THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 11, 1995 TAG: 9508100047
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MILES DANIELS, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 111 lines
IMAGINE BEAVER Cleaver with purple hair, a funky tattoo, a silver ring in his nose, chillin' to Rancid in June's house.
In the '50s, this would be a social impossibility. But not if ``Leave It to Beaver'' were taped today.
Body piercing, hair dying, tattoos and hard-core music are high fashion. And although this may be just a phase for those who follow these trends of the '90s, the true ``punk'' finds meaning behind it all.
Punk got its start in the early '70s, an anti-establishment, rebellious movement. George Gimarc, author of ``Punk Diary 1970-'79,'' calls it a ``frontal attack on rock stars the media held up to the heavens.''
Those who associated themselves with punk wanted to be different, and they were. The obvious difference was their outward appearance - fanatical fashions such as leather and bondage wear along with trappings of safety pins.
``They were homely, unkept and generally couldn't play worth a damn,'' said Gimarc. ``But that wasn't the point.''
Gimarc describes punks as troublemakers with attitude incarnate. ``They had nothing but disrespect for those before them.'' PUNK AT 25
Although punk began about 25 years ago, this movement has resurfaced in the '90s, especially among younger people.
For Manteo High School senior Hunter Barnes, punk is his way of life. Amid all the punk posers out there, Hunter says he's the real thing.
``This is the way I've been forever,'' Hunter said. ``I got into it when I was real young.''
Hunter has dyed his hair red, orange, white and black. ``I dyed my hair red in ninth grade, then I shaved my head almost bald and bleached it orange. Then I grew it out into liberty spikes and dyed that black.''
His girlfriend pierced his nose. But when infection set in, he took it out.
Three years ago, none of this was cool. ``When I got into punk, it wasn't popular at all,'' Hunter said. ``People really hated it. People really thought you were weird.'' PUNK IMPOSTERS
Manteo senior Landon Yerby also considers himself punk, but that's because he's into the music. ``In the '90s, it's (punk is) more of a trend.''
Today, teenagers find it stylish to pierce their bodies, brightly color their hair, get tattoos and listen to hard-core bands. It's all the stuff of punk.
Manteo senior Jordan Todd got his right arm tattooed last Christmas. The 4-inch long, black tattoo was designed by his friend. It includes tribal designs, a man with several faces and a lioness head.
``I found something I wanted on my arm for the rest of my life,'' Jordan said.
Members of older generations are not always receptive to new trends; some think punk is too far out.
Manteo High senior Mara Tillet changed her hair color from dirty-blond to bright red and was fired from her job as a sales clerk.
``When I talked to my boss about it, she said that what I had done was wrong,'' Mara said. Since then, she's had her nose and naval pierced and has changed her hair color to green.
Yet, Mara is not a true punk. ``I thought it was really neat when I first heard about it. I just wanted to do it,'' said Mara. ``I'm also going to get my tongue and eyebrow pierced.'' THE PUNK PULSE
Punk followers are also into hard-core bands that sing meaningful lyrics - Bad Religion, Sub-Humans, Sex Pistols and Dead Kennedys. But the bands are not making the national charts because radio stations don't play the music.
``Most of the punk music that sells is by word of mouth because they (teenagers) can't hear it on the radio,'' said Barry Friedman, manager of Birdland Records Tapes and Compact Discs in Virginia Beach.
``It's all based on airplay and MTV,'' Friedman said. ``They can't get a lot of radio airplay.''
Punk lyrics include strong political messages dealing with freedom and individual rights.
``I like what the music is about,'' Landon said. ``Every other music talks about nothing, but punk music's got ideals behind it. They put thoughts into their lyrics.'' PUNK IN PERPETUITY
Just as the '60s were known for hippies, and the '70s for bell bottoms, some followers of punk believe that this neo movement - especially the fashion - will figure into the identity of our generation.
``I'm sure we'll be remembered for the freakish things,'' said Evan Brennan, a 1995 gradate of Manteo High who has a nose ring and bleached hair. ``It's our statement.''
Others disagree.
``So far, I think this generation hasn't really come up with anything new,'' Hunter said. ``I think most of the kids have brought back older styles.
``Through the '80s, you just had a bunch of really boring people. Now, in the '90s, it's basically just bringing back a lot of old styles and ideals.''
``We're just taking the leftovers and putting them all together,'' Mara agreed. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Miles Daniels is a June 1995 graduate of Manteo High School. He will
attend Elizabeth City State University in the fall to study
broadcast journalism.
Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
RIGHT: Punk lovers follow hardcard bands like the Sex Pistols, with
the late Sid Vicious.
by CNB