Friday March 29th 2024

FEAR

220px-FearTheRecord

FEAR
(A Punk Retrospective by Slimedog)

 

Fear is an early California Punk band that was forging the path of hardcore before it even existed. Starting in 1977 in Los Angeles, Fear, was known for their combative stage presence; baiting the crowd with lyrics and comments that were often misogynistic, homophobic and full of misanthropy. Fear is the epitome of what a punk band is perceived to be; anti-social, aggressive and politically incorrect.

I first became aware of them through the wonderful movie, The Decline of Western Civilization, which focused on the L.A. punk bands of the time and I’ve chosen many videos from that movie for this article. Their stage patter, taken at face value, would portray them as against women, gays and people in general. But it is done in such an absurd, sarcastic manner only a fool would take it seriously. Of course, the Politically Correct Police would swoop down upon them if they were around then- as I said, fools! I mean, their guitar player frequently performed in a dress (and gave out dollar bills to people to be his friend!)

Besides the movie, I guess their other claim to fame is their appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1981. I missed this show and only became aware that it even happened in the last couple of years. The story is that the comedian, John Belushi, befriended them and got them a spot on the show where they invited some of their fans to watch them who then succeeded in destroying twenty thousand dollars’ worth of studio equipment!

I think they are one of the best West Coast punk bands of all-time and I feel they’re a bit underrated and unnoticed. I will admit that most of their best material came from their first release, “The Record”, but it’s quite the record, indeed. Listening to their recorded music now I’m really surprised at the musicianship. These boys had the musical ability of a progressive rock or jazz fusion band of the time.

The band continues to this day but with the singer, Lee Ving, being the only original member. He has a unique voice that seems to switch from a gruff shouting voice to an almost theatrical, operatic voice usually in the same song. I’m guessing Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys was influenced by this guy.

So give them a listen. Don’t take them serious. Just seriously enjoy these great tunes and performances.

One of their best known songs, “I Love Livin’ In The City”, is a good reflection of the dark side of city life. Sarcastic in tone, there’s still a hint of pride in the realness and rawness of city life compared to suburban ennui.

FEAR
I Love Livin’ In The City

 

“I Don’t Care About You” is one of their more well-known songs. Hell, it was even covered by Guns N’ Roses. The lyrics paint bleak city scenes with a defiant chorus of, “I don’t care about you, Fuck You!” But instead of suggesting flippant cruelty, the character of the song seems to have a more disgusted take on life and implies that he has his own problems, too.

FEAR
I Don’t Care About You

 

“Let’s Have A War” sounds like what America was singing about ten years ago, or so. I love the un-political correctness and absurdity of the line, “Give guns to the queers”.

FEAR
Let’s Have A War

 

This is my favorite Christmas song. A girl in my car once saw I had this song, “Fuck Xmas”, on a cassette tape and was a bit upset. “Fuck Christmas” she exclaimed, “Fuck them. I like Christmas.” I, actually tried to convince her they were Mariah Carey’s backing band doing a side project.

FEAR
Fuck Xmas

 

Fear has several songs about beer which I think is a helluva lot better than having a lot of love songs. A couple of their albums even have “Beer” in the title. This little ditty carries the warm sentiment of “More Beer”, a suggestion that I find endearing and usually, unable to resist.

FEAR
More Beer

 

“Disconnected” is a great tune. I love how the chorus melody gets all dissonant and the music breaks apart. This is a good example of when music fits the lyrics perfectly.

FEAR
Disconnected

 

“Hey” has one word for the lyrics, repeated over and over again. On their live album after that song Lee Ving says, “That was a sing-a-long. Anybody who can guess all of them words, show up for your prize in the lavatory there.”

FEAR
Hey

 

“Beef Bologna” Is a song about meat products and how a certain girl lusts after such products, (the character of the song is obviously, meant to be a deli owner). It starts with a phony blues intro, but after this benign beginning this song wallops some serious behind and is my favorite tune by them.

I love New York, I love saxophones…I even love art and jazz. But that doesn’t stop me from loving this song, “New York’s All Right If You Like Saxophones.” (Though I don’t love freezing to death on the subway). Along with “Beef Bologna”, these are my two favorite Fear songs. And here they are performed live on Saturday Night Live. And this was way back in 1981 so who knows what the television audience was thinking. Even a little bit of “Let’s Start A War” is tagged on the end. But first a studio version of the first song and a live version of the later song.

FEAR FEAR FEAR
Beef Bologna
New York’s Alright
Sat Night Live

 

As Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or was it Jimmy Thrash, once said, “The only thing we have to fear, is Fear itself!”

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