The Decline of Western Civilization

The Decline of Western Civilization is a rockumentary film directed by Penelope Spheeris about the Los Angeles punk rock scene in 1979 and 1980.

Related Topics:
Rockumentary - Penelope Spheeris - Los Angeles - Punk rock - 1979 - 1980

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Featuring concert footage of legendary LA punk bands, and interviews both with band members and with the punks who made up their audience, the film offers a look into a subculture that was largely ignored by the rock music press of the time.

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In later interviews, some of the musicians featured in the film complained that Spheeris took liberties in the editing room that gave a false impression of the Los Angeles punk scene; indeed, in at least one instance, audience shots from one show were interspersed with stage shots from another show featuring a different band. The Germs and Black Flag concert segments were filmed at a soundstage, Cherrywood Studios, rented specially for the occasion by the film's production company.

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Eerily, the promotional poster for The Decline (and the record cover of the soundtrack album) featured a close-up frame of Germs singer Darby Crash supine on stage with his eyes closed. Crash died from a heroin-induced suicide shortly before the film was released (the poster was designed before his death).

Related Topics:
Darby Crash - Heroin - Suicide

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Bands included are Black Flag, The Germs, X, Alice Bag Band, Circle Jerks, Catholic Discipline, and Fear.

Related Topics:
Black Flag - The Germs - X - Alice Bag Band - Circle Jerks - Catholic Discipline - Fear

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