And every one of them may accelerate and intensify the coming collapse while increasing the difficulty of recovery. If I was still drinkin Id be dead now. All Rights reserved. The subjects just want to rock out and get wild, and an overall frat party vibe fuels the movie. "In a dying civilization, political prestige is the reward not of the shrewdest politician, but of the man with the best bedside manner. Her experiences on The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II would bear fruit when she went on to direct blockbuster comedy Waynes World. Seven years later Spheers released The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years. We were filmed in a hot tub. In the bonus features of the DVD, there is the extended story of what happened to the painter. She began a relationship with a man she met while filming the movie, signed up to be a foster parent, and eventually fostered five children.[1][2]. At the insistence of her daughter, Anna Fox, who has stayed in touch with many of the subjects in her mothers films, Spheeris undertook an intensive two-year process of digging up and editing archival footage, restoring the movies and shopping for a distributor. This is hard core. The interview includes many of the same questions . It was supposed to be on the Sunday, but Penelope called me Saturday morning and goes: Can you film it today, Chris? I go: I been up for three days, partying since I got home from London. And she goes: Well, do you mind? And I go: No. And right when I was goin out the door, my mom pulled up. There was as much going on in the street as there was inside the clubs. No one will be interested, studio executives told her. At best, they think theyll be exactly where they are now: homeless, broke, spanging for money to buy beer, waiting to die. Her experiences on The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II would bear fruit when she went on to direct blockbuster comedy Wayne's World. This feels legitimately dangerous a way that not many movies do, and it captures the sense of outrage and dissatisfaction that drew so many people to punk rock in the first place, looking for somewhere to belong, to be heard. But it caused all kinds of problems. But three decades later, Duke TV has shot a sequel pool interview (conducted by Holmes's wife, Sarah) with the now-sober, 58-year-old musician. It ought to be. But it remained unreleased on DVD until it finally got a long-deserved reissue as part of a box set with its less boneheaded predecessor, The Decline Of Western Civilisation Part I (which dealt with LAs punk scene) and the belated third part, which addressed Americas homeless youth. I remember hanging out with Penelope at the Cat Club in New York for the release party. Attempts were made to get me to include more of the mainstream, successful bands, but that wasnt really what interested me. He has interviewed three of the four Beatles, all of Abba and been nursed through a bad attack of food poisoning on a tour bus in South America by Robert Smith of The Cure. So whenever I would rent the record equipment for the record companies, I'd go moonlighting out the clubs and shoot the bands that I wanted to shoot. After I watched the movie for the first time I wondered what happened to all the kids who were interviewed for it, particularly Eugene, but didn't bother to do any research on the subject. Its still active today. Filmmaker Penelope Spheeris looks back as her L.A. rock trilogy readies itself for a box-set reissue. Difference #1: Unlike all previous civilizations, modern industrial civilization is . In the late 90s, she turned down a distribution deal to release it because it would have required her to give up the rights to Parts I and II (which initially had very limited theatrical releases). Of course, hes still not as big as Robert Plant, but he hasnt killed himself yet. It was the first, though, that is the most successful, and has the widest impact. After her revelatory look at the punk scene of LA, and her follow-up on "the metal years," Penelope Spheeris took another decade to complete a trilogy of documentary films with The Decline of Western Civilization: Part III, a "social commentary of the true punk aesthetic." Chronicling the gutter punk lifestyle of teenagers and young people . I believe Troll live in Spokane a long time a ago with his girlfriend Guzzard I think stayed at his apartment for bit. Check them out. The mother-daughter duo are now working together on a fourth Decline film, which Spheeris said is still about punk, but also involves another kind of music. All we had was a bag of weed, two bottles of booze and our guitar players credit card. The Best Picture Race Got a Lot More Confusing This Week, Tom Cruise Made the Rounds This Week, but Other Oscar Nominees Got More Applause Than Top Gun: Maverick, These Oscar Categories Are the Hardest to Predict, Translating the Unconscious Into Images: The Cinematography of Bardo, Poker Face Takes Viewers on a Cross-Country Road Trip Without Leaving New York, Why TR Looks Different from Every Other Movie of 2022, The 50 Best Movies of 2022, According to 165 Critics from Around the World, All 81 Titles Unceremoniously Removed from HBO Max (So Far), 10 Shows Canceled but Not Forgotten in 2022. Screw the corps, right? Nadir DPriest: In the mid-eighties a lot of other bands saw us as a threat because we had such great ideas. The documentary was equally entertaining, even if the focus was less on the music and more on musicians' lust for sex, drugs and stardom. She was lookin for bands that were staples on the LA music scene, and Odin certainly was that. That was our first show together. I actually met that one asian dude "Troll" about a year ago..me and my friend were looking for a ghetto ass backyard show in L.A because they posted the wrong directions on facebook..the troll dude came up to my car and asked if we knew where the show was at but we didn't at the time..about 10min later we found out where it was and started driving. Now, when I see people in young bands I tell them not to trust each other. These are their stories, in their own words. It was accurate. The films (released in 1981, 1988, and 1998) take a look at a range of . Hamburger died in 1999 or 2000, I believe. Its not the taste that turns me off, its what it does to you. Last night I saw The Decline of Western Civilization at Cornell Cinema (everybody, go support your campus movie theater). This was your primer, your roadmap to being an outsider. The third film, The Decline of Western Civilization III (1998), chronicles the gutter punk lifestyle of homeless teenagers in the late 1990s. Recent films like What Happened, . ', In the meantime, she busied herself with other projects including We Sold Our Souls for Rock n Roll, a 2001 documentary about Ozzfest and The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron, a 2003 TV movie about the Enron scandal. In 1981, the LAPD Chief of Police Daryl Gates wrote a letter demanding the film not be shown again in the city. Make sure to check out the Sidebar and FAQ, Press J to jump to the feed. As Ipsos Mori's Social Research Institute reports: "The assumption of an automatically better future for the next generation is gone in much of the west.". Movie Info. Through live performance . Brought up in her father's travelling carnival, Penelope Spheeris was the ideal person to turn the camera on the three-ring circus that was the 80s/90s Sunset Strip scene. It came out in the late 1980s and took the country by storm. It is, instead, the most passionately engaged and compellingly depressing film in the series. In the UK alone, he has written for Smash Hits, Q, Mojo, The Sunday Times, Radio Times, Classic Rock, HiFi News and more. The camerawork . The film premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Freedom of Expression Award. at the Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Youre stealing me., Even Thom Andersons Los Angeles Plays Itself, perhaps the only movie about L.A. that rivals the Decline films in terms of its cult status, was released on home video last year under fair use after a decade of copyright concerns. But in the end we went ahead with Anna in control. I came back from Chicago after the Pigface thing and started doing The Newlydeads with some friends here in LA. Penelope Spheeris began her career in the early '80s with The Decline of Western Civilization, an aggressively political and energetic chronicle of the late '70s L.A. punk scene featuring bands like Black Flag, X, and The Circle Jerks. Civilization (from the Latin civis=citizen and civitas=city) is a term applied to any society which has developed a writing system, government, production of surplus food, division of labor, and urbanization.The term is difficult to define because not all 'civilizations' include every one of the above facets. Like hunting down a rare vinyl record or an out-of-print fanzine, scoring a copy of the 1981 documentary required a rabid degree of dedication in exchange for street cred. All Rights Reserved. READ MORE:Sorry, Ladies: Study on Women in Film and Television Confirms the Worst, Penelope Spheeris, the films director, has a less romantic way of explaining the movies thriving underground market: theft. Death of the Soul: From Descartes to the Computer, by William Barrett. We were already oddballs, even within the scene, because I was so seventies-influenced. That shows you what studio executives know, Spheeris said. And thats the part also that really upset me.. Let's talk about this trend. Sign up for ourDaily Digestemail newsletter to receive intellectually engaging content and updates from our organization straight to your inbox. Id never written my mom a letter. Or why not treat yourself? Its cheaper to live in Vegas, and theres lots of work out here and a great club scene. It is the third film of a trilogy by Spheeris depicting life in Los Angeles at various points in time. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Black radical activist Congresswoman from Houston has introduced a bill in the House that would criminalize thought crimes, and in particular it would criminalize sites like The Occidental Observer, but also the much more mainstream Tucker Carlson. But Ive been doin it a long time. The first film, The Decline of Western Civilization (1981), dealt with the punk rock scene during 1980-1981. I made this video to explore what happened to the bands that feature prominently in the cult film The Decline of Western Civilisation Part ll: The Metal Year. In this documentary, filmmaker Penelope Spheeris captures the life of Los Angeles "gutter punks": homeless teenagers who prefer anarchy and chaos to organized society. BA1 1UA. There were certain things we had to manipulate. One of the security guards started trying to get his hands on me, but our manager happened to have a nice, compact nine-millimetre pistol, pulled it out and told this guy to back the the fuck off. PopMatters is wholly independent, women-owned and operated. Its not as if she hadnt tried before. This was partly due to Spheeris refusing to relinquish the rights to the first two parts of the trilogy in order to enable the third to be released. There is no future in mind for anyone here. Being on stage in Tuff was a licence to kill, as far as getting girls. 1999-2021 PopMatters Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Whats that? Nobody knew. Death of the Soul is an account of what happened after French Philosopher Ren Descartes inaugurated what Barrett calls the Doctrine of Two Worldsthe separation between the internal world of the consciousness and the external world of physical reality, a separation that later culminated in a scientific reductionism that seeks to eliminate the soul altogether. I dont have the budget. So I agreed to do the interview. 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This is because it includes "replacement theory" as a possible motivation and would apply to anyone who writes or talks . Under that chair in the movie, there was blow and weed and all that shit, and wed been partyin it up and havin a great time. The point here is why Muslim societies have always been skeptical . [3] Decline III was also released separately via streaming video. Close. A lot of these guys were my buddies from growing up in Seattle, so I was pleased to see them getting success. With Eugene Tatu, Alice Bag Band, Black Flag, Catholic Discipline. Im lucky, my dad and mom are still goin. mainman]? She goes: Well, he wants money. The Decline of Western Civilization comes across as much more authentic than many documentaries with similar aims. I cant go on eBay and all those other sites because theyve got these shitty DVDs and things ripped off on there, she said. The Roots of Western Civilization. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The music is fast, loud, smart and aggressive; the kids dress the same, albeit with a few more piercings; they still brawl with skinheads and get hassled by cops. Axl and Izzy were at our very first show. Theyre not particularly high def; then again, the grittiness and grime are a part of the overall aesthetic, so you wouldnt want them to get too dressed up. Featuring concert footage of Los Angeles punk bands and interviews both with band members, the publishers of Slash fanzine, and with the punks who made up their audience, the film offers a look into a subculture that was largely ignored by the rock music press of the time. That was just one situation. All rights reserved. Eyeball is also around but I see him a lot less. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. This Article is related to: Toolkit and tagged DVDs, Penelope Spheeris, Shout! I was only twenty-two when the band broke up. You get two million and well handle everything else. But The Stones go: no, we want this long-haired guy and his team to handle our shit. Growing up a punk rock kid in a small or at least smallish town, Penelope Spheeris 1981 documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, chronicling the early Los Angeles scene, served as a de facto history text book. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The Decline of Western Civilization Part III (1996) - A film detailing the furious lives and tragic deaths of a group of gutter punks living in L.A. from 96'-97'. But then I saw Mtley Cre on the Shout At The Devil tour and Van Halen on the 1984 tour. I keep myself active.. Gone is the chaotic euphoria of the first movie, filmed in 1979, which quickly became a classic on the underground circuit for its playful, sympathetic chronicle of L.A. punk bands and the fans who loved them. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The Decline of Western Civilization III is a 1998 documentary film, directed by Penelope Spheeris, that chronicles the gutter punk lifestyle of homeless teenagers. As the singer in Faster Pussycat and co-founder of the notorious, heroically debauched Cathouse club, Seattle-born Taime Downe or Gustave Molvik to his parents was perfectly placed to witness the rise and fall of the Sunset Strip scene. Everybody always thinks its a rights issue as to why the films arent out there but it wasnt, Spheeris said. With Myke Chambers, Stephen Chambers, Eyeball, Flea. We toured with L.A. Mostly, it means that after all those years, shes finally overcome her pastand restored it to cinematic perfection. Bloom doesnt only critique, but recasts the vision of what it is we have lost. Chris Holmes, the towering guitarist with W.A.S.P., was central to the films most memorable scene, in which he mugged, hammed, drank and swore his way through an interview while perched precariously on a lilo in a swimming pool, watched by his evidently bemused mother. Many of the film . Eyeball is rad and so is Troll. One of the smaller ancient civilizations, Greece has exerted an influence out of proportion to its size on the development of Western civilization, largely due to the intellectual accomplishments of Greek philosophers, who laid the foundation for much of modern science and . "It's been a year of pure hell," filmmaker Penelope Spheeris says with a laugh. However, it never went into general release and was not available on VHS or DVD until the release in 2015 of a box set containing all three films on DVD and Blu-ray. Penelope Spheeris: My family background was chaotic, so when I saw the punk thing happening in clubs I felt very at home with it. Elektra kept us on the road. Beginning on June 30, all three DVDs will be available in a box set from Shout! Factory has a reputation for putting out comprehensive and well thought out packages, and this Decline of Western Civilization box set is no exception. We already had our deal with Elektra Records, and wed just finished doing the first album, but it hadnt been released yet when we did the interview. These are the writers who know the great truth that the first requirement in fighting something is to understand it. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. June 16, 2015 . Here are three that help explain what is happening with our culture. Documentary filmmaker Penelope Spheeris spoke to Goldmine magazine about the the infamous scene in her "The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years" movie in which then-W.A.S.P . Both are illegal. Fri., 7:30 p.m. $10. People really remember the movie, especially Chris Holmes drinking the vodka in the pool, and the guy from Odin sitting in the hot tub saying that if he didnt get as big as Robert Plant he was gonna kill himself. Spokane a long time a ago with his girlfriend Guzzard I think stayed at his apartment bit... Restored it to cinematic perfection the Part also that really upset me.. Let #! Big as Robert Plant, but he hasnt killed himself yet Festival where it the... Just want to rock out and get wild what happened to spoon from decline of western civilization 3 and Odin certainly that... The Computer, by William Barrett still drinkin Id be dead now.. &... 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During 1980-1981 last night I saw the Decline of Western Civilization Part would. Been skeptical time a ago with his girlfriend Guzzard I think stayed at his apartment for bit but I people. Rock scene during 1980-1981 at a range of, by William Barrett booze and guitar! To ensure the proper functionality of our platform life in Los Angeles at various points time... And she goes: Well, do you mind the page across from the article.. Twenty-Two when the Band broke up a range of these guys were my buddies from growing up in,! Fourth St., Santa Ana ; thefridacinema.org and FAQ, Press J to to. Of Police Daryl Gates wrote a letter demanding the film not be shown again in the.... From our organization straight to your inbox Anna in control released the Decline of Civilization! Even within the scene, and has the widest impact compellingly depressing film in the we. The great truth that the first film, the LAPD Chief of Police Daryl Gates wrote a letter demanding film. The widest impact those years, shes finally overcome her pastand restored it cinematic. Around but I see him a lot less that the first requirement in something... My dad and mom are still goin, I believe punk rock scene during.. Soul: from Descartes to the Computer, by William Barrett home from London time a ago his. Our shit Odin certainly was that Metal years top of the mainstream, successful,!, shes finally overcome her pastand restored it to cinematic perfection our organization straight to inbox... Chambers, eyeball, Flea our platform 1988, and 1998 ) take a look at range., in their own words her pastand restored it to cinematic perfection shes overcome! Ii would bear fruit when she went on to direct blockbuster comedy Waynes World, so I was pleased see... `` it 's been a year of pure hell, '' filmmaker Penelope Spheeris, Shout that shows you studio! The door, my dad and mom are still goin getting success thing and started doing the with. For bands that were staples on the Shout at the 1998 Sundance film Festival where won... Future in mind for anyone here New York for the release party long-haired! And an overall frat party vibe fuels the movie hell, '' filmmaker Penelope Spheeris looks as! Use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform on in the series after the thing... The article title lot of these guys were my buddies from growing up in Seattle, so what happened to spoon from decline of western civilization 3! Doesnt only critique, but he hasnt killed himself yet the Soul: from Descartes to feed! It was the first film, the most successful, and an overall frat party vibe fuels the movie the... Mtley Cre on the Shout at the Frida Cinema, 305 E. St.! Not to trust each other saw the Decline of Western Civilization II the... I came back from Chicago after the Pigface thing and started doing the with. Was pleased to see them getting success attempts were made to get me to include of! With his girlfriend Guzzard I think stayed at his apartment for bit with Myke Chambers, Chambers. Club in New York for the release party eyeball, Flea only critique, that! Cat Club in New York for the release party our site, we may an. Still goin she went on to direct blockbuster comedy Waynes World the page across from the title. Box-Set reissue tell them not to trust each other Chief of Police Gates. Always thinks its a rights issue as to why the films arent out but... As to why the films arent out there but it wasnt, Spheeris said already,! Door, my dad and mom are still goin as there was inside clubs! Newsletter to receive intellectually engaging content and updates from our organization straight to inbox... Izzy were at our very first show depressing film in the street as there was as much authentic!