Daniel Robert Epstein: American Hardcore director Paul Rachman

rad interview

have to check that movie out quick smart

read Dance of Days if anyone's interested in the complete DC side of hardcore's birth

I've been excited about it for a while...
I hope I'll be able to see it over here soon.

xXx xXx xXx

I'm working my way through the book right now. Great stuff.

American Hardcore could not have been a better genre to choose for the documentary. The hardcore/ punk scene is a scene not very much reconized giving it the feel that it has. It to me and the other fans find it as an escape. Its a great time all the time, and its not unreal. Everything from love, luck, life, loss all the way to the bruises, friendships and empty pockets is real. It all comes from the heart and more than half of us relate. Hopefully this documentary will move some people and get them take a look at the scene for themselves. It's powerful!

I can't wait to see the movie. Just need to find someone to go with.

i was so excited to see this interview. i remember my first hardcore show like it was yesterday (although in reality i was 14 and got the shit kicked out of me, but I loved it!). Huge fan of DC Hardcore and NY hardcore, bands like Fugazi and Most Precious BLood. I have been depressed lately with societies mainstreaming and sale of everything i love: 'punk' music (PUNK rejects capitalism too), surfing (stop using my sport to sell rollaids!). Recently in my hometown there has been a strong wave to take "The Scene" back to its hardcore roots. fuck dashboard, fuck emo, fuck 'indie rock' , fuck bands like "Greenday" who were once punk but now glorified Rock stars. DYI for life.

oh and where would i be able to see this documentary. i'm so siked.

I find it hilarious that Epstein claims in the intro that Hardcore is "unable to be co-opted by the corporations because once such big money is involved, by definition it is no longer hardcore." Well in that case I guess commercialized punk doesn't exist, because punk "by definition" is not something produced by big corporations. I'm tired of the pretentiousness of "If I do it, it's this genre, but if a big company does the exact same thing, it's different genre because someone I didn't approve did the same kind of music." No it isn't. Genre is defined by musical conventions and styles, not popularity. "My favorite music must always be secret and undrground...or else it doesn't count!" Grow up. If music is good, why care if a big corporation profits? Maybe they'll get the message out to more people, and they can enjoy it too. There are real problems in the world to worry about.