if the main reason we listen to music in the first place is to hear passion expressed- as i've believed all my life-then what good is this music going to prove to be? what does that say about us? what are we confirming in ourselves by doting on art that is emotionally neutral? and, simultaneously, what in ourselves might we be destroying or at least keeping down?
Lester BangsA young woman is dead. I donโt care. You probably donโt care. The police donโt care. The papers donโt care. The punks for the most part donโt care. The only people that care are (I suppose) her parents and (Iโm almost certain) the boy accused of murdering her.
Lester BangsThe great thing about The Clash of course is that they keep searching for answers beyond that.
Lester BangsSexual chaos reigns currently, but out of chaos may flow true understanding and harmony, and either way Elvis almost singlehandedly opened the floodgates.
Lester Bangs... the twin concepts of nihilism and the antihero have had it. What began with The Wild One and James "nobody understands me" Dean, ran with increasing vehement negativism up through the Stones and Velvets and Iggy ... [I]t may be time, in spite of all indications to the contrary from the exterior society, to begin thinking in terms of heroes again, of love instead of hate, of energy instead of violence, of strength instead of cruelty, of action instead of reaction.
Lester Bangs