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Punk Matters: Interviews with Punk Artists and Activists
Punk Matters is a collection of interviews with punk artists and activists, conducted between 2011 and 2017, with a lengthy introduction outlining the genesis and politics of punk. Interviewees include big names such as Ian MacKaye, Jello Biafra, Ray Cappo, and Henry Rollins, whose bands (respectively, Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Youth of Today, and Black Flag) are among the most influential groups in punk history. Members of other wellknown punk rock and harcore bands, such as Propagandhi, Paint It Black, Good Riddance, Trial, Catharsis, and Fall of Efrafa also share their thoughts on a variety of topics. Gerfired Ambrosh is the author of The Poetry of Punk: The Meaning Behind Punk Rock and Hardcore Lyrics and several academic papers on punk. As a touring musician, he has intimate knowledge of the goings-on in international punk communities.
Paperback
Published January 1, 2019
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August 15, 2025
Austria-based punk/hardcore enthusiast and ex-band member of acts like Plague Mass and Carnist interviews 17 top vocalists, musicians, and punk/hardcore movement builders from North America and the UK. Interview questions are largely navel gazing probes about "what is punk?" and "is there discord between the aggression/ferocity of punk lyrics and a message of aiding humanity?" Quick read that I found mostly interesting for:
1.) revealing that across a pretty broad range in sub-genres, there's general consensus that Crass/Conflict/Dead Kennedys were among the most influential in introducing people into the scene. I would've expected a lot more references to UK Subs/Subhumans/Cro-Mags, but mentions of those bands was largely in regards to "this band sounds like ____ " instead of "i got into punk because of _____"
2.) no one espousing anarcho-collectivism offered any sound theory for how the global economy should be organized. Lots of sound bites eschewing patriarchy, capitalism, and globalization, but no vision of any economic structure that has the potential to scale. Decentralized communalism, times 1 million?
3.) Greg Bennick (Trial) came across as the most approachable, fun-loving, and amicable of the bunch. Would love to hang out with him.
4.) They didn't necessarily permit the longest interviews, but it was great to see Ian MacKaye, Rollins, and Jello Biafra as interviewees.
1.) revealing that across a pretty broad range in sub-genres, there's general consensus that Crass/Conflict/Dead Kennedys were among the most influential in introducing people into the scene. I would've expected a lot more references to UK Subs/Subhumans/Cro-Mags, but mentions of those bands was largely in regards to "this band sounds like ____ " instead of "i got into punk because of _____"
2.) no one espousing anarcho-collectivism offered any sound theory for how the global economy should be organized. Lots of sound bites eschewing patriarchy, capitalism, and globalization, but no vision of any economic structure that has the potential to scale. Decentralized communalism, times 1 million?
3.) Greg Bennick (Trial) came across as the most approachable, fun-loving, and amicable of the bunch. Would love to hang out with him.
4.) They didn't necessarily permit the longest interviews, but it was great to see Ian MacKaye, Rollins, and Jello Biafra as interviewees.
Displaying 1 of 1 review