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Best Buy The Decline of Western Civilization [VHS] High quality
Centered on the early ’80s punk movement, this remains the best of Penelope Spheeris’s three attempts to chronicle the musical and angst-ridden subculture of urban Los Angeles. The film’s style, like the music, is abrasive, frank, and packed with energy, as it moves swiftly from hilarious band and fan interviews to the loud, raucous shows inside seedy L.A. nightclubs. Despite its tongue-in-cheek title, Spheeris neither condemns, nor glamorizes, the movement, though she definitely has an eye for talent and thankfully plays favorites. Lesser acts like Alice Bag Band and Catholic Discipline are given minimal screen time (enough so we understand why they’ve been forgotten) in favor of bands that either possess off- stage charisma (Circle Jerks) or onstage potency (Fear’s finale, winding their audience up with insults, is punk in its purest form). And, then there are X and Germs lead singer, Darby Crash. These two subjects comprise the majority of the film, as Spheeris hangs around their houses, captures numerous performances, and presents the movement’s peak performers. While X does it mostly onstage–their mix of thrash and rockabilly are the most enjoyable of the live performances–Crash’s stage is everywhere. A walking disaster, the singer candidly details–with simultaneously self-mocking humor and sadness–his drug abuse, miserable life, and the places that no longer let him play. The fact that he died shortly after production stamps Spheeris’s brazen time capsule with a morbid, though appropriate, epitaph. –Dave McCoy

The Decline of Western Civilization [VHS]

Comment with The Decline of Western Civilization [VHS]
There was something in the air. For some reason most of us punx anticipated it coming out. Maybe Maximum Rock n Roll (the Bay Area voluntary cooperative zine that’s still crankin’) or, more likely, Flipside (the L.A. area punk zine that had an incredible fundraiser 12/01 at the El Rey with Fear, Agent Orange, Circle Jerks/Weirdos who did 3 incredible early Black Flag songs w/ Keith singing, Adolescents, Screamers who killed w/ just 2 guys, Minutemen and others, hot doggy!). As I recall the film was limited release. Like Another State of Mind film had to search it out at limited theatre showings. Very satisfying. All the punk rock we could chew. I liked X and Black Flag of course and Fear and the Germs. The rest were tag alongs for me but all the real thing and the sorta film that you can only wish more were done like it, telling the story just as it was, with little interviews w/ punx in the scene. I’m 54 now. Saw Fear in ‘08 and they killed. I stood up outta my wheelchair which I need rather than just standing thru a whole concert and held onto a railing and just acted like a fish just outta water. This film, no one ages. It’s there forever. Check out the album cover of Manic Hispanic where they do a perfect imitation/tribute/cover of this album/movie cover. One of the finest imitations of something great ever. Nice to visit in the homes of the punk bands. Felt right at home. Well, actually, felt like I was glad I was livin’ my middle class life with a full time job, keepin’ my punk records & tapes tidy while I’d release at great punk gigs. It’s captured forever here. I anxiously await easy access to this precious document. It’s punk baby. Straight up. No metal, no metal/punk mix. It’s from the day. Yea, punk has thrived since then, still independent, still punk bands out there. Still have day jobs and do whatever they want musically/punkly when they do it. A true attainment of our own anarchy within a non anarchistic society. Not bad really. Kept big businesses’ hands off our music and scene cuz it just never did become popular, too abrasive. I’m glad. Get it when it’s affordable. And don’t forget the soundtrack. Another sweetness we anticipated back then. The day that album came out we were satisfied. Still am…