Punk the Swastika and desire to shock.

Punk & the Swastika

Home >> Features >> Punk & The Swastika

Fashion & Films | Music & Lyrics | Discography Pt2 | Reggae | Links

"How much longer will people wear
Nazi armbands and dye their hair"
How Much Longer - ATV 1977

Let me start off by saying that I do not believe there was a direct link between punk and Nazi ideology or an attempt to propagate right wing views. Let me also say that I am coming at this from a London angle - the origin of UK punk - and I'm talking Punk Rock 1976-79.

I cannot confirm what political views individual members of bands held but as a whole Punk was not Nazi. It is also worth pointing out that when the far right in the guise of the National Front was perceived as a realistic political threat in 1978 many punk bands mobilised under the Rock Against Racism banner and played gigs and benefits.

What cannot be denied is the use of Nazi symbols, imagery and look in the initial styles and fashion of punk rock. And while these can be explained away as designed to provoke and shock, some more intellectually challenged punks may have actually believed them.

The other point is that the very mention of Nazis seems to bring out the worst in people. Bands/careers have been ruined based on this accusatory slur or the perception you may find anything remotely attractive about it.

The evidence for saying there was is all pretty circumstantial. Without a doubt the swastika and nazi regalia was a commonly used symbol as fashion accessory among punks and band members in the early days. Malcolm Mclaren sold replica nazi regalia in his shop. The destroy tshirt designed by Vivien Westwood and Mclaren had as its background a large swastika. In the film Rock 'N'Roll Swindle Sid vicious is regularly seen wearing a swastika tshirt and for some reason a pair of briefs with one on. Siouxsie was (in)famous for her nazi look often wearing swastika armbands and regalia playing with nazi imagery and other members of punk bands like Captain Sensible and Johnny Rotten wore nazi gear . Add to this the use of nazi symbols by punks /punkettes.

Top L Siouxsie. Top R The Captain at Damned's Last gig Rainbow 78. Bottom L Punkettes at the Roxy (note the Kill Grundy written on jacket of the Marilyn Manson lookalike! and popcorn bucket on head of friend.) . Bottom R Sid Vicious ( but not his swastika pants thank god !!).

When people wore swastikas, I think that was more to shock than because of any racist overtone. The time when Sid Vicious went around a Jewish area in France wearing a swastika t-shirt, just to shock and outrage all the people there, I though that was going beyond whatever line you should'nt go beyond.

Go to Part 2