From: wc8376@writer.yorku.ca (Theodore Wong)
Subject: Re: What is Hardcore????
Organization: Computer Assisted Writing Centre, York University, Toronto, Canada
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 06:23:28 GMT

In article <92314.145153ADB103@psuvm.psu.edu> ADB103@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
>Just what is this movement-can someone describe the basic musical-lyrical theme
>s--What bands are the originators of this style?? I really love Iggy and the St
>ooges.-Does this qualify--In high school I played in a band that did songs like
>;"Santa was a Nazi,""Auchiwitz is the Place To Be,""and "Rip Me a New Ass.""
>Does this sound like Hardcore??? or is this Punk or is there a difference??
>Thanx for any replies!EDB.

The underlying theme behind hardcore is neither musical nor lyrical;
it's ideological.  Within the context of the term 'hardcore' there are
so many different styles and statements but what unites them all is the
D.I.Y (Do It Yourself) ethic.  'Doing it yourself' means that bands
and individuals make their own music, put out their own records, 
promote their own shows, and create their own media (the fanzine).

Through this process, a *true* underground, alternative subculture is
created independent of corporate control.  By staying away from major 
labels, bands retain complete artistic freedom.  But, artistic freedom
is pointless if it isn't used intelligently so, most bands have some
form of social or political consciousness to their lyrics.

Yeah, Iggy and the Stooges were definitely a big influence in shaping
the direction of punk rock but I wouldn't exactly call them punk.
Punk started out with bands like the Clash, the Sex Pistols and the
Ramones; all of them being tools for money hungry record companies to
further their own ends.  After a few years, the companies finally
figured out that punk just didn't sell as well as they'd like which
was perfectly fine, because we don't need those fuckers.

Around 1981-82, the hardcore explosion started around the world.  In
the U.S. the pioneers were bands like Minor Threat and Black Flag.  In
Canada, they were the Subhumans and D.O.A.  Finland had Rattus and
Terveet Kadet; Italy had Wretched, Indigesti, and the godlike Raw
Power.  English bands were amongst the most influential like
Discharge, Crass, and Flux of Pink Indians.  Bands and scenes popped
up all over in the most unlikely places/countries.  The point is, 
hardcore was never restricted to the U.S. and England like a lot of 
people think.  Hardcore has always been and will always be a world-wide
phenomenon.  

No, your band is not what I would consider hardcore or punk.  That
kind of mindless shock value died with Sid Vicious and Darby Crash.  
Hardcore is an angry response to the shit that gets forced upon us by 
our parents, bosses, teachers, governments, etc. and it's our way of
fighting back against the system.  

As for the difference between punk and hardcore, I don't really think
there is one.  Most people now don't want to be associated with punk
rock because they think punk means 6 ft. high mohawks and being
drugged up and fucked up.  But, the Avengers were a punk band, Minor
Threat was a punk band and Born Against is a punk band.  Well, this is
sort of getting off topic.  Let me know what you people think of all
this.

I've ranted on for long enough.

Ted    wc8376@writer.yorku.ca