Review of Punk In London

Introduction

When Punk was at its height in the late 70s, I was too young to understand it. I wasn`t really into music, but when I listened to what was known as Punk, I just considered it "stupid noise". Now, 25 years on, I think I am too old to understand it. It still sounds like "stupid noise".

Sure, many of today`s most respected artists spent their formative years playing Punk (or New Wave) like David Byrne, Joe Jackson, Paul Weller and Joe Strummer. But, they are not playing Punk now. They absorbed their influences, moved on, grew up. And that`s no bad thing. Maybe they aren`t as angry as they were (although Jackson certainly is) or maybe they are channelling their anger and their message into something more listenable, and therefore more likely to be listened to. No bad thing.

However, if you look back fondly on the days of Punk - on X-Ray Specs and Poly Styrene, The Adverts, The Lurkers and the Clash - then this DVD may be for you. But don`t count on it.

"Punk In London", was made in 1978 by German filmmaker Wolfgang Buld and features performances and interviews from some of the leading Punk artists of the times. One last mosh for old time`s sake?

Video

The quality of the 4:3 image is appalling. Everything possible blemish and flaw is present and correct - grain, dirt, hairs and more. Colour is washed out and the image is generally soft and unfocussed. Worse, the image often goes completely out of focus and then snaps back leaving the viewer slightly queasy.

Visually, there is little to recommend the film although some viewers might get a twinge of nostalgia to see the interior of clubs like the Marquee again. Assuming, of course, that they can make anything out through the dirt and grain.

Audio

The Mono audio is, if anything, even worse than the video. The sound is distant and dull. During interviews, you can just about make out what the interviewee is saying (not that they normally have anything worth saying) but during the performances, the sound is appalling. The bands sound like they are playing at the bottom of a grain silo. With 50 tonnes of grain on top of them. I know that the punks were rebelling against the airbrushed excesses of FM pop/rock but I don`t think even they would have approved of this sonic nightmare.

Musically, there is little of note. It is mostly third-rate bands playing third-rate songs. The only bright points were an early performance from The Jam and a decent set of tracks from the usually reliable Clash.

Features

You get the dubious bonus of footage of The Clash and The Adverts playing in Germany. The Clash tracks are worth a brief listen but any possible pleasure is spoiled by the technical inadequacies of the DVD.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, the only slightly positive thing I can say about this DVD is that it has some decent Clash tracks. But, you couldn`t listen to them. Watching this has been the most painful 2 hours I have spent with a DVD.

If, as many people of a certain age do, you look back fondly on Punk, by all means savour those memories. However, I suspect that you would rather not get gobbed on again, and that`s exactly what this DVD does to the viewer. Avoid.