Billy Zoom, Brenda Perlin, and Linda Ramone at reading for Crime and PUNKishment: Photo by Tequila Mockingbird.
Book Soup has always supported punk readings, and tonight was no different, with readings from Brenda Perlin’s Crime and PUNKishment: Stories and Exclusive Interviews with Rodney Bingenheimer, Jack Grisham, Palmolive of the Slits, Linda Ramone and Captain Sensible.
Besides Brenda Perlin, there were readings from carefully selected underground talent including Linda Ramone, Jack Grisham, Billy Zoom, and Tom DeSavia, who had two best sellers with his books with John Doe. People recalled memories of their youth rebellion and the sometimes happy–and not so happy times in the punk rock underground wonderland of Southern California. Jack Grisham read about making pipe bombs in high school. Linda Ramone spoke about her love triangle with Joey and Johnny (Why does she remind me of the Lady in the Radiator from Eraserhead?).
At times it resembled an AA meeting, but everyone was looking pretty good, and happy they made it through that time to the other side. It provided an insight into one side of youth culture–at least we had a culture. We had flyers and bands and adventures. Some people were seriously changed by living the rock and roll lifestyle. We were all from the land of misfit children and we took care of each other. I know–I was one too.
