? Does their music and attitude reflect the punk mentality, or are their songs more concerned with dating dramas and not pleasing Daddy rather than creating a revolutionised voice that is willing to critque its society?

About this Blog

This blog is about punk and its influence. This blog will explore how punk provides a voice for its fans and how it helps shape the identity of the subculture, the blog will also look at the impact that commercial success has had on the punk movement .... So go ahead and Get Punked.