PUNK: ATTITUDE - THE DEFINITIVE PUNK ROCK STORY ON DVD"I don't care what you think. I'm doing what I want to do." Siouxsie Sioux, Siouxsie and the Banshees "It only lasted 100 days; officially 100 days of The Roxy because of, things went so fast in those days" Mick Jones, The Clash "You're kickin' ass. You're doing something new and you don't give a shit about commerciality and that's what punk is" Glen Branca, The Static & Theoretical Girls "We were playing so fast, the 3 minute song became 1½ minutes" Tommy Ramone, Ramones Punk:Attitude, a the most comprehensive documentary film on punk music and the subsequent cultural impact of the punk movement ever created , will be launched in the UK on DVD on 3 rd October 2005 by FremantleMedia. Commissioned to celebrate the 30 th anniversary of punk, This new film has been written and directed by influential, Grammy award winning director and punk icon, Don Letts. Definitive, monumental, authoritative and controversial, Punk: Attitude is an absolute must for all music fans and punks (past, present and lapsed) and provides a unique inside track on the reality behind the myths and misinformation that surround this most significant music genre and social movement. The film proved a big hit with the critics when it was shown at the prestigious Cannes and Tribeca film festivals earlier this year and is already being hailed as an important landmark in music documentary film making by both the film industry and music pundits. Don Letts' success stems from the breadth of his artistic vision and his ability to deliver the component parts of a story that delves deeper and spreads itself wider than any previous punk 'rockumentary'- whilst steering clear of the usual clichés. For the first time punk is put into a proper historical context and presented as part of a greater evolution of music and society in general. Punk is thought provokingly traced right back to the American music of the 1950's and documented through its explosion onto the music scene in the 1970's (against a background of social unrest and discontented youth). The film describes how punk redefined popular music and fashion and legitimised an independent, rebellious, do-it-yourself attitude and inspired and influenced an entire generation of film makers, poets, photographers, fashion designers and artists. Ultimately, punk is linked through to anti-establishment music, bands and youth culture of today. Commentary in Punk: Attitude is provided by all the main players of the US and UK punk scenes who give first hand accounts of what actually happened and why. Contributors include Tommy Ramone (The Ramones), Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie and the Banshees), Mick Jones (The Clash), David Johansen (New York Dolls) and Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols). There's also insight from influential observers including the cult film director, Jim Jarmusch, the writer Jon Savage and top US rock photographer Bob Gruen. The commentary is interspersed with excellent archive footage and underpinned by a stellar soundtrack including music by The Sex Pistols, Jimi Hendrix, Lou Reed, The Buzzcocks, Black Flag, The Clash, Patti Smith, Blink 182 and Limp Bizkit among many others. Punk: Attitude is a film only Don Letts could have made. From day one he had a pivotal role in the London punk scene as the DJ at the legendary Roxy - London's first punk club. He personally knew personally all the bands and individuals personalities associated with the punk scene and was single-handedly responsible for turning the first generation of punks onto reggae music. He even appeared on the cover of issue 6 7 of seminal punk fanzine Sniffin Glue. After the Roxy he had a successful music career (with Big Audio Dynamite, teaming up with The Clash's Mick Jones), then went on to make films. He has produced over 300 music videos for artists as diverse as Bob Marley, The Pogues, Eddie Grant and Elvis Costello and directed several feature films. In 2003 he received a Grammy Award for 'Westway to the World' - a renowned documentary about The Clash. Letts' unique position in the punk firmament, his first hand knowledge, near unlimited access to all the past and present 'faces' of the punk movement and finely honed writing and directing skills make him perfect for the role of punk's ultimate storyteller and the result is a film that has as much 'attitude' as its subject matter. Punk: Attitude is presented in a specially designed collectors case complete with a limited edition of issues 1 and 7 of Sniffin Glue. The film runs for 90 minutes and DVD extras include over an hour 120 mins of additional interviews on topics including fanzines, fashion, record companies and women in punk plus an interactive punk family tree and a 'Where are they now?' section. Punk: Attitude is priced around £24.99 and will be available through usual quality DVD and music stockists. Punk: Attitude is launched on October 3rd 2005 |
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