This is something that I was thinking a lot about since I watched and reviewed Punk’s Not Dead this weekend.
In the film, there were some classic clips of punk rock’s early, maligning treatment by the American media. One of the most blatant and clueless was the now infamous episode of Quincy M.E., “Next Stop Nowhere”, or “The Quincy Punk Episode” as it’s now better known as.
In the episode, a kid is stabbed while slamdancing at a punk show, during a performance at a club called the Ground Zero by the band Mayhem (they were concocted for the show, but I think it’s a decent guess that they were inspired by the band Fear, who had performed a now-legendary but catastrophic set on SNL the year before). As is the case with every episode of Quincy M.E., Jack Klugman (as Quincy), performed the autopsy then set out to solve the crime.
It’s a straightforward setup for a formulaic show, but where the episode went wrong was in its sensationalistic, ill-informed attack on punk rock. It featured a melodramatic teen and her mother who was quick to blame any relationship problems with her daughter on punk rock.
The episodes portrayal of punk rock as a blatantly nihilist movement was laughable to. There are a million classic bits of dialogue, but some of the episode’s more legendary moments include:
Quincy: You’re not blaming what happened to that girl on music?Dr. Hanover: Don’t underestimate this particular kind of music, Quince. You tell a kid, a vulnerable kid, over and over again that life isn’t worth living, that violence is its own reward and you add to it the kind of intensity that this music has, and you just might convince her.
Quincy attributes the kid’s murder, in part, to punk rock (which I’ll go on record saying that the music couldn’t have acted alone, because the ice pick was an equal participant at least). Quincy even goes onto a Springer-styled talk show to reveal the truth about punk rock, and offers this gem:
I believe that the music I heard is a killer. It’s a killer of hope. It’s a killer of spirit.
While an overly preachy and sensationalist show, it’s become a cult classic, spawning many references, including the song “Quincy Punk Episode” by Spoon (listen) and a street punk band simply called Quincy Punx (listen).
I’m not sure if Klugman ever made a statement on the message of the episode and whether he agreed with it (if you know, please let me know). Regardless, it probably served to stress the relationships of countless families with teenagers who’d fallen under the influence of “that violence-oriented punk rock music.”
Over the years, many bands would be blamed for murders and suicides. Judas Priest and Ozzy were blamed for suicides, Marilyn Manson and Slipknot were blamed for murder. None of these charges would ever stick, but they at least took the heat of off Mayhem and their involvement in the murder on the punk episode of Quincy M.E..
And while I hadn’t planned on taking this post in any direction other than to point out a silly TV moment from the ‘80s, what about the deaths attributed to the influence of bands? It may be opening up a can of worms here, but do you believe that bands have that kind of influence over the youth of America?
Before we get into that, I just want to add that the entire episode of Quincy M.E. is available on YouTube, in six- or seven-minute chunks, starting with the first part here. For those of you who want an abridged version, you can find a few laughable highlights here.
Comments
I’ve been a metal/punk fan for many years (I’m 56) and I haven’t killed anyone. Any violence connected with rock pales in comparison to those murdered in the name of some inane religion or other.
Stop lamenting. I saw this episode when it came out. This episode got more kids interested in the hardcore scene than anything else at that time. Great advertising!
It’s on right now! KDOC in Orange County. A classic. Taping this one. Can’t wait for the “tourette’s” episode — another classic.
I grew up in the middle of Kansas in a very small town and I figured there was something wrong with me, because I just didn’t like any of the music my friends liked. Sure, I thought certain songs were OK, but all that was on the radio was Top 40, country and classic rock. When my friends would get pumped about some new band or some old album they bought, my overall feeling was meh.
I still remember seeing that Quincy episode and–even though I’d probably be horrified at how silly that band probably was if I saw it today–thinking, “Damn! That looks and sounds exciting.” Now, it was years before I had my eyes opened to the world of alternative and hardcore and punk music, but, no shit, that stupid Quincy episode let me know that there was some good stuff out there waiting for me.
I recently discovered Quincy reruns on Netflix. As formula tic and cornball as the show is, it’s actually a pretty great show.
This episode however… dear god. It’s remarkably wrongheaded. Possibly the worst of the series.
My favorite anti-punk rock depiction to come out of the entertainment industry in the 1980′s was in the movie “Star Trek: The Voyage Home,” where a “punk rocker” on a bus refuses to turn down his boom box, leading Spock to put him to sleep with his patented Vulcan stun grip. But the real laff riot – aside from Rocky Horror influenced attire worn by the “punk” – was the music emanating from his boom box:
“And I hate you!!
And I berate you!!
And I eschew you!!
And I say screw you!!”
lol!!!!
Worth noting that almost immediately after that episode aired, Canadian punk band S.N.F.U. released a song entitled Real Men Don’t Watch Quincy.
While I certainly don’t think music alone can cause murders, its pretty obvious music is powerful. Its been inspiration for passion, negative and positive, since forever. Its a beautiful thing. But throw in hormones, bad family relationships, addiction, bad or no friendships, bullying, no structure or moral education… then throwing in violent masochistic sadistic lyrics that break down empathy… then yea… its a recipe for disaster. All music is so powerful that it affects our opinions and feelings, even on a subconscious level. I’m not a fan of lyrics that are all about breaking down and hate. However Punk is some of the most moral, passionate, righteous music you’re going to find out there. Its about being angry for the right reasons. That’s what the whole movement was about. Anger is a good thing, there’s a lot to be angry about.