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Punk Revolution!: An Oral History of Punk Rock Politics and Activism
The most wide-ranging and provocative look at punk rock as a social change movement told through firsthand accounts Punk rock has been on the front lines of activism since exploding on the scene in the 1970s. Punk Revolution! is a reflection on this cultural movement over the past 45 years, told through firsthand accounts of hundreds of musicians and activists. John Malkin brings together a wide cast of characters that include major punk and postpunk musicians (members of The Ramones, Bad Religion, Crass, Dead Kennedys, Patti Smith’s band, Gang of Four, Sex Pistols, Iggy & the Stooges, Talking Heads, The Slits, and more), important figures influenced by the punk movement (Noam Chomsky, Kalle Lasn, Keith McHenry, Marjane Satrapi, Laurie Anderson, and Kenneth Jarecke), and underground punk voices. These insightful, radical, and often funny conversations travel through rebellions against Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin, to punk activism that has taken on nuclear war, neoliberalism, modern warfare, patriarchy, white supremacy, the police, settler colonialism, the climate crisis, and more. The result is a fresh and unique, global history of punk throughout the ages.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published June 15, 2023
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185 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 22, 2023
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Rowman & Littlefield for an advance copy of this history on the intersection where political and activism meets punk music and helping others.
Before I started working at the music store I didn't know much punk music. My hometown could have been the town in Footloose only set in New England. There was some metal, but is was corporate metal. There might have been punks, but they kept it hidden. When I started in music I have to admit I wondered who bought all this weird stuff. Covers that would have failed my graphic class in school, lots of abbreviations in names, lots of weird stuff. But I loved the customers, well with a few exceptions. Most of the people who bought punk, even the ones who started cause it was trendy at the time were really great people. Loved to talk shows, music, cats for quite a few of them. I found most punks would be the first to offer snacks, a couch, cash if they had it, or lend an ear it it would help. And most of them were involved in something. They'd come in with concert posters, funding for skate parks, dog and cat charities, women's rights, and other things. And that is punk music. People might call it nasty, rude, loud and stupid, but what punk does it reflects the times and the people in control, and with no control. That's why so many people not only hate it but fear it. Punk Revolution!: An Oral History of Punk Rock Politics and Activism by John Malkin is a look at punk and its ties to the community, and the actions that many take for change, and for the betterment of everyone.
The book is set up not chronologically but more by themes which is than most oral histories, but really fits the message. This has been a work in progress for almost twenty years, and it is interesting to see the many who say that they don't vote, because all the parties are the same, to starting to realize that yes there is a difference. Some of the analysis of the way government is trending and how rights are eroding is interesting to see, especially since some of these interviews are again over twenty years old. Much more prescient than most of the major newspapers Op-Eds have ever been. There a lot of interviews, over 200 people, stretching from punk legends to modern performers, and others like William Gibson the science fiction writer.
What comes off the pages most is that these people are serious about not only music, but about change and helping people. One can really see growth in a lot of musicians being interviewed as things become darker and darker, from not caring about the future, to suddenly finding themselves in a future that is darker than they ever sang about. Some still come off as jerks, but that is par for the course. John Malkin is a very good interviewer and a good writer, filling in a lot of spots and explaining more about what certain organizations do, or in some cases did. This is one of the more interesting music books that I have read in a long time, because the music is just a background for the what these punk activist and advocates are trying to do. Without the music, they never would have started on this path, many might not even be here to be interviewed or discussed.
The power of music comes off these pages. One wants to both listen to music, and start doing something. And there is a lot to do. A really interesting and powerful book. Something for music historians and punk fans. Great for people who have just discovered punk music, and are starting to realize that the world isn't as great as they been lied to about. I can't wait for more books from John Malkin.
Before I started working at the music store I didn't know much punk music. My hometown could have been the town in Footloose only set in New England. There was some metal, but is was corporate metal. There might have been punks, but they kept it hidden. When I started in music I have to admit I wondered who bought all this weird stuff. Covers that would have failed my graphic class in school, lots of abbreviations in names, lots of weird stuff. But I loved the customers, well with a few exceptions. Most of the people who bought punk, even the ones who started cause it was trendy at the time were really great people. Loved to talk shows, music, cats for quite a few of them. I found most punks would be the first to offer snacks, a couch, cash if they had it, or lend an ear it it would help. And most of them were involved in something. They'd come in with concert posters, funding for skate parks, dog and cat charities, women's rights, and other things. And that is punk music. People might call it nasty, rude, loud and stupid, but what punk does it reflects the times and the people in control, and with no control. That's why so many people not only hate it but fear it. Punk Revolution!: An Oral History of Punk Rock Politics and Activism by John Malkin is a look at punk and its ties to the community, and the actions that many take for change, and for the betterment of everyone.
The book is set up not chronologically but more by themes which is than most oral histories, but really fits the message. This has been a work in progress for almost twenty years, and it is interesting to see the many who say that they don't vote, because all the parties are the same, to starting to realize that yes there is a difference. Some of the analysis of the way government is trending and how rights are eroding is interesting to see, especially since some of these interviews are again over twenty years old. Much more prescient than most of the major newspapers Op-Eds have ever been. There a lot of interviews, over 200 people, stretching from punk legends to modern performers, and others like William Gibson the science fiction writer.
What comes off the pages most is that these people are serious about not only music, but about change and helping people. One can really see growth in a lot of musicians being interviewed as things become darker and darker, from not caring about the future, to suddenly finding themselves in a future that is darker than they ever sang about. Some still come off as jerks, but that is par for the course. John Malkin is a very good interviewer and a good writer, filling in a lot of spots and explaining more about what certain organizations do, or in some cases did. This is one of the more interesting music books that I have read in a long time, because the music is just a background for the what these punk activist and advocates are trying to do. Without the music, they never would have started on this path, many might not even be here to be interviewed or discussed.
The power of music comes off these pages. One wants to both listen to music, and start doing something. And there is a lot to do. A really interesting and powerful book. Something for music historians and punk fans. Great for people who have just discovered punk music, and are starting to realize that the world isn't as great as they been lied to about. I can't wait for more books from John Malkin.
May 19, 2023
Punk Revolution! by John Malkin is an intriguing deep dive into punk as social commentary and protest, which means addressing everything from the sound of the music and the lyrics to the specific influences flowing into and out of the genre.
The book is largely comprised of interviews, but offered to the reader in a far more comprehensible manner than just one after another. Since this is about the big picture(s) it is arranged more thematically with related quotes and discussions being brought together. This makes it almost like a conversation among all of these artists, with Malkin serving as moderator and, for the most part, context provider.
I was not really deep into the punk scene, I was the guy avoiding the chaos in the center of the floor but hanging on every note and word. The first band that really brought me into that area was Hüsker Dü, though Dead Kennedys was also an early band, and I went to almost any Jello Biafra appearance, speaking or musical, I could make it to. I guess you could say I was more someone who appreciated what many of the bands were doing rather than being a full-fledged fan of the genre. That said, when I was heading out to protest or march, it was often punk I was listening to.
All of that personal info above is to shed light on what I most like about this book: it is as much about appreciating what was being said as getting into the music. While there can certainly be arguments made about how punk was domesticated and taken mainstream, none of those arguments can, even among their solid points, say that it was always the artists taking it mainstream but the industry neutering (or trying to) the anger in order to make it palatable for the suburban (though many artists were from there, look at Bad Religion) listeners.
Anyway, this is essential reading for anyone with any interest in Punk, whether the music or the message(s). If you never really listened to punk but maybe someone hinted that you were punk, and they meant it as a compliment, you might want to read this to understand just how high that praise is.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
The book is largely comprised of interviews, but offered to the reader in a far more comprehensible manner than just one after another. Since this is about the big picture(s) it is arranged more thematically with related quotes and discussions being brought together. This makes it almost like a conversation among all of these artists, with Malkin serving as moderator and, for the most part, context provider.
I was not really deep into the punk scene, I was the guy avoiding the chaos in the center of the floor but hanging on every note and word. The first band that really brought me into that area was Hüsker Dü, though Dead Kennedys was also an early band, and I went to almost any Jello Biafra appearance, speaking or musical, I could make it to. I guess you could say I was more someone who appreciated what many of the bands were doing rather than being a full-fledged fan of the genre. That said, when I was heading out to protest or march, it was often punk I was listening to.
All of that personal info above is to shed light on what I most like about this book: it is as much about appreciating what was being said as getting into the music. While there can certainly be arguments made about how punk was domesticated and taken mainstream, none of those arguments can, even among their solid points, say that it was always the artists taking it mainstream but the industry neutering (or trying to) the anger in order to make it palatable for the suburban (though many artists were from there, look at Bad Religion) listeners.
Anyway, this is essential reading for anyone with any interest in Punk, whether the music or the message(s). If you never really listened to punk but maybe someone hinted that you were punk, and they meant it as a compliment, you might want to read this to understand just how high that praise is.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
May 12, 2023
Punk Revolution!: An Oral History of Punk Rock Politics and Activism will be published on June 15, 2023. Rowman and Littlefield provided an early galley for review.
Cards on the table: I was never very rebellious, and, thus, punk was only something I knew from a distance - a safe distance. Thanks to my older brother, I got to know and love the music of the Ramones, the Sex Pistols and the Clash (among others). Even as I got older, I made sure to sample many more bands in the genre. Some I like a lot; some I could not get into at all. And that's okay. What drew me to this book is wanting to know and understand punk even more.
Malkin's book was twenty years in the making. With over 250 interviews, he not only had material for this book but also two more coming down the road in the future. That tells me that a lot of research and care went into this narrative. As a librarian, I always applaud those that do their homework properly.
With so much material, Malkin weaves talking points together on common themes and ideas. That can have an interesting effect. Sometimes he'll have quotes from one person at one time followed by another at another time. He does make sure to put in notes of time so the context of the quotes can be made. That can make for a bit of a chaotic reading experience though. Somehow, it actually worked for me when I read it. Mileage might vary.
Overall, I got a lot out of this book. It showed the many facets of punk - so many more than I had even considered before. It also gave many examples of performers using their art and their platforms as activists. It was a good mix between performers I knew and performers I was just discovering thanks to this book.
Cards on the table: I was never very rebellious, and, thus, punk was only something I knew from a distance - a safe distance. Thanks to my older brother, I got to know and love the music of the Ramones, the Sex Pistols and the Clash (among others). Even as I got older, I made sure to sample many more bands in the genre. Some I like a lot; some I could not get into at all. And that's okay. What drew me to this book is wanting to know and understand punk even more.
Malkin's book was twenty years in the making. With over 250 interviews, he not only had material for this book but also two more coming down the road in the future. That tells me that a lot of research and care went into this narrative. As a librarian, I always applaud those that do their homework properly.
With so much material, Malkin weaves talking points together on common themes and ideas. That can have an interesting effect. Sometimes he'll have quotes from one person at one time followed by another at another time. He does make sure to put in notes of time so the context of the quotes can be made. That can make for a bit of a chaotic reading experience though. Somehow, it actually worked for me when I read it. Mileage might vary.
Overall, I got a lot out of this book. It showed the many facets of punk - so many more than I had even considered before. It also gave many examples of performers using their art and their platforms as activists. It was a good mix between performers I knew and performers I was just discovering thanks to this book.
July 18, 2023
I love a book where I learn a lot of new information and this is definitely that kind of book. My exposure to Punk has been really narrow in terms of the more "name-brand" bands from the 1970's and 1980's -- The Sex Pistols, The Dead Kennedy's, the Clash, etc.). This is an oral history so there are definitely quotes and interviews about or from members of these bands. But what I really loved is that the book is organized into themes that cover many facets of what punk music is and its impact on culture and social movements. From Pussy Riot to East Berlin to Indigenous people,, Latin punk, LGBTQ+, anti-war, anarchy, feminism, etc. The book asks questions about how revolutionary has punk rock been - did they influence momentum of events such as the taking down of the Berlin Wall, etc. Some of the fascinating tidbits include some of the views of people like Morrissey and Johnny Rotten today which can maybe be best described as reactionary and conservative. What really stunned me is that in the "No Child Left Behind" act in education, there was a little known provision dictating that public schools share student personal information to the military for recruiting purposes. I also had not known that Stewart Copeland's father was part of the founding of the CIA and part of overthrow of "anti-American" governments - of course, I don't consider the band the Police to be "punk" but his brother was a big music producer. This is a fascinating and meticulously researched oral history of punk and I recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Rowman & Littlefield for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley and Rowman & Littlefield for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.
July 31, 2025
I didn't read the whole book, just the chapters on Pansy Division (SF) and Positive Force (DC), both talking about scenes I knew. Came across this in the library, saw those two chapters in the TOC, and read them with interest. Don't feel the need to read the rest, but if you are interested in punk rock politics and activism, you'd probably want to read the whole thing.
I like oral history, and this author appears to have done some really great interviews. He's done a good job of pulling bits together, IMHO. But I can't help wishing for a narrative, rather than a narrative-in-excerpts -- which I recognize is not fair given the book is not trying to provide that. So I'm giving it 5 stars because I got what I expected, and I did appreciate what I got.
I like oral history, and this author appears to have done some really great interviews. He's done a good job of pulling bits together, IMHO. But I can't help wishing for a narrative, rather than a narrative-in-excerpts -- which I recognize is not fair given the book is not trying to provide that. So I'm giving it 5 stars because I got what I expected, and I did appreciate what I got.
February 3, 2024
Persevere past the first section (which is so scattershot in time and subject that it is hard to gain any information or even peruse coherently) and get to the sections with more coherent themes. The wide range of voices makes for a tapestry of thought regarding punk rock and its place as a revolutionary force (or not) in society. I just skipped the bullshit people (John Lydon, Copeland, etc) and stuck with folks who were interesting, but this is, overall, an incredible collection f interviews Malkin put together.
I would have liked to see more interviews with activists who weren't in bands and maybe some zine folks, but his focus was music, so there ya go.
RIP Klee Benally.
I would have liked to see more interviews with activists who weren't in bands and maybe some zine folks, but his focus was music, so there ya go.
RIP Klee Benally.
March 7, 2025
As someone who identifies with the punk and goth subculture, this was an interesting read. I learned a lot of information I wasn’t previously aware of and got exposed to new bands I’d definitely check out.
Punk IS political. It’s stated in so many different ways by various artists throughout the entirety of the book. My personal favorites being Jello Biafra, Steve Ignorant, and Tom Morello. To me they are the real deal when it comes to punk politics. I’d trust them running the government.
The only reason I’m not giving this 5 stars is because I felt that they included too much commentary from John Lydon. He is conservative which defeats the purpose of the lesson.
Punk IS political. It’s stated in so many different ways by various artists throughout the entirety of the book. My personal favorites being Jello Biafra, Steve Ignorant, and Tom Morello. To me they are the real deal when it comes to punk politics. I’d trust them running the government.
The only reason I’m not giving this 5 stars is because I felt that they included too much commentary from John Lydon. He is conservative which defeats the purpose of the lesson.
April 24, 2023
I really enjoy it. I always like reading about punk and it’s different aspects. I really would’ve liked if they would’ve had more women in the gender/feminism chapter. Also including trans women in that conversation would’ve been nice. I was hoping that Laura Jane Grace would’ve been interviewed. But overall it was a good read
June 16, 2023
Punk (and post punk) are and were highly politicized type of music. Starting with Sex Pistol to Gang of Four and Clash, Dead Kennedy and a number of groups they were all involved in activism and politics.
This is a good book that tells a lot about the people involved.
Well researched and informative.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This is a good book that tells a lot about the people involved.
Well researched and informative.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
August 10, 2023
I don’t typically lean towards non fiction but this book was very interesting. The history and everyone that was involved in this was very entertaining. If you like punk music, you’ll love reading this.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews