Eventually you have to grow up or face a lifetime of useless rebellion. That is the branch in the road everyone has to take, especially in the world of punk rock. It is a culture that is founded on rebellion, on not following the established rules and on individuality. The problem is that while it is a life unto itself, you still have to follow the same path everyone else does and unless you are somehow independently wealthy, you still have to make an income and pay the bills like everyone else. The real challenge is learning the difference between rebelling for the sheer sake of it which is a pointless dead end versus harnessing it to make it work for you. Not all of us can be rock stars, not everyone of us is going to be a famous artist or designer, so what are you going to do when reality knocks on your door?
Yes, it's fun to sit with your studded leather jacket outside the mall and make fun of the shoppers coming out with bags full of useless shit but that's what you do when you're 15 or 16. That's an exercise to massage your still fragile ego and convince yourself that you are on the right path (which you are) but doing that at 20 or 25 makes you a bigger loser than the thousands of sheep inside. Spray painting bathroom stalls or other destructive acts are expected of kids, that kind of shit gets you arrested when you're an adult.
One day you realize that while it is fun to get drunk and play music fast and loud, you still have a whole life in front of you that you have to get through somehow. Rebellion without a direction leads you nowhere and only hurts you in the long run. There's nothing cool about being the oldest cashier at McDonalds or detailing cars for the rest of your life because all of your cool tattoos, lack of education or criminal record disqualifies you from everything else. There are few worse feelings than knowing that everyone has gone on without you.
I so agree. Punk is not dead, it just grew up and got a fucking job.
ReplyDeleteI have a full time job, business casual clothes, and an apartment.
ReplyDeletePunk rock does for me what it always has. It provides an escape and an outlet. That is why I will never grow up or out of it. I'm in for life.
I met two old punk rock folks the other night at work. They were passing through with their kids and it was truly awesome to have their company for about an hour or so. Just because you get old doesn't mean the fire burns any less brightly. It's just that now instead of burning everything in sight, you learn to concentrate your flame.
ReplyDeleteIt might sound cliche, but as I have gotten older the ending of SLCpunk has made a lot more scene to me. Eventually you have to give up the mow hawk and blue hair because it is just not in you [me] anymore. Now punk is more of a mind state for me, but it did teach me to rage against the machine at such a young age and I truly believe that had a major impact on my life.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Ryan. It's not a fashion, it's a way of life.
ReplyDeleteexcellent post, Kiddush. Punk is a way of thinking and living in the world, which doesn't have to include a one way ticket to being a 65 year old pizza delivery guy. Of course, unless that's what you want to be.
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