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| '''Crass''' were a ] band based around ], an anarchist community near ] in England, and were progenitors of a militant ] that became pervasive in the punk music scene (see also ]). Taking literally the punk manifesto of ‘anyone can do it’, they combined the use of song, film, sound collage, graphics and subversion to launch a sustained and innovative critical broadside against all that they saw as a culture built on foundations of war, violence, religious hypocrisy and blind consumerism. | '''Crass''' were a ] band based around ], an anarchist community near ] in England, and were progenitors of a militant ] that became pervasive in the punk music scene (see also ]). Taking literally the punk manifesto of ‘anyone can do it’, they combined the use of song, film, sound collage, graphics and subversion to launch a sustained and innovative critical broadside against all that they saw as a culture built on foundations of war, violence, religious hypocrisy and blind consumerism. | ||
| Their philosphical and aesthetic influence on numerous punk bands from the 1980s on cannot be overstated, even if few bands mimicked their often free-form musical style, as evidenced on the album ''Yes Sir, I Will''. Their collage-art black-and-white record sleeves produced by ]themselves became a signature aesthetic model. | Their philosphical and aesthetic influence on numerous punk bands from the 1980s on cannot be overstated, even if few bands mimicked their often free-form musical style, as evidenced on the album ''Yes Sir, I Will''. Their collage-art black-and-white record sleeves produced by ] themselves became a signature aesthetic model. | ||
| Whereas the ]' anarchism seemed to be a self-consciously nihilistic prank, Crass's anarchism was more directly linked to the ] or communalistic varieties of 20th century political thought. | Whereas the ]' anarchism seemed to be a self-consciously nihilistic prank, Crass's anarchism was more directly linked to the ] or communalistic varieties of 20th century political thought. | ||
Revision as of 23:27, 20 September 2002
Crass were a punk rock band based around Dial House, an anarchist community near Epping in England, and were progenitors of a militant anarcho-pacifism that became pervasive in the punk music scene (see also anarcho-punk). Taking literally the punk manifesto of ‘anyone can do it’, they combined the use of song, film, sound collage, graphics and subversion to launch a sustained and innovative critical broadside against all that they saw as a culture built on foundations of war, violence, religious hypocrisy and blind consumerism.
Their philosphical and aesthetic influence on numerous punk bands from the 1980s on cannot be overstated, even if few bands mimicked their often free-form musical style, as evidenced on the album Yes Sir, I Will. Their collage-art black-and-white record sleeves produced by Gee Vaucher themselves became a signature aesthetic model.
Whereas the Sex Pistols' anarchism seemed to be a self-consciously nihilistic prank, Crass's anarchism was more directly linked to the libertarian socialist or communalistic varieties of 20th century political thought.
Crass were
- Penny Rimbaud (drums)
- Gee Vaucher (artwork)
- Steve Ignorant (voice)
- N.A.Palmer (Guitar)
- Phil Free (Guitar)
- Pete Wright (Bass)
- Eve Libertine (Voice)
- Joy De Vivre (Voice)
- Mick Duffield (films)
Recommended listening
(all released on the Crass record label)
- The Feeding Of The 5000 (12" single, 1978)
- Stations Of The Crass (LP, 1979
- Reality Asylum (7", 1978)
- Penis Envy (LP, 1981)
- Christ The Album (LP, 1982)
- Yes Sir I Will (LP, 1983)
- Acts Of Love
- Best Before 1984 (Retrospective LP compilation, 1986)
Recommended reading
- A Series Of Shock Slogans And Mindless Token Tantrums (Exitstencil Press, 1982) (originally issued as a pamphlet with the LP 'Christ The Album', much of the text is now published online at http://www.southern.com/southern/label/CRC/text/09438a.html )
- Shibboleth- My Revolting Life (Penny Rimbaud, 1999, AK Press)
- The Diamond Signature (Penny Rimbaud, 1999, AK Press)
- Crass Art And other Post Modern Monsters (Gee Vaucher, 1999, AK Press)
- International Anthem- 'A Nihilist Newspaper For The Living' issues 1-3 (Exitstencil Press, 1977-81)
See also
Crass tell their story in their own words at;