Song of the Day: 'Sheena Is a Punk Rocker' by the Ramones

Although I'm not sure what we could possibly learn that we don't already know -- has a topic ever been examined more thoroughly? -- I am still looking forward to the "Punk" docuseries, premiering March 11 on Epix.

Maybe we'll be surprised as it's produced by Iggy Pop and John Varvatos, who has a store in the former home of CBGB.

Clean Living

From HERE.

For those who are not a fan of the Germs ...

Punk Turns the Big 4-0

The Go-Go's in 1978

A lot of places are celebrating the 40th birthday of punk, a movement that definitely had an influence on my youth, albeit mostly by way of its more accessible cousin New Wave. New York magazine goes inside the less-covered Los Angeles scene of the Dead Boys, the Bags, X, the Go-Go's, the Germs et al. HERE.

Debbie Harry in 1977

A friend just asked me if Blondie was punk. I responded that the Ramones are considered the quintessential New York punks, and when you listen to their music they're awfully pop (like Blondie), too, so I think it's fair to say Blondie came out of the punk scene.

Exene Cervenka and John Doe of X in 1977

Meanwhile ...

The Wall Street Journal reports that a series of exhibitions and events in London will mark the 40th anniversary of the short-lived, take-no-prisoners genre that exploded onto the music scene in the 1970s / Read HERE.

The Clash

And The Guardian goes inside the British Library exhibit HERE.

 "Slash: A Punk Magazine From Los Angeles, 1977–80" is available HERE.

Designer Punk

The New York Times goes behind the scenes of “Punk: Chaos to Couture,” opening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 9, which includes this get-up:.

DEBBIE HARRY OF BLONDIE, 1976

“That was a T-shirt that was given to us by an old friend of Chris’s, [Chris Stein, Blondie band mate] from when he was a kid. It was very, very old and tattered. And then there was a bikini bottom that was black leather; it belonged to my landlord Benton. He was a leather queen, and he said, ‘Here, you should wear this!’ I think the studded belt belonged to Handsome Dick Manitoba [of the Dictators]. I just put it together and made this little pinup outfit.”

I just wish the Glad-bag vest I donned to Carl's Junior in 1983 were still around for inclusion.