MovieChat Forums > Bandslam (2009) Discussion > Worst research ever - Punk Rock mix up

Worst research ever - Punk Rock mix up

posted 15 years ago by halleluja_lock_and_load
11 replies | jump to latest

There's a big ass Americanised hole in this pitiful little excuse for a candy apple piece of nasty capitalistic filmmaking when the shiny little white protagonist ignorantly proclaims that New York's CBGB's was the birthplace of punk rock. Then digs his brainless little hole further by saying without CBGB's bands like the Sex Pistols and The Clash woul never have existed. Here are some facts for those who perhaps weren't as uttely aghast by this misconception of rock history.

1. CBGB's stands for Country Blue Grass Blues, and opened in 1972 to accomodate the music of it's namesake, not specifically punk rock, which was yet be properly realised as a genre.

2. The London/ Manchester alternative music was also taking it's first steps in to revolutionising rock and roll, perhaps coincidentally, but nothing more.

3. This is wikipedia's list of punk and punk sub-genres;

1.1 Anarcho punk
1.2 Christian punk
1.3 Crust Punk
1.4 Garage punk
1.5 Glam punk
1.6 Hardcore punk
1.7 Horror punk
1.8 Nazi punk
1.9 Noise rock
1.10 Oi!
1.11 Riot Grrrl
1.12 Skate punk
2.1 2 Tone
2.2 Celtic punk
2.3 Chicano punk
2.4 Cowpunk
2.5 Dance-punk
2.6 Deathrock
2.7 Folk punk
2.8 Gypsy punk
2.9 Pop punk
2.10 Psychobilly
2.11 Punk blues
2.12 Punk metal
2.13 Ska punk

It is also stated, though otherwise common knoweledge, that Punk rock was natural, and relatively simoultaneous musical progression based mainly in England, The USA and Australia.

4. Eventual Sex Pistols manager Malcom Mc Laren did visit CBGB's on a trip to the US in 1974 before returning home to further pursue it's still shaky fundamentals in the form of The Sex Pistols and his bondage clothing shop. But punk, rude boy and a slew of gritty, independent pop-alternatives had already well and trully established themsleves in London by this time. The ideals of anarchy and anti-conformity had specific catalysts in each part of the world where punk rock was burgeoning. This is bluntly apparent in each of their heavily colloquialised lyrics and sound. The idea that any self-respecting musically enthusiastic script writer could so mindlessly localise all of these culturally diverse and eclectic sounds in to one big bang theory based around a rock club in Ney York is shameful. Although CBGB's was a massive influence in The USA for Punk and alternative music, it is in no way soley responsible for the birth of Punk Rock.

Balls to you Disney, Bandslam and your lazy writers.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Ruben-26 15 years ago

I noticed this as well, but still liked this movie.

Often when there are things stated in movies that are false I wonder if it's done on purpose by the writers because they want to show the character doesn't know everything or offcourse the writers have mixed up their facts. :-)

I know the punk-movement started around '77, but we can even debate if the punk-music started before the opening of CBGB's (Sonics...).

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

[–] returnofthelovingdead 15 years ago

Speaking as a long-time punk rock aficionado (who has since grown up and become a boring law student), I think you're just nit-picking. Yes, CBGB's was not technically the "birthplace" of punk rock, but it certainly played a major role in its development and spread. I would be annoyed if CBGB's was classified as the birthplace of punk in, say, a punk documentary, but this movie was clearly intended for a mainstream audience who wouldn't be familiar with every little obscure nuance of the history of punk. This fleeting line was not meant to be a historical fact, but was just a way to let non-punk fans in the audience know how important the club was to the punk movement, and thus to explain why it was such a big deal for Will to go there.

I was personally expecting this film to be your typical terrible teen comedy, but I thought that it did a great job at introducing old punk and ska music to a younger audience. How many other teen movies out there would feature the Velvet Underground and Peter Tosh?

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Carly_fan 15 years ago

It makes sense that the information isn't accurate - the CBGB scenes were shot on a set. The real place (as they said) is now a cheesy fashion store. They completely recreated the CBGB facade in a parking lot in Austin and they filmed the reverse of the surrounding areas at the actual location.

[–] subase 15 years ago

Any historian knows there is no 'birthplace' to any major cultural movement, in this case punk. The fact that Will used that word just meant he was emotional and not talking exact history.

You are seriously overreaching. Especially since the director is almost a music scholar and knows more about punks history than you no doubt.

[–] packer6601 14 years ago

There are a lot of things that bothered me in that one short scene. One is that I don't think the clash ever played at cbgb's, and if they did it was way later after they reached fame. The part that really bothered me was: the clash->u2-> the killers. Clash and u2 came out at roughly the same time, and it was joy division who was a major influence on u2 and the killers. I agree with the op that the writers know about jack *beep* about punk. Movie overall wasn't horrible, but still....

[–] bimsie99 12 years ago

This movie was aimed at teens,so they had to explain in a very short amount of time why this club was so important to Will.The Ramones got their start there,and a lot of punk bands,including the Clash have said that they learned to play guitar along to the first Ramones album.And just from what I saw in the documentary It Might Get Loud,U2 was inspired to start a band after seeing The Jam on Top Of The Pops.Also,many punks have stated that one of their big influences was seeing The New York Dolls on The Old Grey Whistle Test in '73.
"1)There is a God,and 2)Im not him."

[–] mhth 14 years ago

I noticed this too, but it's frickin' movie not a documentary. As I tell my friends at work (I teach history FWIW), it s meant to be entertainment, if you want a history lesson, read a book. Your post was informative though.

Carpe Diem--One Day at a Time

[–] cbgb 14 years ago

If you're going to give a girly hissy fit lesson on history, why not include OMFUG. I mean, you know what THAT stands for, right? Yes, OTHER MUSIC FOR UPLIFTING GORMANDIZERS (which is a voracious eater of music).

I've known Todd since we were both very young actors in the Village. He made the best punk mix tapes for me and turned me on to bands you've still never heard (Medium Medium, Swingers). Between CB's and Max's Kansas City and the Mudd Club, they WERE the birthplace IN THE US. Repeat IN THE US. Not every punk band came from the UK.

How do you think the Clash became so famous? From their RADIO PLAY? Sorry, Charlie, it was idiots like us begging Bleeker Bob to turn us on to the next big thing.

So excuuuuuuuuse me if Todd took a little "artistic license" in HIS movie that HE wrote and go ON THE SCREEN while you're just bitching on an internet movie board.

[–] Dirtrum 14 years ago

Yes, but you're glossing over the fact that McLaren put the Sex Pistols together and tried to get Richard Hell and Sylvian Sylvian to front the band prior to hooking up with Lydon. After his visits to NYC, McLaren totally changed his shop, switching from sort of biker inspired clothing to the sort of things Hell was wearing with the safety pins and whatnot. McLaren got his cues mostly from Hell and the CBGB's crowd, brought that style and sound over to the UK and it permeated.

I think UK punk would have still existed without influence from CBGB's, but the scene would look totally different, and I can say that I don't think The Sex Pistols would have happened. The major name in UK punk would probably be The Damned. The Clash might still have happened, but who knows? Facts is facts though, the NYC scene had a major hand in forming the biggest acts from the UK as the chain goes Hell > McLaren > Pistols > Clash. So I don't think Will's comment was anything to get drummed up about, I actually see it as quite valid.

"What are doing. Me DRUNK" "Hammer not crayu"