A rant against the A-Political and so called ‘Non Political’ Punks
I just had an argument with an admin who runs quite a large punk music based page on Facebook regarding a picture he posted.
The picture was of 2 stick men, one throwing a Swastika into a bin, the other throwing a Hammer & Sickle into a Bin. Around this image were the words “Love Music Hate Politics”.
My initial response to the image was that I disagreed and hated fence sitters. My reason for this is that many far right bands have now begun using the “We don’t do politics” line to avoid being exposed as the Nazi’s they are.
When I pointed out that you couldn’t love punk music and hate politics as the majority of punk is political the admin responded with
“MOST PUNKS HATE politicians and the shit they do SO YES HATE POLITICS and thats not being a fence sitter”
To which I responded – “Anarchism, Anti-authoritarianism, anti-fascism, these are all political theories and I fail to see how you could enjoy a song about any of these things (like the last few posts you made admin) without subscribing to them. The only way you could enjoy them without agreeing with them is if you didn’t understand the language that they are in as then they would be meaningless.”
Admins Response – “Fascism,Communism,Capitalism = War ,Greed ,hatred,money and power HATE POLITICS”
Me – “You’ve just completely ignored my point! You can hate on politicians and Governing State’s and their theory all you want, I hate them too but you cant hate on politics as it includes all stances against such things”
Admin – “ANARCHY is self Autonomy with no state telling you what to do .”
Me – “Anarchism is a political theory whether you like it or not. I’ll believe you hate politics when you post this same pic with an added stick man throwing a circle A into a bin.”
As of yet the admin has neither responded nor posted a picture with the addition I suggested.
Before my next point I would like to make clear that the admin regularly posts anti fascist links and attacks racism openly on the page.
Why I agued & why I’m posting this
Normally when I see something on facebook I ignore it as quite frankly I’ve got better things to do. I commented on this however as the line “I’m not interested in politics” is becoming increasing used by people who call themselves punk.
The “Not interested in politics” line is also the main defense of many bands when asked about their opinions on serious matters. They say they sit on the fence but in reality have a right wing agenda and refuse to admit it (you’ll never find someone who is ashamed to be an Anti-fascist) . More people saying their not interested in politics and sitting on the fence means that these bands can hide in plain site with an acceptable excuse.
PUNK MUSIC IS POLITICAL!!! (with perhaps the exception of pop punk) whether you like it or not! If you don’t accept this fact then your doing nothing more than buying into a fashion craze sold to you by the media. Even if a band doesn’t sing about politics directly songs about social issues are inherently political as politics affects society.
I’m not saying everyone has to go out and become an activist but have an opinion on important matters at least!
The next time someone tells you they’re not political in an argument over an issue in society, remind them that by there is no such thing and to get off the fence.
Richie Blitz 
I totally agree with you. Although I would point out that Anarchism is a mechanism NOT an ideology.
Great post, ’bout time we challenged the sweeping statements/ideals bands seem to automatically attach to punk rock.
The reason bands state they are Non Political or not interested in politics – isnt because they are not in some way political but because they don’t want to be associated with the political agendas of either the left wing or the right wing and this goes especially with skinhead/oi/streetpunk bands who have had their politics questioned in the past and dont particularly want it thrown in their faces again.
There are also a lot of newer bands that dont want to be associated with the left or right from the off but are being dragged into it by keyboard warriors who have nothing better to do than find something they dont lke about a band, calling them Nazis and generally causing these bands hassle, usually because of a photo of some dickhead in the audience seagull spotting (Sieg Heiling for those that dont know).
This is not the bands fault and just because someone has caught it on camera does not mean the band actually saw it happen.
Yes there are a few bands claiming to be non political bands that have questionable lyrics or a badly worded song – usually though this is just social commentary no different to what is heard in a pub on a weekend but the keyboard warriors instantly shout “nazis” without a second thought or actually knowing anything about the band other than they have played with other “dodgy” bands or have played a “dodgy” venue or have a couple of “dodgy” songs and have now been informed that they sit on an imaginary fence when all the bands and the audience want to do is go out have a laugh, have a good old jolly up, say what they want to, listen to some loud music and basically have a good time without someone calling them a nazi or a commie or questioning a bands politics because of something someone once said on an internet page or a flyer from years ago.
I know a couple of bands who are certainly not right wing, neither are they left wing but they do sing about things that effect everyone (not just a left or right political agenda) and say they are non political bands purely because the dont want to listen to the constant moaning, bickering and genaral nastiness, nor do they want it at their gigs – not because they are not political.
Love music, hate your government but if you got a political agenda then they dont want to hear it because they are not interested in that and both the left and the right have political agendas – thus no politics – its really easy to grasp and i cant see what the problem is with that.
The Warriors – an openly Patriotic,Anti-Rascist, “Non Political” band summed it up in the track “Internet Bullies” – with the line – “Were not Nazis, were not Reds, cant you get that in your fucking heads”
Heres a link to the song
Dear Noizy Bastid,
You seem to think that I’m saying you have to be far left or far right. I’m not saying either. I would expect there to be bands with a mix of right and left opinions on different issues as not everyone subscribes fully to a particular political theory. To say that you HAVE to be a nazi or a socialist is ridiculous.
You cited skinhead/oi/streetpunk bands in particular as being questioned and having accusations thrown their way and I understand that these kind of bands have to fight against the bonehead stereo type assigned to them. I don’t approve of people accusing others without hard proof (More than a photo of someone in the crowd sieg heilling) as is so often the case.
You named The Warriors and said they are “an openly Patriotic,Anti-Rascist, “Non Political” band”. Patriotism and anti-racism are both political stances as they reflect different ideologies, even if they are at different points in the spectrum. My point was that many bands wont even say they are anti-racism and choose to say “we’re non-political” instead, side stepping the question. This is the main thing I have a problem with.
Rather than saying they’re non-political because their views don’t fit one stance why don’t these bands say that while they don’t subscribe to one theory they are against Racism & Fascism.
Again what I wrote was about the normalization of the “Non-political” comment which fascist and racist bands hide behind.
As I wrote – “Even if a band doesn’t sing about politics directly, songs about social issues are inherently political as politics affects society.” Thus Punk is political.
Apologies for the 2 other comments i made that you chose wisely not to publish – thank you.
I understand exactly what you are saying as regards bands that wont even say they are anti-racist and claiming to be non political as a way of hiding their true selves (why dont they just say they are a RAC or WP band and be done with it – at least that way everyone knows where they stand) but there are also a lot of bands who don’t feel that they should have to state what they’re about- it is punk after all and was punk not about non conformity and having a bloody good time without someone questioning their motives or their politics – also punk was openly anti racist but not one single band had to say they were anti racist or against politics because it was punk and you didnt have to but you could choose to – nowadays it appears to be the opposite that you cant be a punk band if you dont say which side of this imaginary fence you stand.
I can name one band (although i’m not going to) who have been given a large amount of grief for their songs and the bands they play and associate with who don’t feel that they should claim anything, i have had it out with the singer about this and he says that as his girlfriend is Asian or Far eastern origin (cant remember where) and goes to some of their gigs with him (and other gigs too by alleged dodgy bands) that it is pretty obvious that he is not a racist – yet his band still get a lot of grief thrown at them for playing with dodgy bands / places / lyrics. Why should bands have to claim what they are to people who wont even bother to listen to them or talk to them but when they play somewhere that people dont like (an alleged dodgy venue or with alleged dodgy bands) then they get given grief for it.
And i see you still dont get the point of the Warriors being Non Political – the Warriors are quite a political band but choose not to get involved in the left/right arguing that is frankly, getting out of hand – Non political to a lot of Skinheads means not talking about which side of the left / right spectrum is right or wrong and not getting involved in arguements with the left or the right at gigs – thus leaving politics at the door. I wasnt saying that punk isnt political – yes it is – always has been (for those that deny this go and listen to Anarchy In the UK or White Riot) but you seem to be missing the point about the non political part of the oi / streetpunk scene. yes it may be being used for some bands to hide in but a hell of a lot of the bands that are being dragged into this are not interested in the petty arguements and just want to play the music which they are being denied because of some righteous crusade by internet warriors to stop them playing because they refuse to say whether they are anti-racist or not. Its a persons individual choice and if they want to state that they are anti racist then surely thats their choice and not the choice of some muppet behind a keyboard banging on about them being nazis when most of them clearly are not when you get talking to them.
Punk and politics go hand in hand but it is a person or bands choice to say what they are about or not. It does not automatically make someone a racist if they refuse to say whether they are or not.
I used to love the punk /oi scene because it didnt matter who or what you were – you could be a punk. Not anymore – i will always remain a punk at heart – its hard to stop after nearly 35 years but at this moment in time i dont care if i never go to another punk gig in my life because of all this rubbish that is being dragged up. the innocent as well as the guilty get hurt and i want no part of that. I will continue being an activist in my own way and will not conform to what other people want me to be.
All the best Richie – your album is fantastic by the way.
And 99% of pop punk isn’t punk by definition. (Sorry to Steve, ha ha!)
I’m getting my head around a punk band being patriotic… openly or not. God save the Queen eh, lol!