The U.K. gets the glory but Punk was born in the U.S.  Depending on who you ask, it was created by The New York Dolls, Iggy & The Stooges, MC5, Television, or the Velvet Underground.  As the 70's came to a close the influence of all the before mentioned groups impacted the disaffected youth of LA, DC, Boston and beyond and gave way to a more aggressive and high energy brand called Hardcore.  From 1980 to 1985 a tight nit community was formed by bands scraping to build a scene along with the kids bubbling with frustration, waiting for anything to disrupt the Reagan era.  DC had Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Henry Rollins, and Fugazi.  Boston had SS Decontrol, Jerry's Kids, D.Y.S., and Negative FX.  California had Black Flag, The Circle Jerks, Agent Orange, Dead Kennedy's, and Suicidal Tendencies to name just a few.  Pressing their own vinyl and touring from city to city playing dive bars and community center rec rooms succeeded in creating an underground movement that burned bright  in a flash and burned out just as fast.  Although Hardcore has continued, many of the legendary bands quit due to lack of money and industry support, after only a short 5 year career in most cases.  When you think about it, the U.K. Punk scene really only lasted from 1975 to 1980 before being replaced by Post Punk (New Order, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Cure, etc.) and New Wave.  The Exception being The Clash who successfully lasted 10 years thanks to the infusion of Reggae, Disco and Hip-Hop within their later albums.  Who's to gauge how long it really takes to have a successful revolution.



Rifoki ablum cover, Nadastrom and Stereo Faith
RIFOKI "ZOMBIE ATTACK" video in our VIRAL VIDEOS section [VIEW HERE]


Just as the first Hardcore bands were influenced by Iggy, The Ramones, and the early Punk Pioneers, many of those who grew up in the 80's who later became the stars of the current Electro House scene were raised on Hardcore.  In late April Steve Aoki and Bob Rifo (the brain behind The Bloody Beetroots) indulged in their childhood love of all that was Hardcore by debuting their Rifoki side project.  Their album, Sperm Donar, is an ode to all the greats and features the single "Zombie Attack", an intense and pure Southern California style mosh pit anthem that borrows the erie theme to the film 28 Days Later.  Almost as if it were planned, Diplo's Mad Decent label just released a mix CD of American Hardcore Classics titled Salad Days, mixed by DC (arguably the capitol of Hardcore) natives Nadastrom and Stereo Faith.  Again, as if the Electro Gods met for a round table discussion about the next move, M.I.A. leaks her latest single "Born Free" that is, surprise surprise, a Hardcore song.  With the political content many of the early 80's groups infused in their songs, it's not unrealistic that M.I.A. would have moved in this direction as Electro music became harder in response to the Black Eyed Peas and LMFAO's co-opting of the culture.  At The Bloody Beetroots recent 2 night sold out appearance at  The Palladium in Los Angeles they jolted fans by following their biggest hit, "Warp", with a 5 minute sample of Rifoki's new material.  Although some were prepared and happy to receive, many of the "e" rolling ravers on scene damn near inhaled their pacifiers in shock.  Who knows where this current romanticism will lead but hopefully a new generation of youth can be turned onto some true American History.