I was raised on bands such as the Dead Kennedys, Misfits, Carnivore, and C.O.C. One of the fondest memories from my childhood is cleaning the house with my mother as we head-banged away to Tool and Nine Inch Nails. Pete Steele is a sacred name in my house I’ve heard more than a few stories about the going-ons at CBGBs. Thrash, punk, metal, hardcore, and alternative have been a part of my life for so long that I’ve rarely questioned their circumstances and what they represent. I’ve always found a refuge and comfort in these oft-considered “violent” or “derogatory” genres that I’ve only ever been shocked when people been confused or even offended by my love of such bands. The fact that I’m a self-professed feminist and Carnivore fan doesn’t seem to mesh in their minds. I can’t deny that there’s a lot of violent, often misogynistic imagery incorporated into these genres. Women are often portrayed as whores, both on album covers and in song lyrics. There were more than a few albums my parents had to put out of my reach when I was a toddler due to the naked and/or dismembered women gracing the covers. “Bullet”, my favorite Misfits’ song, lost a bit of its luster when I actually read the lyrics. It turned out to be just another song in which a woman was turned into a sex object who was to be violently lusted after. Danzig can’t even hide behind Pete Steele’s excuse; there was no cheating wife to rationalize his nonsensical demands of Jackie Kennedy. As The Misfits (unfortunately) turned out to be a band that was stealing rather than innovating in their scene, I think it’s safe to assume that Danzig was pulling from the ingrained tradition of violent sexuality in the punk community.

But even with all that misogyny taken into account, I won’t give up on my various hardcore bands. The inherent clarity of vision grounded at the movement’s very heart is enough to help me ignore The Misfits and thoughtless patrons at punk shows. Thankfully, not every single punk band is inherently anti-female. I find that it’s as you get farther from the movement’s beginning and hardcore is more diluted that it’s warped into the violent and sexist nightmare that most people conceptualize it as. At hardcore punk’s core, though, are bands like Bad Religion and the Dead Kennedys who had something real to say. “American Jesus” is more than a song that is incredibly catchy. It contains real and thoughtful criticism of the American system. Many punk bands long for visions of America that are way too idealistic but I think they should be applauded for recognizing the need for change. I also think the accessibility of the movement at its beginning is really admirable. I wish women and minority groups had been able to take advantage of this openness but nothing’s to say that the movement doesn’t hold outlets for them down the road. We need another Jello Biafra to direct attention to the modern-day Cambodias. I’m not going to claim that he brought attention to the East singlehandedly but if the Dead Kennedys’ music was enough to inspire one kid to be more involved in their global community, that still counts for something. It’s better to be an idealist with a message than a nihilist who is content to let the world rage on.