Review of American Hardcore (2006) by Burton — 27 Aug 2007

It's been about an hour since I saw this documentary. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History by Steven Blush, which has been a book I've enjoyed since it came out in 2001 (Feral House). The cast of colorful ?characters? (interviewees) includes the always over the top Harley Flanagan (Cro-Mags), H.R. (Bad Brains), Jimmy Gestapo (Jerry?s Kids), Vinny Stigma (Agnostic Front), and Henry Rollins (Black Flag), among others.

The film jumps around from scene to scene addressing the general mentality of the burgeoning hardcore punk movements in each region during the rise and fall of the genre (according to the film, roughly 1980/81-1985/86) interviewing significant personalities from each respective scenes.

The film ultimately focuses on The Bad Brains and Black Flag, with a fair amount of attention being paid to Orange County (TSOL) and Boston (SSD, DYS, and Gang Green). This felt like a fair distribution (that the film justifies through the information presented) because, frankly, these are the bands that defined the movement.

The biggest problems with the documentary were the key players who were basically ignored. The Midwest scene is reduced to a brief discussion with Joey Shithead from DOA, who were from Canada (a fact that the film seemed to put on a pedestal for some reason) The rest of the Midwest?s heavy hitters, specifically the Necros and Negative Approach didn't get the attention they deserved. There was a brief clip of Negative Approach playing "Ready to Fight" (Which accurately portrays the intensity of the early Midwest skins) and the Necros playing one song (that was not even included in its entirety).

Then the real flaw. The Misfits AND the Dead Kennedys were left out. Completely. Bobby Steele (Misfits (12 Hits from Hell), Undead) spoke a little, but not about either of his bands. Jello Biafra wasn't even mentioned AT ALL. I despise Jello, and have never been a big fan of the Dead Kennedys, but to have left them out of the film, in favor of using Flipper as the main focus for the San Francisco bay scene? Insanity!

H.R. from the Bad Brains was interviewed sitting on the grass, at a wedding, which was rather amusing (the bride, fully dressed in her wedding gown, etc. passes behind H.R. as he is discussing his life as a dirty punk-rocker). H.R. has always been a rather interesting figure in Hardcore, in that he both defined the terms by which the genre would be recognized, and at the same time, tore the clichés apart (the use of reggae, etc.).

Henry Rollins has a good sense of humor, but anyone who has ever read any of his books already knows that. He was very informative, and well spoken. I was a little annoyed that Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks) was only on screen during the first segment of the film, introducing the basic concept of Hardcore, as he is, and was a particularly important figure in the early years.

The film is well balanced, and unbiased, especially considering the extreme personalities involved.