Why Be Something That You’re Not – Detroit Hardcore 1979 – 1985

Revelation Records, P.O. Box 5232, Huntington Beach, CA 92615-5235

The cast of characters: Marc Barie (NECROS- roadie), Richard Bowser (VIOLENT APATHY, DICK AND THE BALLS – guitar), John Brannon (NEGATIVE APPROACH – vocals), Craig Calvert (THE FIX – guitar) Bill Danforth (NEGATIVE APPROACH – roadie), Tommy Fuller (VIOLENT APATHY – guitar), Russ Gibb (club owner), Barry Henssler (NECROS – vocals), Mike Hudson (PAGANS – vocals), Brian Hyland (NECROS – bass), Jon Katz (BORED YOUTH – guitar), Bob Kernan (TV show producer), Tim King (HERESEY vocals), Kenny Knott (VIOLENT APATHY – vocals), Ian MacKaye (MINOR THREAT – vocals), Steve Miller (THE FIX – vocals), Rob Michaels (BORED YOUTH – vocals), Rob McCollough (NEGATIVE APPROACH – guitar), Chris “O.P.” Moore (NEGATIVE APPROACH – drums), Matt O’Brien (MCDONALDS – bass) Eliot Rachman (VIOLENT APATHY – drums), Dave Rice (L-Seven – guitar), Ron Sakowski (NECROS – bass), Davo Scheich (photographer), Steve Shelly (FATE UNKNOWN – vocals), Dave Stimson (Touch and Go fanzine and label, co-founder), Tim Story (NECROS – engineer, Todd Swalla (NECROS – drums) Tesco Vee (Touch and Go fanzine and label, co-founder, MEATMEN – vocals), Ken Wagner (Detroit show promoter), Andy Wendler (NECROS – guitar), Peter Zelewski (NEGATIVE APPROACH bass).

You don`t recognize any of the names, but you heard a few (2-3) bandnames before? Well, that is exactly why this book came out, to change that. And it does a great job doing that, the author speaks to all the above scensters about the Hardcore-Punk days of Detroit in the early 80ies, so you get a lot of oral history. But, since it is not the same lame London/New York bull 77-79 of people nobody knows of bands nobody cares about – it is super interesting. And Rettman did a nice mixture of text, graphics (flyers, record artwork, press clipings) and photos (some of them really amazing!) to loosen the book up.

The book has 28 chapters that bring the developing of the Detroit scene to daylight. Since the focus so far has only been on the East/Westcoast, it is great finaly the Midwest gets “its book”. You read about how it all started, who was involved, where they had their gigs, how the scene grew, how they got in touch with bands/people in other citys. Learn about how the hardcore network built up and where it then all “ended” for some, let me quote Andy Weller: “Before we left, the Midwest scene was filled with the most creative, brightest and hardworking people in the world. When we came back, every retard you could imagine was involved.”

And you need to know his band was only on a short tour. some of the people speak of the death of hardcore by 83-84, of course, as always it died for them. Since other people clearly say that the scene did not end with certain bands breaking up. The impression one gets is that the Detroit Hardcorepunk scene was more on the rough side of things, not necessarly violent (at least in the beginning – later with the Skinhead dorks coming in, lots of violence happened..) but tough, beer drinking, not taking shit, happening in areas where you need to watch your back. There is many details in here, also personal stuff, why people left bands or joined them, how Touch and Go was founded and who did this is just a review, so I better stop and you go get the book if you want to know more. Well done, recommended. + 230 pages, paperback. 16.- US $ (dolf)

Isbn 978-1889703039

[Trust # 144 October 2010]