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During the late 1970s and early 1980s, I lived in Hollywood, where punk and new wave were thriving. This energetic and dynamic music fit right into the city’s permissive subculture.
Apparently, though, that wasn’t the case in 1977 Chicago. Fans of this new music were harassed—often physically—by jocks and hard rock fans from the suburbs. For punkers, the north side was more dangerous than downtown or even the south side.
This is where the documentary You Weren’t There: A History of Chicago Punk 1977-1984 begins, with conversations with promoters, musicians, and those who were part of Chicago’s early punk scene, as well as revisiting live performances with the local bands.
The film takes us back to scenes from clubs such as La Mere Vapere, a former gay bar that mysteriously burned down, and the more violent O’Banions, which combined punk with S&M. These clubs attracted outrageous people and genuine misfits, from drag queens to rebels. There was no uniform and no ethnic restrictions, just hard energy and lots of drugs and sex. Dance with yourself or with someone else; anything went—especially in the bathrooms.
Local punk bands sprung up, such as Tutu and the Pirates, Dead Boys, Strike Under, Naked Raygun , Silver Abuse, Mentally Ill, DA, State of the Union, The Effigies, Articles of Faith, Savage Beliefs, End Result, and Verboten, a band of 10- and 11-year-olds.
Never heard of these bands? Well, neither did I, as they didn’t record or sign with record labels. This is where the documentary drags—during the interviews and performances by mediocre bands that are unknown to everyone outside of Chicago.
At the very end, the film picks up, as those interviewed, most of them now around 50 years old, sadly recall the beginning of the end of hardcore punk, as the music and subculture became more about conformity and less about originality—more mainstream. They also resent the younger generation of bands and fans who they claim stole their music. But hasn’t that been the case throughout the history of rock?
You Weren’t There implies that this film is targeting those who aren’t from Chicago or those who are too young to remember the city’s early punk scene. Unfortunately, the only fans who will appreciate this film are those who “were there.”
