Straight-edge!

[Andrew_Culture]

This phrase keeps popping up in discussions and I was wondering how wide-spread 'edge' is in this country these day. In a nutshell being straight-edge denotes the wholesale refusal to indulge in drink n drugs and sprang from the US hardcore punk scene in the early 80s. I think it's an interesting juxtaposition to the complaints that 'kids of today' are doing nothing but binge-drinking and shooting smack into their genitals.

Straight-edge has never been taken that seriously in these parts, but I thought the edge kids that came into my punk shop were quite cool, but they were their own little gang, in a preaching to the choir type way. One kid reckons I made him edge by letting him have a sip of my single malt at a gig. I reckon it may have been more to do with the copious amounts of Stella he had consumed before hand.

Have you heard of straight-edge. Is it just another religion or a positive movement in youth culture?

 

[Andrew_Culture]

This toon is harsh but almost true IME

 

[SimonJKH]

I certainly recall those days. I would listen to most things that Alternative Tentacles put out, which included a couple of the 'edge' bands. If I recall correctly, the black cross on the hand was what american clubs used to show you were too young to drink, so the straight-edge guys adopted it. Right?

 

[sackville d]

I wonder how much of the philosophy of it came from Crass which the US punks would have been aware of?

I saw an interview with Penny Rimbaud and he said the worst violence he saw at their gigs was between opposing groups of vegetarians.Anyway,good luck with the thread but it might help to put the word helmet somewhere in the title

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I certainly recall those days. I would listen to most things that Alternative Tentacles put out, which included a couple of the 'edge' bands. If I recall correctly, the black cross on the hand was what american clubs used to show you were too young to drink, so the straight-edge guys adopted it. Right?

Wiki says yes!
Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_edge

 

[sackville d]

I certainly recall those days. I would listen to most things that Alternative Tentacles put out, which included a couple of the 'edge' bands. If I recall correctly, the black cross on the hand was what american clubs used to show you were too young to drink, so the straight-edge guys adopted it. Right?

Aaahhh....I get the cartoon now.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I wonder how much of the philosophy of it came from Crass which the US punks would have been aware of?

I saw an interview with Penny Rimbaud and he said the worst violence he saw at their gigs was between opposing groups of vegetarians.Anyway,good luck with the thread but it might help to put the word helmet somewhere in the title

Oh there were militant edgers who would go to shows and knock drinks out of peoples' hands!

Have you ever read any of Rimbaud's stuff in 'The Idler'? I couldn't make head nor tail of it!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Speaking of Crass, official documents reveal that Thatcher really was a bit scared of them http://
louderthanwar.com/official-documents-released-today-show-how-crass-rattled-thatcher-and-the-government/

 

[RedRider]

Who was that muscle mary punk singer in the 80s who also acted? Always advocated being straight Tip of my tongue. Can't think of his name now (from which you might guess I never was influenced by the philosophy).

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Who was that muscle mary punk singer in the 80s who also acted? Always advocated being straight Tip of my tongue. Can't think of his name now (from which you might guess I never was influenced by the philosophy).

Henry Rollins?

 

[RedRider]

Henry Rollins?

That's the fella. Quite an intense bloke.
Each to their own, I say. I'm voting 'couldn't care less'.

 

[Roadrider48]

This phrase keeps popping up in discussions and I was wondering how wide-spread 'edge' is in this country these day. In a nutshell being straight-edge denotes the wholesale refusal to indulge in drink n drugs and sprang from the US hardcore punk scene in the early 80s. I think it's an interesting juxtaposition to the complaints that 'kids of today' are doing nothing but binge-drinking and shooting smack into their genitals.

Straight-edge has never been taken that seriously in these parts, but I thought the edge kids that came into my punk shop were quite cool, but they were their own little gang, in a preaching to the choir type way. One kid reckons I made him edge by letting him have a sip of my single malt at a gig. I reckon it may have been more to do with the copious amounts of Stella he had consumed before hand.

Have you heard of straight-edge. Is it just another religion or a positive movement in youth culture?

Hi....My youngest daughter announced a few years back that she was "straight edge" and explained to me what it was.
She is now 21 and has never drank, smoked or taken drugs. So I guess it's a good thing!

 

[SimonJKH]

That's the fella. Quite an intense bloke.
Each to their own, I say. I'm voting 'couldn't care less'.

Some of his spoken word albums were fun.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Hi....My youngest daughter announced a few years back that she was "straight edge" and explained to me what it was.
She is now 21 and has never drank, smoked or taken drugs. So I guess it's a good thing!

I really do think it has the potential to be a positive force!

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Rollins is an arse.