My litmus test...
Posted on 05/08/2007 7:37:13 AM PDT by qam1
As the singer in a punk rock band, Jim Lindberg faces the dilemma of many of his graying contemporaries - how to swear and lead a life of rebellion while raising children and paying the mortgage.
Lindberg, lead singer of California band Pennywise, still dyes his hair and plays songs at full volume but he also drives his three daughters to school, lets them listen to Britney Spears, and pays his taxes.
Lindberg, 41, is one of the aging breed of punk rockers from the 1970s and 1980s who are finding a way to reconcile a life of rebellion with parental responsibilities such as disciplining children and worrying about media violence.
"This is the graying of punk rock where a lot of people who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s are now at an age where they are having kids and getting mortgages. It is a new experience for us," Lindberg told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"The strangest part for a lot of my peer group is that we grew up championing the rights of expression but then you see some slasher movie and won't let the kids watch it."
Lindberg has just written a book about raising a family while staying true to his punk core which is called "Punk Rock Dad" - but he admits he probably won't let his daughters, aged 3, 8 and 10, read it due to the bad language and party talk.
Lindberg said he is one of millions of dads who grew up in the 1970s following Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols and Joey Ramone of the Ramones, adopting punk rock's rebellious attitude toward the establishment and distinctive clothing.
Pennywise, named after the monster from the Stephen King horror novel "It", formed in Hermona Beach, California, in 1988 and is still going, with plans for a new album this year.
In 1996 the band's former bassist Jason Thirsk shot himself at the age of 28 after battling alcoholism.
Lindberg said Thirsk's death was a real wake up call and then he became a father which really made him grow up although some of his peers have changed little from the early days.
"Generation Xers are suffering from prolonged adolescence. You have a lot of people aged 40 and up trying desperately to hold on to their youth, shirking responsibility," said Lindberg.
"It is almost certainly defined by those who do have kids and those who don't. Those with kids have cut down on the party circuit and try to limit time away from their family but those without kids still act like they are 18."
But Lindberg believes becoming a father, who promotes the benefits of vegetables and early bed, does not necessitate abandoning punk rock.
He argues punk music is more about freedom of expression than anti-social behavior - and punk rockers can be conservative and make good, role-model fathers .
"I probably began with the idea that punk rock dads are different from others but I came out the other side realizing that we are really all the same," he said.
"But I think as long as you stick to the ideals of punk music, you can be a grey punk rocker."
Might I interject something here?
How about Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Judas Priest, et al?
My older boy down in Ft Hood, TX, recently told me that Iron Maiden's "Powerslave" is one of the best albums ever made.
I didn't raise my boys on poseur music. Warms my metal heart, it does.
Sounds like my buddy, Rick. Married 20 years, just retired from the National Guard.
Consider yourself lucky. The Dead Milkmen song that's been playing in my head for tha last few weeks is "Tacoland". LOL
All I wanted was a Pepsi! Just one Pepsi! And she wouldn't give to me!
My MOM knows that song. She also knows "Necrophobic" by Slayer.
(I put my parents through so much hell...)
Whoa. Angry Samoans. I don't think you can even find their stuff anymore.
I remember Kix!
Come on start a fire
In my electric chair
Baby cross my wires
Light up my hair
Overload my circuits
Let me feel the juice
Make me an offer
That I can't refuse
BLOW MY FUSE!
(Hey hey)
You got nothing to lose
BLOW MY FUSE!
I need a good shot
I can't give it to you
On electric bluuuuuues!
BLOW MY FUSE!
Can’t control the paranoia! Scared to die!
And of course, in my mind that line is followed by,
"Awaiting the hour, destined to die! Here on the table of Hell! A figure in white unknown by man! Approaching the altar of death!"
Check this out: Death metal turned into lounge music. (link pops in a new window)
LOL, mine too! Oh how we enrich their lives.... :-P
Actually, yesterday she told me how hilarious she thought "Moving to Florida" by the Butthole Surfers was (she's 62 and lives in Florida). I snuck it onto a cd I made for her last time she visited. There always has to be one funny song I put on there..."Bumblebee" by Ween is another one...heeeeee! Well she's always been pretty hip 'n happenin'.
WOW, crazy! My very Korean mom would sing the same “pepsi” line when I was in high school... I died the first time I heard her humming it... My sister was like, “tell me she’s not humming the Surfers”.....
PS... METAL MOMS RULE!!!!!!
LOL! Oops, Correction... I meant to type SUICIDAL not SURFERS.... I’m listening to Sirius Channel 29 as I was typing and the butthole surfers were on.... the irony is that she would also hum the surfers, too...
You can’t bring me down....
Ahh yes, former Detroit Tigers great Jim Walewander's favorite band.
Social D. bump...
My favorite Mike Ness line: “13 is my lucky number!”
"I wanna see ya CHOOOOOKKKKKKEEEE!"
Rock & Roll ping
Pennywise was a punk band? Who knew?
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