El Protoolio wrote:

bfields wrote:So I ask you, was anti-semitism a part of the punk scene in Chicago?

There were some pretty fucking severe people in the late 80's when I got into it. All the skinheads I knew, while being pretty fucking confrontational, angry and crazy, weren't racist in any way.

My friend (who I'm sure is reading this thread) told me about some racist skinheads that were part of the punk scene in Blue Island, a southern suburb of Chicago. I'm not necessarily against a web page or documentary using a photo like the one I'm ranting about. I just think it's strange that that photo was the only photo on the web page and they didn't provide any context in which to view the photo.

El Protoolio wrote:This is why I want to talk about the 70's and 80's. A shinier, happier time for Chicago punk.

I was all but five years old in 1980. I remember as a freshman going to high school seeing "Naked Raygun" etched into one of the backstage walls of our auditorium. That's my first hand memory. Beautiful!

bfields wrote:[I just think it's strange that that photo was the only photo on the web page and they didn't provide any context in which to view the photo.

Oh I agree. I found the picture odd and out of context too. I was just explaining that I personally didn't witness racisim, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

El Protoolio wrote:

bfields wrote:[I just think it's strange that that photo was the only photo on the web page and they didn't provide any context in which to view the photo.

Oh I agree. I found the picture odd and out of context too. I was just explaining that I personally didn't witness racisim, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

The racist skins were not from Chicago, they were (of course) from the suburbs. What annoying dildo isn't?

They called themselves "Romantic Violence". They were from Batavia, IL. They used to hand out cards outside of shows. They were "led" by a turd with eyes named Clark Martell. Today they probably constitute a "who's who" of DuPage county third-shift convenience store employees whose daughters are all sleeping with black guys.

I saw disruptions of shows by these morons, some fights, some ejections. Generally, when I saw skins, I went elsewhere. However there were non-racist skins in town, I think they called themselves CASH.

Yuck.

-r

Tony wrote:Why not further specify your subject matter, redirect your efforts away from radio to television, and just make a documentary about this one photograph?

http://www.windycitypunk.com/punks.htm

I recognize the small one on the right. Was a recurring irritant at all ages shows. Don't know any of the others, but I'm willing to bet we are not looking at top people in the space program.

-r

My recollection is that CASH were racist as well, and around at the time you started hearing about anti-racist SHARP skins. They were all trouble, and a pain to be around. Did not matter if they were racist or not.

Mark Hanson was the only skin I ever found friendly and sane way back then.

Johnny 13 wrote:My recollection is that CASH were racist as well, and around at the time you started hearing about anti-racist SHARP skins. They were all trouble, and a pain to be around. Did not matter if they were racist or not.

Amen, it sure didn't matter. Always a creepy thing to see. And you are right, I forgot the non-racist ones did call themselves SHARP - Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice.

Johnny 13 wrote:Mark Hanson was the only skin I ever found friendly and sane way back then.

Never met him...have you and I met?

In general, the less chatter about these footnotes and their color-coded bootlaces, the better. But the poster who asked about anti-semitism should know: it was not a theme particular to the time and subculture from where I stood.

-r

warmowski wrote:

Johnny 13 wrote:Mark Hanson was the only skin I ever found friendly and sane way back then.

Never met him...have you and I met?
r

Yep. You and your girl even sent me a Christmas card one year. We mostly knew the same people. Most directly we spoke at a BBQ on EA's roof. We had friends in common, but never really crossed paths much.

Mark used to DJ at Dreamerz on Saturday nights. Dressed in that Clockwork orange style. Nice guy, and was not the sort to get caught up in a mob.

http://www.chicagopunkpix.com/

lots & lots of pictures & flyers.....

My first show was either the WNUR Fast and Loud benefit or the Dead Kennedys at midnight, Metro (1984?). I don't know which came first but Lakeview had some sharper edges back then.

The NUR benefit was great. I had heard the Effigies "body bag", Big Black "Texas" and some Rights of the Accused, Articles of Faith "five o'clock". Fortunately little recorded evidence confirms the existence of Nadsat Rebel.

warmowski wrote:Metro: for the Raygun shows alone plus everyone from Descendents to Circle Jerks to Buttholes to Sonic Youth to Laughing Hyenas to Slint/TJL to everybody except Big Black, because Steve doesn't like the Irish. Just doesn't like 'em.

Aren't some of the live photos from the Hammer Party LP taken at Metro when Pezatti was in the band? You may be joking but I'm really wondering because I always thought those picstures were the Cabaret Metro?