{"id":9312,"date":"2011-09-21T15:52:15","date_gmt":"2011-09-21T19:52:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/?p=9312"},"modified":"2011-09-23T00:54:43","modified_gmt":"2011-09-23T04:54:43","slug":"pro-in-the-beginning-there-was-rhythm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/pro-in-the-beginning-there-was-rhythm\/","title":{"rendered":"PRO: In the Beginning There Was Rhythm"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Everyone has their decade and judging by recent RTH threads, the 1960s topped many people\u2019s lists for the Best Era of Rock<\/a>. And although I appreciate the music of the 1960s, a large part of my heart is saved for the ’80s. Much of this connection reflects my personal experiences growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, followed by the watershed experience of receiving my first copy of the Trouser Press Record Guide<\/em>. But as I\u2019ve become older, I continue to listen to and think about a lot of this music.<\/p>\n

So I offer this bridge to our fellow Townspersons who may sneer and consider the 1980s an era of ridiculous fashion and over-the-top musical groups. But it didn\u2019t necessarily start out that way. I paraphrase the mighty Simon Reynolds<\/strong> in his stellar history, Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978\u20131984<\/em>, that 1978\u2013<\/em>1982 rivaled the years 1963\u2013<\/em>1967 in the amount of amazing music, the spirit of adventure and idealism, and the way the music was connected to the social and political events of the era.<\/p>\n

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the Post Punk Years: <\/em><\/p>\n

But first, a few words about Punk music.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not really sure what it is. I\u2019ve sought a clear, concise definition and have become increasingly confused by the British and American music writers\u2019 examples. But for the purpose of my further discussion, I would like to offer these signposts of Punk: a stripped down sound, a return to the basics (of chord structure, of instruments, of Do It Yourself), a confrontational response to the world, and in the words of Reynolds, \u201ca destructive response to boredom.\u201d 1976 could be considered Punk’s Year Zero, and many writers point to the Sex Pistols<\/strong>\u2019 Manchester show of February of that year as particularly iconic. It inspired a slew of bands to make their own music. But it also encouraged other musicians to break out of the Punk mold and create their own forward-thinking music. As Johnny Rotten<\/strong> famously said, “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?” The man changed his name, his group, and his music. Post-Punk was born.<\/p>