Punk in London (1977)
Punk in London (1977)
DVD5 | ISO | PAL 4:3 | Cover | 01:24:03 | 4,37 Gb
Audio: English AC3 2.0 @ 192 Kbps | Subtitles: None
Genre: Documentary, Music
DVD5 | ISO | PAL 4:3 | Cover | 01:24:03 | 4,37 Gb
Audio: English AC3 2.0 @ 192 Kbps | Subtitles: None
Genre: Documentary, Music
Director: Wolfgang Büld
Stars: Gaye Advert, Jack Airport, Arturo Bassick etc.
With Punk now the stuff of postcards, it's good to have Punk in London, a 1977 feature that taps the source of what the scene was all about. German director Wolfgang Büra interviews a number of players and promoters but, apart from concert sequences by The Adverts and The Clash–in gritty form on their ill-fated first European tour–the emphasis is on "almost were" bands. Büra's reticent and awkward questioning won't win awards for journalism, but interviewees are prepared to open up to him. There's political hard-talking from members of Chelsea, a chat with the unassuming bassist of The Lurkers (and parents!), priceless interview footage with Kevin Rowland, then in Birmingham band The Kiljoys; best of all, the laconic roadie of Subway Sect, a true leveller well aware that the whole "Punk thing" will fall victim to commercial pressure like counter-cultures before it.
Contents (Band - Songs):
The Adverts - "Gary Gilmore's Eyes", "One Chord Wonders"
Chelsea - "Right to Work"
X-Ray Spex - "Oh! Bondage! Up Yours!", "Identity"
The Lurkers - "Shadow"
The Jolts - "Unknown", "You're Cold"
The Electic Chairs - "Cream In My Jeans"
The Killjoys - "It Could Be Me", "At Night"
Subway Sect - "Ambition", "Out of Touch"
The Jam - "Carnaby Street", "In the City"
The Boomtown Rats - "Do the Rat"
The Clash - "Complete Control", "Hate and War", "Police and Thieves", "Garageland"
Punk in London (1977)
Released jointly with a book the size of London itself! Punk In London is perhaps the best documentary as regards capturing the spirit of the bands who were at the forefront of the punk explosion in Britain circa 1976. Though footage of The Clash is tagged on to the end, to presumably give the makers a selling point, it's with the other notable movers of the times that Punk In London becomes something of an essential viewing for fans and interested observers alike.
Punk in London (1977)
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Featuring live work from the likes of The Lurkers, X-Ray Spex, Subway Sect, Chelsea and The Adverts, this is a must see to really grasp just how raw the movement was before it became a viable product for record company big wigs. Though not all the live footage is of great quality (you will struggle to hear Poly Styrene's vocals on Identity), watching Howard Wall of The Lurkers sing whilst being surrounded by fans is critical in portraying just how of the people the punk explosion was, it really shows the whole essence and point of punk rock, namely anyone can make a record, get up there and do it yourself. Ultimately it's with the interviews that this documentary succeeds, watch and enjoy as Gene October (lead singer of Chelsea) muses on why his band exists, and delight as Arturo Bassick of The Lurkers does an interview at his parents house whilst Mam & Dad watch Top Of The Pops, featuring a performance from The Boomtown Rats singing Looking After Number One, Arturo's words at this point is crucial to how so many bands felt at the time.
Punk in London (1977)
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Also features performances from The Electric Chairs, The Killjoys and The Jolt.
Raw and patchy sums this DVD up, but really those words can best describe the Punk movement itself. Honest, refreshing and totally essential.IMDB Reviewer
Punk in London (1977)
It was 1977 and punk ruled England. As part of a film school project, wannabe director Wolfgang Büld decided to travel to the UK and document up and coming bands who were redefining the entire nature of rock and roll. With access to numerous name acts including The Clash, The Jam, X-Ray Spex, The Boomtown Rats, and of the moment musicians like The Killjoys, The Lurkers, and Subway Sect, he crafted a telling take at a major cultural movement. Interspersing interviews with live and staged performances, Büld built a portrait of a power struggle, a tug of war between disenfranchised youth with undeniable talent and tenacity, and a society who saw them as anarchists and revolutionaries. Over three decades later, it all seems so silly, but when viewed within the context created by Punk in London, you soon see why Britain was so wary - and why '70s America destroyed the genre before it could ever get off the ground.
Punk in London (1977)
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Though it tries to follow a single narrative, offering a chance for period punkers to make their case for such radical cultural annihilation, Punk in London is really more interesting as a collection of Q&As and a series of sensational concerts. Büld does not always offer the full song, and there are some who complain that he has used "prerecorded" version of specific numbers instead of the actual live tracks, but that still doesn't dissuade us from the raw energy and drive of what's offered here.
Punk in London (1977)
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As a dyed in the wool old school punk/poseur from way back (yes, this critic wore the bad clothes and the equally atrocious hair of the time) Punk in London was like the love letter from the musical movement that he never got a true copy of. The ability to see the groups that made up a major part of his formative cultural conversion, including wrongly dismissed geniuses like Poly Styrene, merits a consideration for DVD Talk's highest accolade - that rare Collector's Series tag. Sadly, the lack of subtitles and a rather unexceptional image crank the score down to a very enthusiastic Highly Recommended rating. And all you aggravating Emo kids, take heed. This is what true social and personal alienation and idealism looked like. There was no fey Goth gimmickry or sad sack posturing. Real punks wanted to change the world, to tackle a beleaguered Britain with the only weapon they had - their voices. While it may seem quaint now, it was quite powerful then - and Punk in London proves why.
Punk in London (1977)
Punk in London (1977)
Punk in London (1977)
Punk in London (1977)
Punk in London (1977)
Punk in London (1977)
Punk in London (1977)
Punk in London (1977)
Special Features:
- The Clash: Live In Munich (Featuring Tracks: London's Burning, Complete Control, Hate & War/Police & Thieves, The Prisoner, Janie Jones, Garageland)
- The Adverts: Live In Berlin (Featuring Tracks: Gary Gilmore's Eyes, Love Songs, Television's Over, I Surrender, Great British Mistake)
Many Thanks to Original uploader.