Get In The Van

A couple of days ago at work we listened to the entire 2 CD set audio version of Henry Rollins' Get In the Van. I've never been a huge fan of Rollins, but I've usually been at least curious in what he's up to since it's at least interesting most of the time & the guy is such a huge fan of whatever he's into. And although he's not the most articulate fellow, he is pretty smart.



The Get In the Van CD, like I said, is the audio version of Rollins' book of tour diaries from the Black Flag days...from his time just prior to joining the band up to the end in the mid 80's. Again, and even more so than my recent listens to Independence by Toxic Reasons, and Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables by the Dead Kennedys, it  really brought back that certain feeling of being 16 or 17 or 18 years old and going to hardcore shows, and skateboarding in Phil Franklin's back yard woods on our homemade ramp.

It also reminded me of just how violent those shows/scenes could be. It reminded me of how often we were on our toes watching out for rogue skinheads who always seemed it was a good idea to fight...for what? I don't know but it sure seemed like a good idea...Everyone was so pissed off. There also seemed to be an inordinate amount of back biting and rumour mongering in those days in this all too self important "scene." Everybody took it so seriously! We took ourselves so seriously! A lot of he said/she said stuff was constantly on the grapevine which lead to alot of senseless violence and wasted time. "Punks vs Skins." "Punks & Skins Unite." Blah blah blah...

And it also reminded me of the pure adrenalin rush going to a show could be back in those days...whether it was Black Flag, Minor Threat, the Circle Jerks, the Bad Brains, DOA,  whoever...(there were so many). It was pure, and innocent, and naive (in a good way). It was energy.

And that was just the hardcore shows.

Lastly, it reminded me of seeing Black Flag at the Left Bank in Mt. Vernon, NY, in 1982, with fellow SST bands the Minutemen &  Saccharine Trust. The Misfits were there to see the show, and this was just before I knew who they were or especially what they looked like. They attended the show in all of their glory - devil locks groomed and big thick blackness under their eyes, like they were playing the gig themselves. I remember looking at them, and for some reason immediately thinking these were some lawyers, or accountants, or college students out on the town "doing the punk rock." Like this was their weekend routine, and every weekend they'd slip out of their khaki trousers, open the special drawer where they kept all of this punk rock gear, and totally get dressed up - make up & all. Well I certainly found out differently about the Misfits.

(They looked something like this at the time)



It was also at this show that I met Henry Rollins for the first time, and he was really cool to this 16 year old kid from suburban NY (hell...he was probably only 19 or 20 at the time). His hair was starting to just reach his shoulders, and he was talking about how the band were growing out their hair just to fuck with all of the conformist punks/skins who thought everybody else should wear a uniform and be like everyone else...or else you weren't punk rock. And they did.

I don't think I thought things would always stay the same, but I definitely never thought they would change.