by Carrie Brownstein

Nice entry about both Joe S's obvious passion, as well as your points about the "symmetry" between the old and the new.

I grew up in the early to mid-1970's (in small-town Oklahoma!), and the hippies and their music gave me a way for me to imagine what life on the "outside" was like.

Then came the punks, and it was what I'd always thought that music should sound like. And, like you, I could be pretty snotty about what I'd discovered.

It took some personal ageing to realize that Neil Young, CCR, The Dolls, Bowie, Sabbath, and even Led Zep (along with people like Hunter Thompson and Vonnegut) were part of a progression, not an either/or thing. And looking back on it, it???s not like, say, Television, Patti Smith, Devo, or the Pistols sounded remotely like the same thing anyway.

In the end, openness to new "stuff"(musical and otherwise) is what's important.

Also, what in the heck is a SHARP?

Btw, in 1983, I think it was, The Clash were near the end of their run, but I saw them BURN DOWN the civic auditorium in Wichita Falls, TX. Incredible show.

Skin Heads Against Racial Prejudice. Good question, I should clarify that in the post. -CB

Sent by bud | 10:55 AM ET | 12-07-2007

I had a very similar transformation my sophomore year in 1992. I went from a desperately insecure preppy wannabe to a desperately insecure goth/grunger. I must say though, it was a transformation that I am so happy I made. As an "adult" in my 30's now, I look fondly at the teenagers of today with liberty spikes and studded jackets, realizing that as much as things change, things stay the same. I have to say though; cut off Levi's and black tights is not a flattering combination either. I clearly remember my 15-year old self being called "thunder thighs" by a homeless man while hanging out in downtown Portland when wearing the Levi's/tights combination. It still hurts to think about that!

Sent by PDXLadie | 12:28 PM ET | 12-07-2007

I think that the distance most of us from the "in crowd" leads to the disdain we feel towards mainstream society. Being outside of that allows us to feel comfortable in our mutual disinterest towards what the rest of society finds important. Then as we begin to grow older we realize that the main reason we felt at home in the crowd was that they accepted us for who we were/are, without judging our "weird" thoughts and habits, and maybe they even respected us for it.

That blind acceptance of who we are and what we stand for is I think what we are all searching for, comfort amongst friends, and as we grow older we realize that eliminating people and groups and bands and ideas is what drove us away in the first place, so maybe we should let it all in and see where it takes us.

Sent by Brian | 12:28 PM ET | 12-07-2007

As a child, I think I was prone to believing that life would be a certain way. When I found out it wasn't, well, I reacted strongly. At a certain age, we become more aware of the inequities of life and we begin to see just how unfair so much of it is. You end up seeing a multitude of reactions, and anger is one that is more than justified. While it may be annoying to have a 15-year-old preach to you about Apartheid or Veganism or whatever they latch onto, the source of that preachiness is good. They are reacting to what they see as injustice and are rallying against it. Because they are teens and don't have a lot of experience in the world, sometimes their methodology is ham-fisted, but I like to think that is forgivable. As we become adults, many of us realize that prostelytising isn't always an effective way of getting your message across, and that the world is much more complicated than our 15-year-old selves realize. The corollary to the kid that 'fights the power' is the one that becomes disillusioned at 12 and doesn't have the education or support to get through it. I appreciate that they have come to an understanding that life isn't all izods and penny loafers, but it is more than a little sad when they simply opt out in the 7th grade before they gain the skills to offer them opportunities.

Sent by mikeyj | 12:34 PM ET | 12-07-2007

This is the best post so far! Love Joe Strummer...that's a given.
I can't really remember my exit from dressing the part either. To be honest, I actually started to dress "normal" again before I realized that's not really who I am. I had a love/hate relationship with the hippies. Loved them before the 90s and hated them ever since...until recently. I love the care-free open attitude hippies had, but I do still have a problem with them when I think that all those people who pushed for social change gave up for the most part and became what they were fighting against.
Anyways, nice insight about growing up, I've been noticing things happening to myself lately that I didn't pay attention to before as well. :)

Sent by Alex R | 12:51 PM ET | 12-07-2007

You know how bad you really need to get a Telecaster to round out your options. I'm sure Carrie B is eyeing the new Strummer model brought forth to the masses from Joe's very own estate right now. Maybe one will find it's way to you as the holiday's commence. I did say maybe. If not, no worries. What a utilitarian guitar, btw, that voiced his own songs, and aided in his strident statement all the more better. But honestly, I'll pass on the 'tribute,' I prefer my own 2 Tele's as tools.

Anyways, the last sentence above sounds as if you're more comfortable in allowing the journey to simply unfold, or more gracefully, unfurl, and present itself to you. That's what makes it all the more enjoyable. You'll still always be a little grungy at heart, no doubt. 'Territorial Pissings' will always make sense to you.

As my creative writing 101 professor said to the class, back in an era previously mentioned. (An absolute character of a man; petite in stature, with the appearance of old southern charm, a head full of frost white hair, and a white beard fluffed full on quite an aged and weathered face. Round rimmed spectacles rested on his nose that denoted an aura of sophistication, and intelligence.) Using me as an example for the class, he spoke, "{Insert my last name here} is the epitome of grunge, yet he may be the cleanest one here..."

You may be pondering plateaus, and steps, or looking back on what was a refreshing age of cultural expansion. Maybe even watching as those older and close to you get a bit more older each year. Regardless, don't lose the 'youthfulness' of your heart and mind, hold fast to exploration & knowledge, as well as, realize that it is better to be well rounded so that you may even "see the symmetry between" any two walks of life juxtaposed in a manner as colourful as even a "hippie to punk" ideal, ethos, and lifestyle. You may mellow, but keep a flame lit for ignition when you want to blaze in a slendor of magintude that makes molton lava appear cool in it's liquid form. Remember Corin's exquisitly textured voice as she belts out the first verse of 'one beat'. Refer to another line for inspiration, or recollection, "take me to the source of chaos let me be the butterfly, imperfect symmetry has underlying poetry and rhyme."

Who wants to be defined in a singular, and one dimensional scope in the end anyways?

"Oh Oh."

Sent by |3rian | 1:10 PM ET | 12-07-2007

ahh this is one great post. i emailed it to my friends who may have witnessed my own "transfomations" and i theirs. thanks carrie!

and as soon as i clock out i am heading to the movie theatre,

Sent by esme | 1:10 PM ET | 12-07-2007

I came of age musically right around the time that punk start to hit. Thanks to a great little radio station around where I grew up I got to hear lots of stuff right off the boat or straight up from NYC. I started going down to the Village to scour a little circuit of record shops that stocked the latest punk 45's. I'd grab the newest Clash or Television record and head back to my suburban town. Even though I was pretty deeply hooked I never was able to succumb and give up things that I also loved like Dylan and Neil Young and Springsteen. Clearly I wasn't totally cut out for the punk lifestyle. Of course, a deeply ingrained cynicism and distrust of groups made it easy to keep my distance.

Most of my friends at the time were into bands like Genesis and the Eagles, both anathema to me then, and now. I tried to convert some but few really were interested, but that was okay, we still got along fine. Still, of course, secretly I knew I was onto to something special. Is there anything greater about being a teen than discovering something that somehow helps you make sense of your world?

I went away to college, lost touch with most of my high school crew, and actually met and befriended people who were also passionate about the punk bands I loved. I lived for a summer with a few people who were massively obsessed with Lou Reed and The Velvets. I liked the Velvets (though grew to love them more once I was outside the obsessive circle) but not nearly as intensely as the apartment mates. One day I dragged home a Hank Williams record - I'd been wanting to check his stuff out for a while and I found a cheap copy of a double album greatest hits. The apartment mates laughed at my new purchase and seemed somewhat confused at this new addition to the record collection. I knew this skinny dead white guy from Alabama was as bad ass as Lou Reed could ever hope to be but the apartment mates acted like, I dunno, Genesis fans!

Sent by -pgc. | 1:42 PM ET | 12-07-2007

When you first get into a "scene," the rigidity, constriction, and rules of that scene are somehow liberating.

Eventually, they aren't. But somewhere, in the back of my head, I'm still connected to it. It's always lurking underneath.

I had known about Joe Strummer's prior life as "Woody" and of his stint with the 101ers. But watching [i]The Future is Unwritten[/i], I was somehow surprised that "Joe Strummer" wasn't always "Joe Strummer." That "Joe Strummer" didn't always exist and spring, fully-formed, as if from the head of Zeus.

Sent by Mick (not "Mick") | 1:45 PM ET | 12-07-2007

Oh man, I just totally flashed back to a "rebellious" act of my own: my little hippie, artsy, Waldorf high school made a Christmas book every year and each student had a page in it he or she could illustrate, write poetry on, etc. In my brief goth phase (lots of black long underwear, ripped/safety pinned jeans, Docs, Siouxsie shirts, black hair dye, etc.) I decided it would be SO ANTI-CHRISTMAS to do a page with the lyrics to Siouxsie & The Banshees' "Israel". Mind you, I had nary a clue as to what the lyrics were about or anything about the history of Israel. I just thought it was so badass. Except I did it in calligraphy which is probably the complete antithesis of badass. Agh, the embarrassment of youth!

Sent by Chriso | 1:49 PM ET | 12-07-2007

I find the Grateful Dead reference particularly of interest. Recently I was watching the movie Festival Express, which is pretty amazing to think of all that talent riding a train. To be a fly on the wall during some of those jam sessions. But I used to have a great amount of disdain for the Dead, but upon watching that I realized I finally let all my cool points fall to the floor and say Fuck it, I don't care what liking a band says about me, the Dead are pretty good." I guess when I started letting go of the resistance of what was cool and what wasn't. My exit was somewhat pronounced, I felt my slipping into clique standards was more of a silent entrance.

"How to Host a Murder" please do tell where or how this game can be found.

Sent by Luis | 2:05 PM ET | 12-07-2007

Looking back on my own strident punk rock years, I keep feeling like I missed out on a lot of great music/culture by being SO opposed to anything that didn't have an official Certified Punk Rock stamp of approval on it. From mid-way through my high school career until I finished college, being "punk" was the only identity I had... it seemed like if I let up at all and listened to Oasis (or the Tragically Hip or whoever else my non-punk friends were listening to in the mid-90's) without making snide comments, people wouldn't know I was a punk. I guess I eventually stopped worrying about it and allowed myself to listen to whatever pleased me... and as a result discovered a wealth of incredible music that wouldn't have otherwise fit in my narrow scope.

On the topic of Joe Strummer... I can't wait to see the film. A lot of my musical heroes have passed away over the years, but Strummer's death was the only one that actually made me cry (even Johnny Cash and 3/4 of the Ramones didn't do that)

Sent by Mike | 2:10 PM ET | 12-07-2007

Transformations...hopefully we've all had one...unless you were just born awesome. Mine was w/ fits and starts and hiccups, but the point where the fits and burps began was my first year of college when i met two guys that became great friends of mine during those years and my college girlfriend. All 3 of these folks introduced me to a new world of music (punk, new wave, and ska...yes, i'll admit it). At the same time 90's alt-rock/grunge was the rage too.
While i hesitate to say any transformation is complete, i think we "punks" need to remember that punk is more than fashion, music, and art. it's about the choices we make and how those choices impact the world and society negatively and hopefully more often than not...positively.

Sent by ben | 2:36 PM ET | 12-07-2007

As a poster above referenced a bit elliptically, Guitar Center is hawking a $900 pre-distressed, spray-painted, stencilled guitar, so that for a small fortune, we can all be just like Joe!

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Artist-Series-Joe-Strummer-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar-514642-i1321022.gc

I don't begrudge the Strummer estate the licensing revenue, but if there's a heaven, I suspect Joe there is having a good laugh at the idea that someone would pay $900 for a guitar that was commercially spray-painted and distressed.

There's a lesson in this somewhere about the commodification of anti-commodification, but I'm sure I don't know what it is. "All his life, he vigorously championed individuality, self-expression and change" - "but buy this guitar and you won't have to?"

Sent by Michael | 2:55 PM ET | 12-07-2007

I found it interesting that Joe sort of re-embraced his communal hippie ways in the 90s with his campfire/rave activities, which resonates with your own "exiting" a hard-line punk stance socially...really enjoying this blog, keep up the good work

Sent by Alan Licht | 4:43 PM ET | 12-07-2007

very nice work. that movie is brilliant, and the article is just the same.

by the way, I really enjoy the description of that sticker at the link you provided.

"Misfits sticker of JFK getting his brains blown out measuring 4" square.

Click here for an extreme detail view of this item."

Sent by tactful cactus | 4:57 PM ET | 12-07-2007

I'm sorry, I had to look up the lyrics to "Bullet" - wow - I'm gonna listen to the Clash now to purify myself

Sent by deli | 5:12 PM ET | 12-07-2007

I had my transformation around the sophmore year as well. Being close to the bay area I had a stint where I was way into Rancid. I turned into a non-understood indie snob though.

I really think it was the interpol cd my sister gave me for my birthday that changed me. It was rough time though. The indie (more or less scenester) kids at school didn't really care for me but loved how I exposed them to Ride and My Bloody Valentine.

Its been an interesting journey but I'm glad who I am; The youth home on a friday blasting New Day Rising by Husker Du

Sent by Devin(shire) | 7:40 PM ET | 12-07-2007

I went through a huge change around age 13, shortly after someone gave me my first Nirvana and Big Black records. And if my young impressionable self hadn't discovered Sonic Youth/Kim Gordon, then my blue-haired, ripped jeans and Doc Martens phase probably would have lasted a lot longer. She proved to me it is definitely possible to be punk rock while wearing Marc Jacobs.

Sent by Karissa | 10:31 PM ET | 12-07-2007

I can't think of Danzig without thinking of that Aqua Teen Hunger Force: "That f***ing robot came with the f***ing house and now he's f***ing gone! If I find out he's here I'm gonna be eating my cereal out of the bottom of your f***ing skull."

Sent by Nick L. | 11:16 PM ET | 12-07-2007

I was a mediocre track n field athlete in high school and I didnt know if I was a preppy or what not. I just followed what my father wanted me to aspire in high school, and I got scared not to .. Somehow it felt like Ritalin, except your "living the pill". Forcing myself to like math and proving I could do better in it, rather than my favorites English and History. I even remember getting teased in school

As for music, I was one of those Pearl Jam fans trying to survive a nu metal hell. It was all rap-metal everywhere here and just to fit in, I almost became a singer of a high school funk metal/rap metal band. I didnt like it, for the people in gigs didnt really like me. I'd scare girls away without even trying or intending to. My bandmates really ruined my confidence when they try to change my attitude. That started my hatred not just for nu metal but for the local rock scene here in Manila, Philippines. Carrie, I agree with what you said that not everybody deserves to form a band. I can really relate to that, for I see all these so-called rockers with no space for the weird, the irritant, the outcast, the "retard" . I mean, this is what it means to rock. To deviate and start an alternative life apart from the ones we're living. Working, playing on weekends, at times lovemaking to no avail. I realized all this after failing music school here,leading me to read Vonnegut, Zinn and others. I mean, it should go beyond just the music

Sent by Francis Aguilar | 12:22 AM ET | 12-08-2007

Yes, I also remember transforming from a sweet and innocent Korean boy into a know-it-all, indie-rock elitist during my teenage years (I am not necessarily proud).

These days, I've come to discard that kind of closed-minded attitude about music. I gradually realized that good music is regardless of its record label, indie credibility, or obscurity; that's something I discovered as I grew older.

So I guess my metamorphosis has come full circle from "young ignorance" to "sophomoric elitism" to "mature open-mindedness." It's been quite a fun journey.

Sent by Andy C | 5:01 AM ET | 12-08-2007

Train wreck syndrome sufferers unite-your description of that sticker made me giggle.

When I was 13, overnight I went from a Beatles loving hippie to a candy cane child. And by that I mean I had heard the White Stripes' Elephant and began to dress like a Meg White clone.

And then I discovered riot grrl and had to explain the bands on my shirts to most of my small,conservative Canadian city.

Sent by Kirie | 12:19 PM ET | 12-08-2007

Carrie: Have you watched (the single season of) Freaks & Geeks? Now out on dvd -- one of the best shows ever, and it captures precisely the impulse you describe through the lead, Lindsey, an amazing character who, now that I think of it, could have ended up in a great band, too, had she grown up ten years later than she did. (It takes place in a suburban Detroit high school circa 1980, which is just after I was graduated from just such a suburban Detroit school . . . .) Highly recommended.

Freaks & Geeks is one of my all time favorite shows! -CB

Sent by Marty Lederman | 1:53 PM ET | 12-08-2007

I started with the Grateful Dead, which made me an outcast in my high school, but I soon discovered the high school in the next city over, where the Dead were ultra-cool. I had the weird experience of being a bit out of things at my own high school, but relatively popular at another one (where the girl I dated went). Then punk happened, and I had to hide my liking for both kinds of music... the repproachment occurred at a Talking Heads concert (around Remain in Light) when the person next to me started saying he was going to follow them around--and become a "Heads Head"! I could see that the lines I'd drawn were going to collapse. And thank god. For the most part. The funny thing is, a lot of those bands were listening to music that some in the crowd disdained (Talking Heads with disco & funk, for example, & Elvis Costello with Stax/Volt stuff). On the other hand, I liked REM better when they really were "alternative."

Sent by David G. | 2:57 PM ET | 12-08-2007

Over the years, I've sort of absorbed whatever people around me were listening to. I started listening to classic rock (CCR, John Mellencamp, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd) in high school. Then a guy that I sat next to lent me his Love & Rockets tape and I became an instant Bauhaus/Love & Rockets fan. Then I discovered REM, Robyn Hitchcock, and some other alt-rock bands from another friend. I first heard punk from a college roommate, who was a big Dead Kennedys fan. And I became a Ministry fan when a friend gave me a tape because he bought it and hated it.

I never felt attached to any scene, though, so I've never really had a metamorphosis. I sort of float in-between scenes. I still love most of the bands I've always loved and occasionally go back and re-buy CD's of tapes I owned long ago.

After reading the post, I wondered if changing how you look is still the act of rebellion that it used to be. Twenty years ago, if you had Doc Martens, a nose ring, blue hair, or a tattoo, you stood out. When I went to college, a friend had a nose ring, and she said that when she first met someone, they would always stare at it and eventually, awkwardly, once they were sure she wasn't dangerous, broach the subject to ask her why she had a nose ring. ("Is it a religious thing?" "Are you some sort of radical?") Johnny Depp said that when he filmed "A Nightmare on Elm Street", the cast was shocked when he took off his shirt and saw his tattoo. They thought he must be in a biker gang.

How do kids rebel nowadays? Maybe bow ties & Beethoven?

Sent by Ned Ludd | 4:29 PM ET | 12-08-2007

Transformation: young dork, home movies, bar mitzvah, drugs, seeing talking heads on tv in 1978, sex pistols, riding bmx's in the basement, Ralph Records, MX-80, Violent Femmes at UWM, sun city girls meat puppets and firehose at sun club, running in the woods, before everyone was "alternative" the real freaks, coming through & growing up, going to college, having kids- watch them do it, stay home, real job, pay mortgage, older dork....full circle.

Sent by dk | 4:49 PM ET | 12-08-2007

1. This post is great.
2. The comment about writing the lyrics to Israel in the Xmas book is brilliant.
3. About the commodification of anti-commodification... I believe the answer to that question is Western Capitalism. If it can be bought or bought into it will be sold.

Youth culture in its wayward wandering figuring it out still ways has always had a penchant for identity play. Think of all the commerce that can generate. I think that becomes the line that separates a true "punk rock" mentality from just a phase. Maybe you try on the clothes but as a previous comment suggested it comes down to a value system in the end. This is why bands like the Clash, Fugazi, Bikini Kill, etc..... forever.... are so important because the art they make begins to inform the actual values of "punk." Or at least one arm of it, the arm I prefer.

When I was in high school (I also grew up in the suburbs of Detroit and Freaks and Geeks is basically it, god I love that show) those distinct lines of identity were hard to cross. I was also a B-list figure sort of jocky good student teen. BUT I was also an artist. So while I was involved in this more mainstream world I was always secretly being "counter culture." I bought myself a guitar, learned how to play it, quietly in my bedroom, against the wishes of my mom. I studied Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore and Kim Deal and began practicing my musical research with the Boston indie scene of the time. I never had the confidence to just throw my middle finger in the face of all that had defined me up to that point, although I had a very diverse set of friends my more arty punk friends kind of Breakfast Clubbed me in public and my more popular jock friends never really understood my "weird music and art stuff." Because I was a girl my guitar playing was never taken seriously by the boys starting Alice in Chains cover bands, dude, I didn't know how to play "Would" on my acoustic guitar, sue me!

At any rate, I think my inability to properly fit into either world made me a stronger more accepting adult. It also made me gravitate more towards the values that the punk artists were defining for themselves. Have you read "Dance of Days?" It's a great book about the DC punk scene. I gave my copy to a rebellious ("troubled" by the systems standards) high school kid I was teaching at an art camp last summer. Hopefully he read it.

Sent by KM | 9:23 AM ET | 12-09-2007

re: Bullet -- I joined as the Doyle for an all-female Misfits tribute in July, and we're learning the singer's parts for when we're on tour and she gets sick. I always thought I was decent at figuring out lyrics to things, but hell if I'm always 90% wrong whenever I try to decipher anything Danzig ever wrote. I knew what Bullet was about and still until last night thought he was saying "President's daughter is a body in the street." Don't even get me started on Teenagers from Mars.

Sent by Melissa K. | 12:28 PM ET | 12-09-2007

I missed out on Freaks and Geeks the first time through, but recently I've been watching it on DVD and I definitely found a lot that hit close to home in terms of my teenage years.

That Strummer Tele is a head-scratcher. I get that truly "worn" guitars are supposed to sound better, but I doubt you can really replicate it in a commercial setting. Also, for $900, why not just get an American Standard and play the crap out of it yourself? Although $900 is just cheap enough to tell me that it is probably a MIM or MIJ. If it were an American-made guitar, given the markup of having Joe's name on it, it would probably cost $2000.

Sent by Joel | 9:49 AM ET | 12-10-2007

Carrie --- just heard your commentary on your favorite things...Q-Tips are a great gift, plus you could fashion them into the wrapping and the gift...On a side note, I grew up with your sis and my brother took you to a school dance...small world, except, does that count when its on the radio? Hope to hear more from you in the weeks to come...

I recognize your last name, your brother's name is Adrian, right? Tell him 'hello'. -CB

Sent by Kiley Lyons | 3:06 PM ET | 12-10-2007

re: re: Bullet -- Melissa, I know exactly what you're talking about.
In the aforementioned Bullet, for the longest time I thought he was saying "Like corned beef or livestock..." in the line after "dirt's gonna be your dessert". (In the interest of good taste I won't print the correct lyrics here.) I KNEW it made no sense, but I still wish they were singing about delicious corned beef.

Sent by Mike | 11:52 AM ET | 12-11-2007

thought this was a great blog. thought this was a great line abput the movie - "isn't meant to be an introduction to a legend quite as much as it's intended to be a gift to devoted fans."
Los Angeles Times, Natalie Nichols

Sent by mc | 12:44 PM ET | 12-11-2007

I don't know why, but that reminds me of this:

http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=99

It's quite odd, actually.

Sent by Zej | 10:29 AM ET | 12-12-2007

Very nice post!
Transformation takes place on those willing to step out of the known and open up to unknown. The more I read, watch, and listen to Strummer...the more I can understand my own transformation. I remember my transformation taking place in a basement here in Eugene, Oregon. Black Flag and the Meat Puppets greeted this young teen and turned on the light...it was really quite like yanking the chain on a light fixture! I was just 13 then and needed something to hold on to! Rollins and the gang...they showed me the way! Strummer and the Clash were there for me too with London Calling. I also dug into reggae, ska, international punk....I started reading......questioning.....I also watched the people in my high school follow the same dead path as their parents...but I transformed early thanks to the punk scene and paying attention to the lyrics written by Strummer, Rollins, MacKaye, Morris...and a host of others who had transformed themselves.

Having grown up in the punk scene did something special for me and the people I know. It was and is a special deal that went down! Not saying that folks don't transform in other ways cause obviously they do, but I'm just glad the folks I mentioned above....and bless his good soul...Joe Strummer...had something to do with it!

For anyone interested I'm putting together a Strummer tribute show down here at Eugene's WOW Hall, set for August 16th...Joe's birthday week. We have a super house band along with many special guests! Were raising money for a few good causes and celebrating the life of Joe Strummer!

Thanks again carrie for the great post!

Eric@systemyou.org

Sent by Eric | 6:54 PM ET | 12-13-2007

I gotta tell you, it's good to know I wasn't the only one driving that car -- only I drove around Tacoma, not Seattle. And sadly, without the sticker. At that time I had a Jesus fish.

Sent by Alex | 8:25 PM ET | 12-17-2007

What a great pbservation on the notion of transformation. I unfortunately missed "The Future is Unwritten" when it played for a short term in the Bay Area (though I noticed it's finally coming to DVD this July) so I can't comment on that aspect of the film but thinking of my own interactions with Joe Stummer and the Clash and music during that time, the word transformation definitely describes what happened to me as well. I don't know how much of that transformation was brought on by being exposed to his music (for example) or how much I've been able to draw parallels but I'm guessing it's a bit of both.

Sent by David Comay | 6:30 PM ET | 05-24-2008