The Decline of Western Civilization

Decline is an excellent movie, but we must keep in mind that it only showcases one of the many sub-cultures of punk rock in LA at the time. the Germs and Fear etc are all great bands and the shots of them don't do them justice. but the shots of the fans cast an almost negative light on punk rockers. this movie was made at a time when angry youth from orange county found their way into the LA punk scene. they made it violent, (it always sort of was, but it was never meant to take away from the music) they are shown moshing for the sake of hurting each other not for celebrating the music; like the punkers before them. Decline is an excellent glimpse into the punk scene of the 70s and 80s, but be wary when showing it to someone who only has this to base their opinions of Punk rock on.

Kind of a guilty indulgence nowadays, this used to be required watching when i was in high school. It really is a great illumination of the burgeoning punk scene in LA in 1980. As the bands play, Spheeris prints the lyrics in subtitles, which is of course necessary if one really wants to know what the guy is screaming into the microphone. But also it turns the camera's POV into that of tourist, passing through this alien world. The band interviews reveal an honest approach to the music that really doesn't exist anymore. Then again, it's not as easy to come by $16/month former-church closets like Chavez of Black Flag does. How many unheard of bands do you know that aren't trying like the dickens to get a record deal? These guys just didn't care. And who can't love the commentary of the little French dude who used to be the "singer" for Catholic Discipline (of which Phranc was a member). His gritty voice delivers one of the best soliloquies ever captured on film: "I have excellent news for the world ... there's no such thing as New Wave." Whew! What a relief!

Raw, Real, and absolutely riveting, Director Penelope Spheeris' THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION captures a time and place -early 1980s Los Angeles- in a way that makes those who were there nostalgic, and those who weren't, envious. Or shocked. An incredible documentary, taking us along to watch the legends of the hardcore scene.

Black Flag, Germs, Catholic Discipline, X, Circle Jerks, Alice Bag Band, Fear, all perform in the tight, low-rent venues that made them all such legends. This is music fueled by boredom, anger, frustration, and fiery youth. All presented in its natural environment. The interviews with the bands are just as good as the live performances.

Also, the section where we get to hear from the fans is very enlightening.

If anyone ever asks you about the 1980s LA music that mattered, just show them this film...

Before she made Wayne's World, Ms Spheeris documented the LA Punk scene with the kind of dead pan perspective that makes this the all time classic commercial punk rock documentary. Of course Target Video's concert footage of the Dead Kennedys or the Mutants live at a home for the insane are much better, but unless you live near Leather Tongue Video in San Francisco, you probably won't find those, so this one will have to do.

Best Irony: Members of a famous X-Punk band tattooing each other on a dirty couch while apparently under the influence of some processed opiate are talking about how pot makes hippies so pathetically passive that someone would come in and kick the shit out of them and all they'd say is "Bummer maaan." And then going on to a completely deadpan unemotional account of finding a dead guy in the back yard.

Definitely the best insight into the whole era. Sure The Great Rock and Roll Swindle is fun, but this one shows the whole scene unflinchingly from a neutral angle. The camera is on and everyone becomes an actor on their own stage.

Let start off by first saying that I have been a punk fan most of my life. I always kind of had a lack of respect for the LA scene of the early 80's, which The Decline of Western Civilization documents, with the exception of X and Black Flag, being more of New York and English punk guy. After I saw this movie that completely changed. The people shown may look like a bunch of idiotic, strung out kids who think they might accomplish something beyond street-Cree through their lifestyles, but it is a great display of hedonism at it's best, coupled with some fun, loud rock n roll. One of the best scenes, and actually most insightful, is the interview with Claude Bessy of Catholic Discipline, or 'Kick-Boy' as he was known to Slash magazine readers. Originally from France, he rants about punk like a dirty old Frenchman and clues in viewers to many aspects of the punk, or DIY, attitude to music, politics, and life in general. Darby Crash of the Germs comes off as a complete idiot most of the time, but the Germs' performance of Manimal is pretty decent, complete with a young Pat Smear. Black Flag's performance with Chavo Pederast on vocals (it was filmed a couple of years before Henry Rollins joined the band) is decent, and X and FEAR give the best performances in the movie. Look out for the interviews with the young punk kids. You'll hear some of the funniest things you have ever heard in a documentary. Highly recommended.