ROCK & ROLL: PUNK {EPISODE 9} (TV)
Summary
Episode nine of this ten-part documentary miniseries which traces the origins and history of rock and roll music from the late 1940s to the present. Interviews with artists and record executives, and performance footage are included throughout the program. Episode nine, "Punk," examines the rise of the aggressive sounds which came out of the underground club scene. Events covered in this part include: how the young guitarist Jonathan Richman created the punk sound by writing short, straightforward songs; how, although Richman never achieved success, the music was appreciated when it hit the New York City streets; the punk bands' rejection of costumes on stage and messages in the music; the importance of the run-down New York City club CBGBs as the starting point for many punk groups such as the Ramones, the Talking Heads, and Patti Smith; the record companies and radio stations' fear of punk music, which kept it in the clubs; the response in Britain when the punk sound was first heard there; how people desperately wanted to form their own punk bands because the music was easy to play; the Sex Pistols' popularity in Britain, making them role models for the younger generation who wanted to rebel against the norm; how the Clash took punk music further by integrating it with reggae music; why young people were attracted to reggae; how the reggae influence started to reach New York just as the Sex Pistols were preparing for their American debut; the changes in punk music as the Sex Pistols began to deteriorate both personally and professionally; the Ramones' studio sessions with the legendary producer Phil Spector, who added strings to their music; and how bands such as Blondie started to gain commercial success during the 1980s. Includes interviews with the following individuals, among others: the founder and owner of CBGBs, Hilly Kristal, recalls when the Ramones first auditioned for him; members of the Talking Heads David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Frantz discuss how audience members at CBGBs decided to start playing punk music themselves; the lead singer of the Sex Pistols, Johnny Lydon (also known as Johnny Rotten), discusses his career with the group; and members of the Clash, Mick Jones and Paul Simenon, examine the influence of reggae on their music.
(This program contains adult language.)
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: September 28, 1995 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:56:47
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:43099
- GENRE: Arts documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Arts documentaries; Music - Analysis, appreciation; Punk rock music; Reggae music; Rock music
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 1995
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Elizabeth Deane … Executive Producer
- David Espar … Senior Producer
- Hugh Thomson … Producer, Director
- Ian Pye … Associate Producer
- Liev Schreiber … Narrator
- Lenny Kaye … Performer, Guest
- Jonathan Richman … Guest
- Richard Hell … Guest
- Tom Verlaine … Guest
- Joey Ramone … Guest
- Johnny Ramone … Guest
- Hilly Kristal … Guest
- Harry, Deborah (See also: Harry, Debbie) … Guest
- David Byrne … Guest
- Tina Weymouth … Guest
- Chris Frantz … Guest
- Malcolm McLaren … Guest
- Steve Jones … Guest
- Lydon, Johnny (Johnny Rotten) … Guest
- Siouxsie Sioux … Guest
- Paul Simenon … Guest
- Don Letts … Guest
- Mick Jones … Guest
- Ariane (Ari Up) … Guest
- Bunny Wailer … Guest
- Mikey Dread … Guest
- Lee Perry … Guest
- Mike Chapman … Guest
- Blondie
- The Clash
- The Ramones
- Sex Pistols, The
- Patti Smith
- Phil Spector
- Talking Heads, The