@rats_and_gods Said Well here is one quick response to that, no.
Now for the longer, bit more long winded response:
When it becomes free to record and press that music whether it is records, CDs, cassettes, 8-tracks, or whatever you listen to, then fine. You can have it for free. But when a band puts up hundreds or even thousands of their own dollars to put a record out (that will later be ripped to MP3 and downloaded by "punks" ), then you better expect a price (which usually isn't that expensive anyway) to be put on that record.
Also, just because a band sells their record doesn't mean they are doing it to make money and fill their pockets. Most bands will sell records to fund other projects within the band like tour, recording new records, pressing more records, replacing old equipment, etc. In your aspect, a band should not charge you anything to listen to their music, to come see them play, or wear one of their shirts, right? Well unfortunately it cost money to record records, to tour the country/world, and to print t-shirts. Those things are not free so where would bands get the money to do this? They wouldn't. So again, in your aspect, you would: 1. only listen to music while sitting at your computer (unless you have a CD burner or MP3 player which then you would be mobile), 2. never see a band live because not many punk bands have enough personal funds to pay for an entire world tour (that is unless you travel to go see them yourself), and 3. never have a t-shirt of a band you like (unless you knew how to silkscreen yourself [which surprisingly a lot of punks don't know how]).
Punk isn't dead. Just because you can't freeload all of your music or get into every gig without paying doesn't mean it's not punk and is commercialized. Usually when playing a gig, there is a band playing that just spent hundreds of dollars in gas to drive for 10 hours to play for my enjoyment. The least I can do is support them by paying $5.00 at the door or $10.00 for a record.
Sure, there are hundreds of s*** bands that claim to associate themselves with punk but there are also hundreds upon thousands of bands that actually are. Just because GREEN DAY or AVRIL LAVIEGN claim to be punk in the general media's or consumer's eyes doesn't mean that bands like MEANWHILE, RIISTETYT, or DISCLOSE aren't punk in a real punk community's eyes.
If you believe punk died in the 70's then it maybe because you "grew out of it" and quit being productive within the scene. Where you may remember those days now that you are 30 or 40, there are still punks out there older than that giving their all to something they truly believe in.
Anyway, sorry for the rant and enjoy the rest of your day.
Great Rant. I have no problem with a band charging for a concert or selling a CD. But if you are claiming to be PUNK and claiming the anit-establishment and anti-commercialism cause, then you should be making your music free on the internet as well.
Oct 25, 2007 @ 21:21:39
theres no punk scene here at all!
