Cover versions and the rise of anarcho-punk....

The ethos of the original punk movement was that nothing is sacred, not religion, not politics, not monarchy or society, anarchy by another name creating an atmosphere in which artistic expression became de rigeur, and intellectual achievement was measured by ones ability to extemporise and to grow beyond formerly perceived boundaries. There have been claims that the punk movement died with Sid Vicious and the excesses of the Ramones, but far from this being the case I would suggest that there is a good arguement that within the metal genres the punk ethos is by no means extinct. When I listen to Marilyn Mansons cover version of Sweet Dreams of Tainted Love I see someone who truly understands the punk principles that you can take something wonderful, mis-shape and twist it, deform and corrupt it, and end up with something even better than the original. By darkening and introducing elements of power goth, nu-metal, fantasy and theatre the cover versions carry, forme, far more power.

Then we can look at bands like me first and the gimme gimmes and their punk pop cover versions of show tunes, country and western and pop standards. They are a band made up of members of other bands who get together specifically to have a bit of a laugh and to be irrevernt and express themselves musically with the songs that they grew up listening to converted to a style of performance that they better understand. Seeing them live is an experience not to be missed, holding true to the hard drinking punk traditions of old but with a deep vein of humour. Then you have bands like Hayseed Dixie, not necessarily punk in sound but almost certainly punk in principle making country versions of metal tracks. Even Rolf Harris got in on the act transforming some rock classics in his own inimitable style combined with his unique artistic style.

I am here to tell you that punk is not dead, it will never be dead as long as there are people who understand that we stand alone in this World, that life is short, that there are no rules but those that we make for ourselves, that there are no limits to what each of us can achieve unless we limit ourselves......