Fury's Hour: A (sort-of) Punk Manifesto

by Warren Kinsella

No-holds-barred political strategist Warren Kinsella’s colourful, no-holds-barred look at punk rock, and how it influenced him and millions of other kids to strive for nothing less than changing the world.

Playing bass for Calgary punk-rock quartet the Hot Nasties might seem a strange way for one of Canada’s top political strategists to have spent his formative years, but in Fury’s Hour — Warren Kinsella’s exploration of punk’s history and heroes, its factions, failures and triumphs — he shares his unique view into a subculture that has long encouraged people to think big about the world.

From early meetings with icons Joey Ramone and Joe Strummer, Kinsella has gone on to interview a who’s who of Sex Pistols Johnny Rotten and Glen Matlock, Fugazi’s Ian MacKaye, Billy Idol, DOA’s Joey “Shithead” Keithly, Bad Religion’s Brett Gurewitz, Blink 182, Good Charlotte and many more. Since he was a teenager, Kinsella has challenged his heroes to put into words the true value of the music. How, after decades of co-optation by the record industry, neo-Nazis and misdirected radicals, are new generations continuing what he calls punk’s “search for the real”?

In Fury’s Hour , with the iconoclasm and passion that have marked his career in politics, Warren Kinsella searches for the soul of a sound that invigorated the way he and millions of others have grown up — finding a way to turn anger into energy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Canada

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 16, 2005

Reviews

[Gabrielle (Reading Rampage) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am one of those really annoying people who will look at you straight in the eyes and say with complete seriousness: “Punk rock saved my life”. It gave me comfort (emotional and psychological), it gave me an outlet, it educated me on so many topics I wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise, it helped me develop critical thinking, a strong identity and sense of self. It made it OK that I was a complete misfit growing up, that I couldn’t fit in. It made it OK to be young and angry about the world. It made me feel less lonely because it meant other people out there felt as alienated and weird as I did. And the music was just so fucking good! I’m no longer very young, nor very angry, but exposure to the punk subculture played a huge part in me becoming the person I am today. And I listen to a whole bunch of different kinds of music now, but not a day goes by without some three-chord explosion in my headphones.

Warren Kinsella, for all of his quirks, gets that. OK, he is not always 100% accurate, he definitely has a case of hero-worship for some of the people he interviewed and he doesn’t hold punches about people that have been shitty to him (*cough* Johnny Rotten *cough*). But he put so much passion and heart into this weird little book: I can’t get mad at him. His “Fury’s Hour” is an informative, self-deprecating, opinionated essay about a music style, subculture and way of thinking that has clearly changed Kinsella’s life and way of looking at the world. When I read it the first time, it felt warm and fuzzy and familiar: I knew this guy. We were from the same planet.

The DIY ethic, punk as a philosophy, the somewhat horrifying mainstreaming of some elements of the culture, the co-opting of the movement by white-supremacists, women’s place in the scene, the political activism: Kinsella is all over the place in an attempt to give a comprehensive picture of a subculture that sought to reject easy definitions and boundaries. He wants the readers to understand that punk rock might not have changed the world, but that it changed enough people to be taken seriously.

I appreciate that Kinsella doesn’t try to white-wash (no pun intended) the punk scene’s less shiny aspects: it is a working-class white boys’ club that is not as inclusive as it claims to be. He calls bullshit when is interviewees lie to him. He rants about the stuff that drives him crazy, and occasionally comes off as a bit preachy. But if you are interested in the history of punk rock, this is a great place to start. It’s a fun, entertaining, educational and thought-provoking read by a slightly unhinged guy who just wants you to love punk as much as he does.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kinsella might be a brilliant commentator on canadian politics, and a fine political operative with his heart in the right place, but he really is a creepy weirdo when it comes to his tastes in music.

Imagine if Bill Moyers and Karl Rove and the Sex Pistols were the same guy, as some guy who was a bassist in the first punk rock band in Calgary.

Hot Nasties
Websites: No
Origin: Calgary, Alberta

Biography:

Formed in 1976 as the Social Blemishes, the Blemishes were a bunch of punks who discovered the soundtrack to their lives, punk rock, after hearing the Ramones’ first album. The Blemishes practiced their punkish sounds in the basement of former member Alan’s basement. They soon attracted attention, when in December 1977, the Blemishes opened for Foster Child at their local high school where they launched into a twisted demonic version of “Heart Break Hotel”. A half dozen teenage girls rushed the stage and the band was hooked. Over time the Blemishes changed their name to the Hot Nasties. Three of the Hot Nasties songs “I am a Confused Teenager”, “Secret of Immortaility” and “Invasion of the Tribbles” came out on Social Blemish Records (More Hits than Zits). In late 1980, the Hot Nasties issued an album length taped cassette collection of their songs. Their original 3 song EP was part of Smash the State Vol. 1. From Warren Kinsella: Things You Suspected You'd Regret When You Got Older, But Did Anyway, Part 397 Growing up in Calgary, Alberta, in the 1970s, Warren was (not entirely surprisingly) unlike many of peers. To him, a weekend spent smoking dope and listening to Led Zep on headphones was a wasted 48 hours. If he was going to irritate his teachers and like-minded authority figures, there had to be a better way.

Along with his pals, Ras Pierre Schenk, Alan "Flesh" Macdonald and assorted other miscreants who attended Bishop Carroll and Bishop Grandin high schools, Warren decided to form a rock band. It did not matter that neither Warren nor any of his pals couldnt play any musical instrument. What mattered was an unshakeable commitment to non-conformity (to wit, all were early members of something called the NCNA - the Non-Conformist News Agency). The Social Blemishes were born.

In and about 1976, Warren, Pierre, Alan and the other members of the Blems liked rough-sounding old stuff by the likes of the Who and the Kinks. In early 1977, Warren bought a copy of the first album by the Ramones, and the Blemishes were forever transformed by punk rock.

The Blemishes practiced their punkish sounds in Alan's basement in Southwest Calgary, bought a lot of late-night slurpees, and started to attract attention. On December 21, 1977, the Blemishes opened for Fosterchild at Bishop Carroll High School. When Alan launched into a twisted, demonic version of 'Heartbreak Hotel,' a half-dozen teenaged girls rushed the stage. The Blems were hooked: maybe they'd never get rich playing tunes like 'Invasion of the Tribbles,' but getting the odd groupie wasn't so bad.

In time, the Blemishes became the Hot Nasties. Warren (a.k.a. "Nuclear Age") was bassist and lead singer; Ras Pierre assumed the role of lead guitarist; Sane Wayne Ahern played rhythm method guitar; and Just Plain Tom Edwards kept the beat. Most of the songs were written by Warren and Pierre.

Three of those songs, 'I Am A Confused Teenager,' 'Secret of Immortality,' and 'Invasion of the Tribbles,' came out on the above Social Blemish Records (More Hits Than Zits) Extended Play single in 1980. The E.P. now sells for nearly $300 (U.S.!). Later, Alan's band, The Sturgeons, also put out a single on Social Blemish. In late 1980, the Hot Nasties issued an album-length taped collection of their songs. Some were later covered, or adapted, by the likes of Moe Berg (Pursuit of Happiness) and folk star James Keelaghan.

In 1994, a Montreal punk rock fan named Frank Manley issued a book and album about Canadian punk rock called (ironically enough, considering Warren's later involvements) Smash the State. The album featured songs by the Hot Nasties, the Sturgeons, and the two group's Edmonton pals, The Rock'n'Roll Bitches.

Alright, then. Go ahead and laugh.

Albums

Invasion of the Tribbles (EP)
Format: 7"
Year: 1980
Genre: punk

Ironic that Kinsella has one of the songs on a Punk Rock 1994 Compilation LP called Smash the State Volume One, yet he's one of the biggest political operatives being the Karl Rove of the Left for the black arts of Canadian Politics.

Famous for taking down Kim Campbell and Justin Trudeau, and throwing in his love for Chretien and Hillary.

..........

Quote from Kinsella's Website

I STILL ADORE HILLARY CLINTON

…and remain proud I worked for her in three different states. And I’d do it again. And I don’t give a shit who disapproves.

This amazing interview reminds me why. Snippets below.

In the doc, you’re brutally honest on Sanders: “He was in Congress for years. He had one senator support him. Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done. He was a career politician. It’s all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it.” That assessment still hold?

Yes, it does.

Do you think the media’s coverage of the 2020 campaign has improved from its coverage four years ago?

I don’t. In the beginning I was hopeful that it had. I thought that with more than one woman running — at one point there were six, so a basketball team plus a spare — it’ll get more normal [because] you have women on the stage. It’s not just me standing alone up there. And in the very beginning there was reason for hope, but as the campaign has gone on, it does seem to me that people are reverting back to stereotypes, and many of those are highly genderized. And it’s a shame.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. Ranty. Kinsella really wants you to know he was a punk pioneer in Calgary. Having caught the tail end of that scene in the city, I sort-of respect that (and laugh up my sleeve as well).
He also has a bit of prissy orthodox view on 'what is punk'. But that's punk too.
Good stuff on documenting right wing nut job Nazi punks (who can indeed fuck-off).

[Ty Stranglehold · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sooo many inaccuracies. You also get the feeling that he trashes those who didn't want to talk to him, and kisses ass to those who gave an interview to his satisfaction. I was annoyed throughout.

[Steve Stinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when it came out and enjoyed Kinsella's take on the punk era.

[Clay Proctor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thorough, yet down-to-earth analogy of Punk Music, Kinsella brings together literary and musical experience to examine the scene from boot level and above. While parts do indeed read like an opinion piece, it is also a nice collection of historical information and first person experiences, the latter of which were the highlight of this book.

In some areas it was obvious that Kinsella was attempting to play towards an "edgy" characteristic, in using swear words and off-the-cuff remarks which were totally unnecessary. The book would have done much better in a more "experienced" based tone, especially since the author has the privilege of being able to write first hand about the punk scene, and a latter life as quite a different member of society.

Nevertheless, Kinsella is an intelligent writer who obviously put heart and soul, as well as many hours of research and development of his thoughts and ideas, into this book. There are many moments which tie in to bigger sociological ideas that will make any reader stop and reflect, most of which appear from the haze of interviews and record store memories in a surprisingly interesting and entertaining way. As a whole, the book would likely be enjoyable for most punk fans, and while some of the methods and opinions Kinsella uses and expresses will likely be seen as phony by the hardcore fan, the book is a nice addition to the educational based writings on punk music.

[Tina Siegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

You may have to be a fan of punk to really get into this, but it's a wonderful, funny, wistful, self-deprecating ode to rock 'n' roll excess.