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."
Kiss = NOT acceptable. Poseurs need not apply.
My old man’s a fatso. He’s got a potbelly full of mouth. My old man’s a fatso. But you know who owns this house!
THE greatest channel on Sirius that isn't 100 or 101.
“Sounds like this guy has grown up a little. But not a lot.”
Yep... and Pennywise *is* just a bad Bad Religion rip-off. This song is from 2001.
______________________________________________________
Pennywise Lyrics
God Save The U.S.A. Lyrics
God you must be kidding me, thought this was supposed to be
The home of the brave and the free for you and me
But now there’s something wrong - sh-t’s been going on too long.
It’s never gonna change, there’s no way i say.
What’s the CIA and the NRA?
They’re all the same - just the names are changed.
F—k - there’s no excuse - any way you lose.
It’s all a joke in the good old USA.
All we need is more factories pumping filth into the sky.
Corporate greed and perverted priests, it’s the story of our lives.
And apathy’s the national disease and there is no end in sight.
God save the USA - blame the president and say your prayers tonight.
The irony of liberty is no one here is truly free
When elections are stolen by the G.O.P.
So watch the nightly news - find out how you are getting screwed.
What you gonna do? - there’s no use i say
F—k the industry - the aristocracy
F—k they’re all the same - just the names are changed.
F—k there’s no excuse, any way you lose.
It’s all a joke in the good old USA.
Government hypocricy - American Idolatry - Corporate philosophy.
Nightly news of tragedies - Where no one cares what’s right or wrong
Our heroes now are all long gone - The freedoms that we all abuse
The obituaries front page news
Note: This list is probably hardcore/Boston/DC-centric; feel free to add or subtract to it.
Angry Samoans
Bad Brains
Black Flag
Butthole Surfers
Dead Kennedys
Decadence
Discharge
Effigies
The Exploited
The F.U.'s
The Freeze
G.B.H.
Gang Green
Government Issue
Groinoids
Husker Du
Jerry's Kids
The Meatmen
Minor Threat
The Misfits
The Proletariat
Social Distortion
SSD
Suicidal Tendencies
Youth Brigade
Ahhh. Motorhead. Can’t get much better than Lemmy.
Carnival of Souls is great stuff.
The band on stage was called Mayhem. I was really young but I remember the mom coming home and finding her daughter who was the girlfriend of the dead punk burning cigarette holes in her arms and taking pills. I don’t remember much more than that. My friend’s older high school brother was watching with us and I also remember him laughing throughout the episode. I’d do anything to watch that episode again.
Ahhh, the good ole’ days....
Love Simmons, personally.
Haven't listened to Stern in years, and can't listen to him here since Clear Channel Orlando dropped him. Who's Sal the Stockbroker, is he a newer addition to the whack pack or someone I've forgotten?
Respectfully, RG
Actually, it was the establishment that ran the schools and other institutions that told you that the guys who sold you the guitar et al were bad.
I'm still rebelling against it.
LOL.
OK. Now we know why people who vote Democrat vote Democrat.
They are really, really, really, really, stupid.
Check out my profile. My husband is working with The Meatmen (Tesco Vee & his son) right now!
You may as well add the Dead Milkmen on it too.
The greatest show I ever saw: Tesco Vee at the Channel in Boston, MA, circa 1985 (or it could've been '86). Tesco was in rare form, and even performed one song dressed in goat leggings.
Sal's one of the newer cast members of the Stern show. His main schticks are annoying Gary Dell'Abate and doing homosexual stunts with Richard Christie, another newer cast member (who won the "Win Stuttering John's Job" contest.
Mine are almost 6 yrs apart.
Initially, there is jealousy — but it gets better as they get older.
I love the Dead Milkmen!
Years ago (maybe ‘86, ‘87?) they were booked @ The QE2 in Albany, NY. Tried to bring a cow onstage. Didn’t go over well w/ city officials.
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