ENTERTAINMENT
The University Daily KANSAN
March 20, 1984 Page 6
Mainstream just isn't punk
By SUZANNE BROWN
Staff Reporter
The good-looking guy with the scrubbing-brush head lovingly strokes his tattoo on the music television video. He seems like a punk. He has an earplug, and is singing a song punctuated by lyrical screams.
But someone who thinks Billy Idol, or any other popular performer, sings punk music, is probably not the same person who will visit an artist's studio. So don't use concert information for the punk group Black Flag.
Real punk is still a cult movement at its roots and has been since it began in Britain in the late '70s, say those who listen to it and help produce it.
"THERE'S A LOT of difference between what's punk and what people think is punk," said Tim Coffman, 1717 Vermont St., whose black and clothes and stiff blond hair resemble idol's.
Coffman, who is also known as Spike, said that underground punk had influenced popular fashion and musical sound to the point that he could be a singer or rocker they were seeing and hearing was punk.
"The mainstream steals ideas from punk, like the chic in Eurythmics (Annie Lennox) with the crew cut," said Terry Cavanaugh, a punk devotee who runs The Loft. The Loft is a small room atop a flight of narrow steps at 612° Massachusetts St., a place where punk fans gather on weekends to hear local bands such as Diesel 99 and the Mortal Micronotz.
"Punk has had a lot of influence on the mainstream," Cavanaugh said.
BUT LEATHER AND AGGRESSION alone do not make music punk, according to Cavanah. Punk music today, which includes bands such as Suicidal Tendencies, Minor Threat and the Dead Soul, is an angry sound and a political message. And no one in popular music is doing it, Cavanah said.
The first punk movement began in Britain in the late '70s. There, groups like the Sex Pistols and Richard Hell sang songs articulating the
frustrations of a generation of unemployed working-class teenagers.
AIGEA Anna Statman of Slash Records, a Los Angeles label that signs punk bands, was part of the original punk movement in that city in the late 70s.
708. SHE SAID THAT THE small and highly individualized movement succeeded in bringing more progressive bands to Los Angeles.
The movement spawned cult groups in the United States, especially in larger cities such as New York, San Francisco, Boston and Los Angeles.
She contrasted her group with today's suburban Los Angeles teenagers who wear punk
Leather and aggression alone do not make music punk. Punk music today, which includes bands such as Suicidal Tendencies, Minor Threat and the Kennedys, is a raw music with an angry sound and a political message. And no one in popular music is doing it.
—Terry Cavanaugh owner of The Loft
fashions and hang out on Melrose Street, which Statman called a quarter-mile of trendy boutiques and eateries.
Statman said that these teenagers were only mimicking the habits of punks from the late '70s and didn't know that the early punk movement was over.
"It’s kind of like when you see a hippie and you think, God, doesn’t he know it’” over?” she said.
But Cavanaugh and Coffman said only the first wave, the British invasion of punk, was over. Now, punk originates in America and is critical of the system here, they said.
PUNK LYRICS TODAY are often about America's economic and social problems, its
But the movement isn't ideological, she said. Coffman said that punk rejects communism from a liberal perspective.
unemployment and the restrictions it places upon one's freedom of expression, Cavanaugh said.
"Punk is against suppression, any form of it," he said.
The crude language and raw sound of punk are two reasons why the music stays underground. Coffman said the airwaves often won't play a lot of songs. Lyrics are too explicit or its music not slick enough.
According to serious fans, bands that compromise to sell records stop being punk.
"IT'S LIKE X," said Cavanaugh, referring to a new punk band that was becoming less popular in punk circles. "Their first album had really raw, angry lyrics. Now they're selling a lot more records and making money. All of a sudden they're not so angry anymore."
According to punk rockers, bands that achieve mass popularity, like the Police, the Clash and Elvis Costello, shake off their roots in punk when their records sell in great numbers. Idol, who often uses the name Billy Ray Cox to band Generation X as toilet paper, now appears as a guest video jockey on Music Television.
"It is a goal for punk bands to be heard by more people," Vanaigh said, "But you want them to come to you, you don't want to go to them."
THE VIOLENCE IN PUNK music, an image of knives in hand, isn't insulted. Cayman Islands,
"Punks don't stand for violence," she said,
"but it's an angry movement. There's a lot of fun."
Cindy Lester, Lawrence senior, said that the self-inflicted violence of late '70s punk rock, such as sticking oneself with safety pins, was now infrequent.
Ellen Golden, publicity director for Idol, said that punk rock did not glorify danger.
"You'd be considered pretty out of it if you did that now," she said.
"The Sex Pistols were talking about destroying social systems," she said. "Punk was never about hurting people."
Although Billy Idol is considered a punk rocker by the rock'n'roll mainstream, true punk enthusiasts say he is not. The undergroup punk movement has influenced popular music and fashion that people often mistake popular rock for punk rock.
ON CAMPUS
TODAY
DOCTORAL RECITAL by Larry Archambo in instrumental conducting at 8 p.m. at West Junior High School auditorium, 2700 Harvard Road.
BAPSTIT STUDENT UNION presents "A Lifestyle of Simplicity (Wealth, Possessions, and 'The Good Life')" at 7 p.m. at the center, 1629 W. 19th St.
KU ASIAN MOVIE FESTIVAL presents the Chinese film "The In-Laws" at 7:30 p.m. Hoch Auditorium.
KU MOUNTAINEER-Backpacking Association will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Oread Room of the Kansas Union.
KU COLLEGIAL MUSICUM will meet at 4:30 p.m. in 328 Murphy Hall.
NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS will meet for lunch today and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Cork Room I of the Union cafeteria.
CHAMPIONS! will meet at 7 p.m. in the Trail Room of the Union.
Trail Room of the Union
CAMPUS FOR THE CHRIST will meet at
East Right Fight Room of the Union.
TAU SGIAM DANCE Club will meet at 7 p.m. in 242仁保罗Center.
TOMORROW
CONCERT CHORALE Spring Concert at 8 p.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall.
KU SAILING CLUB will meet at 7 p.m. in the Parlors of the Union.
Yul Brynner reigns once again as the arrogant King of Siam in Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The King and I," a play based on the true story of an English governess hired to tutor the king's children. The production opens Thursday night at the Midland Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City. Brynner originally performed as the now legendary king when the play first opened on Broadway in 1951. He has since played the role more than 4,000 times.
Golden Raspberry Awards April 8 Raspberries stain 'Lonely Lady'
By VERNON SCOTT
UPI Hollywood Reporter
If "Terms of Endearment" is destined to win the most Oscars in the Academy Awards this year, then "Lonely Lady" is a cinch to sweep the Razzies in the Golden Raspberry Awards.
Although not as prestigious as the Oscars, the Razzies are every bit as selective.
Oscars are voted by 4,000 members of the motion picture academy. Razzies balloting is by 100 members of the True Appreciators of Bad Film Foundation, which comprises filmmakers, promoters, students and fans who saw at least 50 horrendous films last year.
NO MOVIE, NOT EVEN "Gone With The Wind," has dominated a list of nominations as has "Lonely Lady." It captured 11 Razzie nominees in 10 categories.
Winners of the fourth annual Razzies will be announced 24 hours before the Academy Awards are held at the Los Angeles Music Center April 9. However, no Razzie winners are expected to
Clearly Barba Streisand, who was nominated for the worst actor Razzie for her performance as a young man in "Yentl," will not attend the award ceremony.
Bressand and Atkins were previous Razzie nominees.
PIA ZADORA, GENERALLY acknowledged as a world-class actress, won the Razzie
Competing with Miss Streisand for worst actor are Christopher Atkins, "A Night in Heaven"; Lloyd Bochner, "Lonely Lady"; Lou Perrigno, "The Raven"; Dolcea in "Stayin Allye," and "Two of a Kind."
Previous nominee Olivia Newton-John is a nominee for "Two of a Kind." She was nominated two years earlier for the Academy Award for Hillary Landa Blair for "Canned Heat" and Linda Anderson for "Stroker Ace."
previously for "Butterfly." This year she is a nominee for "Lonely Lady," an apt title in view of her performance.
Zadora's stiffest competition will come from Faye Dunaway for her role in "The Wicked Lady" Dunaway, too, owns a Razzie for her revolting performance in "Mommie Dearest."
The five worst picture nominees are limited to major films made by recognized producers and directors with serious intent. It would be too easy to pick on low-budget losers.
NOMINATED THIS YEAR as the pits of celluloid are "Hercules," "Jaws 3-D," "The Lonely Lady," "Stroker Ace," and "Two of a Kind." Only "Two of a Kind" enjoy any box-office success — more than $30 million worth
A five-way tie exists for second most Razzie nominations; "Hercules," "Jaws 3-D." Striker Ace, "Two of a Kind" and "Yor. The Stoker The Future." All are well behind "Lonely Lady."
"Stroker Ace" deserves some recognition because it starred Burt Reynolds, who for the past five years was No. 1 at the box office. This helped help unseen him from that elevated plane.
It should be noted that Loni Anderson, who was Reynold's girl friend at the time, made her starring movie debut in "Stroker Ace."
PREVIOUS RAZZIE WINNERS for worst
picture were "Can't Stop The Music," "Momme Dearest," and "Inchon"
Honors for worst actor in the three previous Razzie awards went to Neil Diamond for "The Jazz Singer," *Klinton Spilsbury* in "The Legend of the Canyon" and *Laurence Olivier* for *Inchon*.
In addition to Zadora's triumph for "Butterfly," the previous worst actress laures belonged to Bo Derek for "Tarzan" and Brooke Shields for "The Blue Lagoon."
The most interesting nominees this year can be found in the worst new star category, which includes Cindy and Sandy, the dolphins who made their screen debuts in "Jaws 3-D."
Anderson also made the worst new star prospects, along with Reb Brown of "Vor," Ferrigino for "Hercules" and Finola Hughes for "Stavin Alive."
NOMINEES FOR WORST supporting actress were Bibi Besch, "Lonely Lady"; Sybil Danning, "Chained Heat" and "Hercules"; Finola Hughes, "Staying Alive"; Diana Scarwid, "Strange Invaders" and Amy Irving, who incredibly also received an Oscar nomination for "Yentl."
Worst supporting actor nonnimese include Lou Gossett, Jr., who won the Oscar for best supporting actor last year in "An Officer and a Gentleman" but he is contending for a Razzie for "Jaws D-1."
Competing for the Razzie as worst supporting actor are Jim Nabors for "Stroker Ace," Richard Proyer for "Superman II." and Joseph Fowler for Holland, both victimized by "Lonely Lady."
Starlight's summer list includes four musicals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Starlight Theater Association has announced its plans for a $1.2 million summer entertainment package featuring four musicals.
By United Press International
In the 1890 season, the theater attracted 210,000 spectators compared to the 250,000 spectators who attended last year, said Jack Steadman, president of the Starlight Theater Association.
The Starlight Theater, founded in 1951, has attracted such large attendances each year that association members decided to schedule a performance. "Wizard of OZ," and "Jesus Christ Superstar."
More professionally produced musicals and fewer packaged shows will be held, Steadman said. He said the four summer shows were chosen for their wide audience appeal, variety and entertainment value.
As in previous years, there will be an abundance of concerts but no schedule has been announced, he said.
"Annie Get Your Gun" is scheduled to run June 25-July 1 and "Cabaret" July 9-15. July 23-29 is the scheduled time slot for "Wizard of Oz: Christ Superstar" is scheduled to run Aug.6-12.
steadman also said that in addition to its cast of nationally recognized stars, the Association planned to develop its own resident company of 24 singers and dancers.
In addition to the four Broadway musicals, Starlight will again offer a variety of contemporary concerts presented by New West Presentations and Contemporary Productions
BLOOM COUNTY
BY BERKE BREATHED