Old vert skaters weigh in on Punk Rock: Pierre Luc Gagnon and Tony Hawk should STFU.

Actually those guys aren’t actually trying to spread any musical gospel, I’ve just been dying for an excuse to use the STFU acronym in a post title. Pierre Luc Gagnon Says “Skate Culture Isn’t Just About Punk Rock Anymore” in an article in Chart Attack (Your Canadian Music Source, eh?) and Tony Hawk is narrating a feature documentary on the 90’s punk scene.

Pierre Luc Gagnon Says Skate Culture Isn’t Just About Punk Rock Anymore

Oh, he did, did he? Fascinating. Who asked him?

Gagnon agrees that music has always played a big part in skateboard culture and that his own preferences truly run the gamut from hip-hop to hard rock, electronic, mash-up and all points in between. The only real requirement that Gagnon demands of his tunes is that the music provide a real energy level, sufficient to soundtrack the breakneck pace of a typical skateboard routine.

You can read about how “When you think of skateboarding and music, punk rock is likely the first genre that comes to mind.” In my mind, yes, but I think punk is in the minority as far as the mainstream skateboard world is concerned now. It seems to be all about metal and hip hop today. Did you know there was a French language skate rag out of Montreal called Expose? I wonder if Pierre Luc calls it Punque Rock?

Tony Hawk to narrate documentary on 90’s punk scene

According to Soulshine in a blurb titled Green Day, Tony Hawk on Punk Documentary:

Punk rock was super hot in the 1990s and Robot Academy Films will be acknowledging this fact by creating a documentary on the 90’s punk scene.

Aside from the fact that Soulshine hails from Canada (More Canadian coverage!) the only thing I’ve learned is that although I love punk rock, and even have a fond spot for Green Day, I can’t think of a punk documentary that I’d rather see less than this one that covers the homogenization and commodification of the music I love best. Blink 182? Try Blecch! 182! Ha. Take that! If I wanted to hear watered down punk rock I’d go turn on my TV and watch commercials.

Is Tony Hawk the most appropriate skateboarder to narrate this film? I can think of others that certainly have more punk credibility like Duane Peters or Steve Olson, but those guys probably can’t stomach most of the music in the film. Actually, since Tony also represents the homogenization and commodification of skateboarding culture, he’s probably the perfect choice, and I mean that as no slight to Tony.

Here’s another source, Green Day, Blink 182 To Feature In Punk Rock Film from Music Rooms

Green Day, Rancid and Blink 182 are some of the bands set to feature in a documentary about modern punk rock music.

The film is titled ‘One Nine One Four’ and looks at the genre of music in the nineties.

It will consist of band interviews and archive footage, which will be all compiled together by the documentary makers Robot Academy Films in Australia.

It’s expected to see the light of day early next year. Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk will narrate the film, which also features the likes of NOFX and The Offspring.