SUBHUMANS UK
Safety Pins Banned at Punk Rock Show

by Thom White

HOLLYWOOD -- March 31, 2003 -- All the young punks' safety pins lie scattered about the Sunset sidewalk. Security jealously guards the door and leaves the heaviest bouncers to perform heavy-duty body searches on each patron who dares to see the latest revival of the UK's Subhumans.

Inconvenient full body checks and ridiculous restrictions on what one can carry into the club are fast earning The Roxy a well-deserved reputation as the worst possible place to see a show in L.A.

Mere possession of cigarettes is reason for exclusion from the club. "You're gonna hafta throw those away, ma'am. It's the rules." A steady flow of punklettes are seen scurrying back to their autos to deposit their stogie light 100s, rather than bear the high cost and horror of a wasted pack of smokes.

The Roxy management takes its stringent policy prohibiting "weapon" possession to the same unreasonable extreme as its commitment to a smoke-free environment. Known implements for troublesome concertgoers such as chains, pocket knives, and box cutters are of course restricted.

But, in another example of the inanity that has dominated the American practice of "security" since Terrible Tuesday, the Roxy banned a major accoutrement of punk style, safety pins (ballpoint pens, and cigarettes, which are known to kill people, are also prohibited items). All patrons were ordered to de-pin themselves and discard these potential security hazards on the pavement.

After submitting to the Roxy security policy, the disarmed crowd turned its attention to a night of punk rock magic and fraternity. Anyone could see this was going to be pleasant night of awe-inspiring liberty spikes and sweet 'hawk spotting. Although there was this one guy with bent spikes who had not yet achieved pro-mohawk status, there were plenty of beauties to behold in all their splendor.

The Voids got the ball rolling and the floor hopping with jolly kids dancing around in a ring to the band's brand of traditional folk punk. The first remarkable thing about the Voids is that they have a girl singer. They did a lot of those songs where it starts slowly and boringly, and then, abruptly, (like you'd never expect at a punk show) the song goes hyperfast, stirring the dance floor into an agitated state.

A welcome sort of camaraderie permeated the dance circle. Every spiky-haired kid who might stumble immediately found himself in the arms of two fellow rockers who would put him back on his feet. There were no thugs at this show, no reckless moshing, no one getting stepped on, just some honest, hard-rockin' slam-dancing. One observer cautioned, however, that these nancies would have gotten their asses beat in an East Coast hardcore pit.

Adri, the Voids' lead singer, closed their set with a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that got everyone waving their fists and chanting in unison, "Fuck the LAPD." Now, the girl singer is remarkable, but this song certainly was not, making one wonder, why the tough feeling towards our boys in blue, Adri?

If it's about that LAPD Rampart Scandal from a couple years back, be assured, Adri, that that was mainly lies from the offending officer, Rafael Perez, and run-of-the-mill L.A. Times slime meant to sully the reputation of all the good people who live along scenic Rampart Boulevard. So don't believe that L.A. Times slime.

The Enemies were the second band. They had just returned from a tour in Europe, and I hope, for their sake, that people over there like them better than over here. Throughout the performance, one could sense that most attendees were waiting impatiently for this boring and uncreative rockin' trio to get done and make way for the Subhumans.

Finally, the legends of 1980s punk rock, the Subhumans UK, exploded on stage with "Parasites," the 1981 classic from Demolition War, their very first EP. All original members were there: Trotsky pounding the skins, Phil supplying the low-end, Bruce on guitar, and, of course, Dick on the mic.

This fantastic spectacle is one punk reunion this reviewer never imagined ever witnessing. The Subhumans UK always had an über-underground reputation, and had last released a record in 1986. Most of the band (except Bruce) reformed in the '90s as the ska band, Citizen Fish, to continue their musical experimentation. Then the Subhumans shocked the music world in 1998 with a reunion tour around America and are now doing it again with a two-month trek across the States this springtime.

Subhumans played well-known tunes like "British Disease," "Big City," and "Killing" and closed triumphantly with "Not Me" and "Religious Wars." Dick & Crew played some new additions as well. Dick introduced one little number called "This Year's War,"that they put together during Operation Infinite Afghani Freedom in 2001, and warned the crowd that, "when they [our government] run out of troops, they're coming for you!"

Check out the Subhumans -- punk gods keeping the legend alive.

* * * * *

Heads of State (Subhumans, 1985)

Down in the basement in the house with the police outside
There’s something secret hidden away.
In various crates in a paralyzed state
Are the heads for the mood of the day.

There’s one full of piety and one for anxiety
And one for when we’re heading for war.
And one for the masses and the privileged classes
And one that does nothing at all.

The replaceable heads are for the government leaders
Who always seem to change their politics
Like the head for the nation doesn’t deal with immigration
Cos patriots and riots don’t mix
When the head for the day says “I’ll do it this way”
Remember the replaceable head ...

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Reader Comments

From: AdriVoid@aol.com
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003

Hello, This is Adri from The Voids..

I just got finished reading your review of the Subhumans show at The Roxy...Gosh you are hard critic!!! But fair and truthful which I completely admire.....

So why the tough feeling towards the LAPD?! Well, yes that song was inspired by the Rampart scandal years back, and I do know the situation and I do know that that was mainly lies from Officer Rafael Perez but there was more to it, the song is more than saying "Fuck The LAPD"...and that situation..... It's about being young and picked on by cops. I don't know how old you are, but I spend a lot of time at shows and see people getting harrased by cops for standing around.. It's unfair...like they have nothing better to do...

Do I hate the LAPD and authority? No. But I do hate the part of them that unfairly judge and are corrupt. And we both know that there ARE more ASSHOLES in the LAPD than just Officer Rafael Perez.

Thanks for trying to teach me something, but I already know why I write about what I write about...Hopefully, sir, you can catch us at another show and I hope we don't play too many songs that start "Slowingly and boringly" (He! He!)

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