Punk Rock
John Lydon Says Court Decision on Danny Boyle’s TV Series Will “Water Down” Sex Pistols’ Legacy
Last week, John Lydon officially lost a court case over the use of the Sex Pistols’ music in Pistol, an upcoming TV series about the group that’s directed by Danny Boyle. Now, the infamous musician has shared a written statement in which he claims the “majority rules” technicality that lost him the case will also “water down” Sex Pistols’ legacy in the years to come. As The Guardian notes, a press statement was published today on Lydon’s website suggesting Lydon was only made aware of Pistol hours before it was announced. It also claimed he still has not been told how the band will be portrayed in the series, adding that he feels there’s a good chance all of this will “distort the true history” of Sex Pistols. “For more than 23 years the Sex Pistols have operated on the basis of unanimous ...
Heavy Culture: Nova Twins on Racial Identity, Representation of Women of Color in Heavy Music, and More
Heavy Culture is a monthly column from journalist Liz Ramanand, focusing on artists of different cultural backgrounds in heavy music, as they offer their perspectives on race, society, and more as it intersects with and affects their craft. The latest installment of this column features Amy Love and Georgia South of the Nova Twins. UK duo Nova Twins released their debut album, Who Are the Girls?, in 2020. They kicked off 2021 by curating a compilation called Voices for the Unheard, which showcases alternative and rock artists of color. Proceeds from this compilation went to The Black Curriculum, which is an initiative to address the lack of Black British history in UK classrooms. Bandmates Amy Love and Georgia South describe their music as “urban punk,” but it melds several genres together...
Singer of Punk Band Bayside Helps Detectives Nab Florida Man Accused of Sexual Battery
Bayside singer Anthony Raneri aided authorities in apprehending a Florida man accused of sexual battery. Detectives arrest the suspect after a three-month investigation, which began after an Instagram post by Raneri in April. In the post, the punk-rock frontman explained that a Jacksonville tattoo artist named James Ranieri was apparently posing as his cousin to gain favor with women. “It has come to my attention that a tattooer named from Solid State Tattoo in Jacksonville, FL is telling women on social media that he is my cousin,” wrote Anthony Raneri. “This isn’t true, and I don’t know this person.” Advertisement Related Video After making the post, Raneri was flooded with messages by women who claimed they had been assaulted or contacted by James Ranieri. Taking matters into his own ha...
In Photos: Rise Against and Descendents Bring the Punk to New York City
On Friday night (July 30th), Rise Against and Descendents played one of the first big rock shows back in New York City since the pandemic started. The veteran punk acts rocked a sold-out concert at The Rooftop at Pier 17 on a beautiful night in the Big Apple. The show marked the second proper concert for Rise Against and first for Descendents since the concert industry came to a halt in early 2020. Thankfully, a clear night with low humidity greeted the bands and the fans, as the Empire State Building could be seen to the left of the stage, while the Brooklyn Bridge was visible to the right. Rising Los Angeles punk act Spanish Love Songs opened the evening’s festivities with a set of anthemic songs, including cuts from their most recent album, 2020’s Brave Faces Everyone. For many in ...
The Offspring Oust Drummer Pete Parada for Choosing Not to Get COVID Vaccine
The Offspring have apparently parted ways with drummer Pete Parada. According to the stickman, it’s because he has chosen not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 due to medical reasons. Parada, who had been the band’s drummer since 2007, explained his departure in a lengthy statement on Instagram, saying that his medical history and advice from his doctor has led him to choose not to get vaccinated at this time. He added that, as a result, the rest of the band feels he’s “unsafe to be around, in the studio, and on tour.” Back in April, The Offspring released their latest album, Let the Bad Times Roll, which marked their first studio LP in nine years. It’s also the first Offspring album where Parada played drums on the entire effort, having previously appeared on just four of the tracks on 2...
Des Rocs Announces Debut Album, Unleashes Anthemic New Single “MMC”: Stream
Rising alt-rocker Des Rocs has announced his debut album, A Real Good Person in a Real Bad Place, which will arrive September 24th via 300 Entertainment. In advance of the LP’s release, the New York-based artist has unleashed the infectious and eclectic single “MMC.” “MMC” takes the listener on a wide-ranging ride of musical genres, with a guitar-heavy intro leading into post-punk verses and a sing-along anthemic chorus. At the 3:10 mark, the tune suddenly shifts into a vaudevillian piano number, with Des Rocs momentarily taking on the role of a throwback crooner. Speaking about the song in a press release, Des Rocs said, “‘MMC’ is about people who are obsessed with being anything but themselves. It’s a roller coaster of a record that was written all at once in this kinda chaotic catharsis...
Buckcherry’s Josh Todd Wants to Front Minor Threat Reunion, Laments Lack of 21st Century Rock Stars
Buckcherry frontman Josh Todd says he would front a Minor Threat reunion if founding singer Ian MacKaye wasn’t up for it. Todd also lamented the lack of 21st century rock stars, calling the genre “faceless” since the early 2000s. Yes, you read that correctly. The singer of “Crazy Bitch” is down to front arguably the most influential straight-edge hardcore band of all-time. In fact, Todd suggested as much to original Minor Threat member Brian Baker (now Bad Religion’s guitarist) upon meeting him once. “[I told him] ‘Hey, man, if you ever want to do a Minor Threat tour and Ian doesn’t want to do it, I’ll shave my head and we’ll f–king do it!’” Todd recalled to Classic Rock magazine. “[Baker] just laughed.” Advertisement Related Video While the chances seem slim, it sounds like Todd coul...
Circle Jerks Announce 2021-2022 North American Headlining Tour
Circle Jerks have once again rescheduled their North American 40th anniversary tour. The hardcore-punk legends’ updated itinerary features a series of separate legs that run from September of this year through May of next year, with Municipal Waste, Adolescents, and Negative Approach providing support on select dates. Originally, Circle Jerks had planned to tour in celebration of the 40th anniversary of their landmark debut album, Group Sex, beginning in May of 2020. Those dates were postponed to spring of 2021 due to the pandemic, but were since delayed again. Now, the legendary band plans to hit the road for a few dates in early September (including appearances at Riot Fest and Punk Rock Bowling), before playing three shows in the Southwest in late October. From there, they’ll be back on...
Robert Fripp and Toyah Bring the Punk with Cover of Sex Pistols’ “Pretty Vacant”: Watch
Robert Fripp and Toyah Willcox deliver Sex Pistols’ punk anthem “Pretty Vacant” in the couple’s latest “Sunday Lunch” performance, marking a return to Toyah’s punk roots. Over the past several months, the married pair have treated us to eccentric covers of mostly hard rock and metal classics, but this time around they celebrate the ’70s UK punk scene from which Toyah started her own music career. Inspired by bands like Sex Pistols, she garnered much success as a punk and new wave singer fronting her eponymous band Toyah in the late ’70s and early ’80s, scoring a string of hits in England. Vocally, “Pretty Vacant” arguably suits Toyah’s voice more than any of the previous covers. And, as always, she brings the fashion, this time sporting a mohawk and body paint, and wearing a barely-there s...
Rise Against on Songs That “Take You to Dark Places, But They’ll Never Leave You There”
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public | RSS Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath sits down with Kyle Meredith to discuss Nowhere Generation, the Chicago punk band’s ninth album. The frontman talks about who the Nowhere Generation is and who these songs are directed at, how what the American Dream means and stands for has changed, and what the older generations have done to the Earth and society. Related Video McIlrath also takes us back to Rise Against’s mainstream breakthrough, Swing Life Away, and how it gave the band permission to write softer songs, like this LP’s “Forfeit”. He also touches on their eventual plans for Ghost Note Symphonies Vol. 2, and the hope that ultimately grows from their song...
Bad Religion and Alkaline Trio Announce Rescheduled 2021 US Tour
Bad Religion and Alkaline Trio will finally get the chance to embark on their co-headlining tour after postponing the outing due to the pandemic. The originally scheduled trek was supposed to kick off in March 2020, the same month the concert industry shut down, but will now launch this October. The newly rescheduled 30-date tour kicks off October 15th in Riverside, California, then makes its way east before returning to the West Coast for a final gig on November 26th in Los Angeles. War on Women will serve as support for the entire run. “This tour is special,” said Bad Religion singer Greg Graffin in a press release. “Not only are we celebrating the return of live music, but we get to do it with Alkaline Trio, who are such a great band, really excited about this!” Related Video Alkaline T...
2021 Punk in Drublic Festivals: NOFX, Pennywise, Less Than Jake, Sick of It All, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and More
NOFX have announced two 2021 editions of their Punk in Drublic Craft Beer + Music Festival, one in Denver and the other in Worcester, Massachusetts. The veteran punk band will headline both events, which are scheduled for July and September, respectively. The Denver edition will take place July 17th at Sculpture Park, and features Less Than Jake, Sick of It All, Get Dead, Potato Pirates, and more acts to be named. The Massachusetts event happens on September 25th, at the Palladium Outdoors in Worcester, and includes The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Pennywise, Get Dead, and more bands to be announced. Related Video Tickets for both Punk in Drublic events go on sale this Friday (June 25th) via the official festival website. Last month, NOFX announced they were dropping off the 2021 Punk Rock Bow...
