Punk Is a Four-Letter Word

by Ben Weasel

The finest written words from the legendarily opinionated frontman and songwriter of Screeching Weasel and The Riverdales. Culled from his own zine, Panic Button, caustic columns from Maximum Rock N Roll, and two new essays, including 'The Infinite Joys Of Being A Professional Musician', this is a smart (not to say smart-assed) collection of sarcastic, accusatory, hilarious and often self-deprecating diatribes, rants, opinion pieces, reportage, and some excellent in-depth articles. From the horrors of low-paying jobs, to hanging backstage with Nirvana, and sartorial elegance for punk rockers, this is the world of punk according to Mr Weasel. And its not such a bad place to be, or at least, visit.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Punk

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2002

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of some of Ben Weasel's best writing from "Maximum Rocknroll" and elsewhere, including articles such as "The Punk Rock Dress Code," an account of running away from home as a kid, the time he introduced Jawbreaker at a Nirvana concert, and his thoughts on friends' bands who had signed to major labels.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite musician, Ben Weasel, publishes some previously published essays. Number one on my list of people I'd like to meet.

[Joe Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of Ben Weasel's MRR columns. Generally good. Was dated even in 2008 when I read it. Good if pop punk is your thing though.

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up.

Some of these pieces have value as a view into a different time, not so long ago. Others feel outdated.

Some of them are funny because of Weasel's curmudgeonly ways. Others feel bitter.

Some of these are well crafted. Others are feel lackadaisical.

My favorite piece was "The Nanny and the Rock Star," documenting Weasel's meeting of Nirvana when he got to introduce Jawbreaker at a concert at the Aragon in Chicago. Weasel theorizes that Frances Bean Cobain's nanny is the biggest influence on Kurt Cobain, introducing Cobain to Jawbreaker and getting Pat Smear into the band. Also Cobain knows Weasel's work in Maximum Rock N Roll.


Short summaries:
Maximum Touring - a tour diary
Maximum Music - diatribe against being in a band
Maximum Extra - Weasel acts as an extra in a Psalm 69-era Ministry video.
Maximum Liars - Weasel and Vapid get paid to do a case study on Guiness, lying the whole time.
Maximum Punk & Profit Margins - a diatribe against major labels
Maximum Isms - Satirical piece that is overly politically correct
Maximum Style - the punk rock dress code piece
Punk is a Four-Letter Word - Political correctness and punk
Maximum Style Revisited - On why he isn't interested in living the punk life on tour
You Damn Kids With Your Internet And Your Loud Rock Music! - A diatribe against email
Eulogy for a Friend - Tim Yohannan tribute
The Runaway - personal story about hitching to Nashville with a friend at age 14
The Paper Boy - working as a paperboy
The Janitor - working as a janitor at a suburban movie theatre
The Pizza Boy - working as a pizza boy
The Library Aide - working as a library aide at a Wisconsin community college
We Stand on Guard for Thee - picking up French hitchhikers in Canada while touring with the Riverdales
The New Punk Order - diatribe against putting artist personality over artistic output
Clown for Hire - curmudgeonly banter about anything and nothing
Good Doggy - FAQ
Crimpshrine - tribute
Practice Does Not Make Perfect - on running...and kind of love
The Infinite Joys of Being a Professional Musician - the unsexy stuff of day-to-day, contract-to-contract, gig-to-gig, album-to-album musician life

[Jessica Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of fanzine articles from Ben Weasel... It's funny, it's irreverent and it's a look into the life of a punk musician

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Weasel is awesome. And he even mentions Sioux Falls!!! :-)

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars