English
The beginnings of North American hardcore took place in different areas in the United States. California was one of its centres at the beginning of the 80s with bands such as Blag Flag, leading a whole new scene of hardcore punk. However, little is remembered about the two guys from Washington DC who were childhood friends (and still are today) who went to a Ramones concert with some school friends and after being so shocked from the impressive New York band, dressed with jeans and leather jackets, that had no option but to form their own bands. These two guys were Ian McKaye, who would become the singer of Minor Threat and then member of the famous band Fugazi, and the charismatic Henry Rollins, singer of the incredible Black Flag and then of Rollins Band. Little could these pioneers of hardcore punk have imagined that years later a band like Simple Plan would exist and label themselves ´punk´.
A band like Simple Plan contributes to the negative references towards punk. The commercial possibilities of rock, with a good producer, lie in good taste and catchy songs without limits. The DIY spirit has certainly been lost in many aspects around the world. The replacement of the true DIY spirit, ´Do It Yourself´, is perhaps preserved on the internet, where DIY now means ´Download It Yourself´. That´s why Neil Young said not long ago that downloading music on the internet is the new way of making radio. If we look back and review the dial of any radio, whether it´s in Rome or in any other city, we´ll see that advertising fills it all as well as terrible quality music.
It´s a shame for such a great musical scene like Canada´s that a band like Simple Plan comes from its ranks. To know more about the true punk scene in Canada, you just have to watch the documentary ´Bloodied and Unbowed´, which portrays all the aggressive punk scene in Vancouver from 1979 to 1982. Let´s say that the whole world looks at Canada as that democratic land which is the paradise of solemnity next to the United States. However, Canada also rocks and experiments, like all the bands of the Constellation Records label for example, who have brought post rock, experimentation and traditional sounds to exceptional levels: Godspeed You! Black Empreror, Do Make Say Think, Fly Pan Am and A Silver Mount Zion are just a few names that stand out of this also provocative independent scene. Where does Simple Plan fall into all of this? It´s difficult to say exactly. For more information on Simple Plan so that you make the right choice of seeing them in Rome on March 29th, visit their official website: http://www.simpleplan.com/
Get apartments in Rome and enjoy its nights of concerts and parties. Rome offers one of the most interesting musical scenes in Europe. The Italian capital awaits you so that you can enjoy new musical waves and never-ending nights.
