An Old Fart’s Journey to Goth Part 6: So Much for the Rebellion

Written by Kevin Tuxford

The Sex Pistols imploded in San Francisco and the Clash would soon become “sell out” hits across the Atlantic, where the Sex Pistols had only found a theatrical demise. In London, a growing “New Romantic” counter-movement, fed up with the failed politicization of musical rebellion started to re-emphasize the notion that youth was about more than just angry politics.

The Sex Pistols’ “tour” of England had a monumental effect, and led to the emergence of new bands and new scenes outside of London, some of which still had notions of political implications, but now without any real sense of positive change or optimism. One band in particular comes to mind in echoing (once again) the chaos, despair, and cynicism reminiscent of Germany between the wars. Don’t pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about.