Greek punk
Encyclopedia
The Greek punk scene was small but powerful in the Greek capital, Athens, in the 1980s. Bands like Adiexodo
(Dead end), Genia Tou Chaous
(Chaos generation), Stress, Panx Romana
, Ex-humans, Anti (Contra) functioned as a bunch of related bands, who gave concerts together, in the same locations. Like elsewhere, punk attitude has been loosely used by various individuals, but most of the times the key element was the youthful anger, the provocative anti-establishment attitude.
A lot of newer crust
, hardcore
, punk
bands like Ksehasmeni Profitia (Gr
:ξεχασμένη προφητεία) (Forgotten prophecy), Naftia
(Nausea), Deus Ex Machina
and others of the 1990s followed DIY ethic
s, gradually forming a small but powerful network in most big Greek cities. This network has sometimes been linked with local anarchist
-related groups, squats, cultural/social/left-wing centers. Most of the concerts of punk bands in Greece have no, or minimal, entrance fee and many of them are arranged according to DIY ethic
s.
Some nationalist punk, punk rock
and Oi!
bands, with far right, far-wing or Neo-nazi ideology, have also developed. One of the first was Hellgrinder, which was formed in 1998 and became popular by releasing a Greek version of SOD
's song "Speak English or Die
", called "Speak Greek or Die" ("Μίλα Ελληνικά ή Ψόφα"). At present, the most widespread Greek nationalist band is Pogrom. The most notable album "Rock για την Πατρίδα" was recorded in 2006, in cooperation of several Greek bands of the same ideology, like White Pride Rockers, Legion Hellas, Pogrom, Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (Σύμφωνο Μολότωφ), Boiling Blood and Iron Youth.
Contemporary punk bands have seldom managed to form a solid scene outside that DIY / anarchopunk movement, but sometimes a band might attract an enthusiastic core of dedicated fans, like in the Oi!
or streetpunk subgenres. Few attempts have been made to document information about Greek punk; one of those being a limited edition brochure of Anarchist Library (Anarhiki Vivliothiki). Some Greek webzines have also documented Greek punk history.
In 2010 the Greek girl-fronted New Wave-Punk band Barb Wire Dolls became the first band from Greece to re-locate to Los Angeles after receiving continuous airplay on Los Angeles's "World Famous" KROQ radio station by Rodney Bingenheimer on his "Rodney on the Roq" show for their song "California" from their self-released EP "Punk The Fussies!".
Adiexodo
Adiexodo was a Greek Punk band from Athens formed in 1983 by Dimitris Spyropoulos, Sotiris Theocharis, Stathis Papandreou, and Mimis Alimprantis...
(Dead end), Genia Tou Chaous
Genia Tou Chaous
Genia Tou Chaous , , is probably the most influential Greek punk band of the 1980s. The lyrics and the music were of punk origin, with gothic, pessimistic attitude and clear heavy-metal elements.-Members:* Nikos Vosdoganis - guitar...
(Chaos generation), Stress, Panx Romana
Panx Romana
Panx Romana is a Greek punk rock band that was established in 1977. They are very popular among Greek anarchists and have done multiple concerts in many locations of Athens. They have also performed many well known songs such as Διακοπές στο Χακί "Vacation while wearing Khaki Panx Romana is a...
, Ex-humans, Anti (Contra) functioned as a bunch of related bands, who gave concerts together, in the same locations. Like elsewhere, punk attitude has been loosely used by various individuals, but most of the times the key element was the youthful anger, the provocative anti-establishment attitude.
A lot of newer crust
Crust punk
Crust punk is a form of music influenced by anarcho-punk, hardcore punk and extreme metal. The style, which evolved in the mid-1980s in England, often has songs with dark and pessimistic lyrics that linger on political and social ills...
, hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
bands like Ksehasmeni Profitia (Gr
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
:ξεχασμένη προφητεία) (Forgotten prophecy), Naftia
Naftia
Naftia was a Greek Punk band from Salonika formed in 1988. It was the first crust punk band in Greece. They became popular because of their aggressive male and female vocals with metal influenced sound and politically incorrect lyrics....
(Nausea), Deus Ex Machina
Deus Ex Machina (punk band)
Deus Ex Machina is a popular Greek hardcore punk band from Athens formed in 1989 by Dimitris Spyropoulos and Dimitris Manthos, with Spyropoulos and Yiannis Venardis having already been early Greek Punk scene's 'veterans' .The band's lyrics are often political having references to subjects such as...
and others of the 1990s followed DIY ethic
DIY ethic
The DIY ethic refers to the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks oneself as opposed to having others who are more experienced or able complete them for one's behalf. It promotes the idea that an ordinary person can learn to do more than he or she thought was possible...
s, gradually forming a small but powerful network in most big Greek cities. This network has sometimes been linked with local anarchist
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
-related groups, squats, cultural/social/left-wing centers. Most of the concerts of punk bands in Greece have no, or minimal, entrance fee and many of them are arranged according to DIY ethic
DIY ethic
The DIY ethic refers to the ethic of self-sufficiency through completing tasks oneself as opposed to having others who are more experienced or able complete them for one's behalf. It promotes the idea that an ordinary person can learn to do more than he or she thought was possible...
s.
Some nationalist punk, punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and Oi!
Oi!
Oi! is a working class subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads and other working-class youths ....
bands, with far right, far-wing or Neo-nazi ideology, have also developed. One of the first was Hellgrinder, which was formed in 1998 and became popular by releasing a Greek version of SOD
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
's song "Speak English or Die
Speak English or Die
Speak English or Die is the first studio album by the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death .After Anthrax finished recording Spreading the Disease, there was still some studio time left, so Scott Ian and Charlie Benante called some friends, practiced some songs, and recorded it all within...
", called "Speak Greek or Die" ("Μίλα Ελληνικά ή Ψόφα"). At present, the most widespread Greek nationalist band is Pogrom. The most notable album "Rock για την Πατρίδα" was recorded in 2006, in cooperation of several Greek bands of the same ideology, like White Pride Rockers, Legion Hellas, Pogrom, Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (Σύμφωνο Μολότωφ), Boiling Blood and Iron Youth.
Contemporary punk bands have seldom managed to form a solid scene outside that DIY / anarchopunk movement, but sometimes a band might attract an enthusiastic core of dedicated fans, like in the Oi!
Oi!
Oi! is a working class subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads and other working-class youths ....
or streetpunk subgenres. Few attempts have been made to document information about Greek punk; one of those being a limited edition brochure of Anarchist Library (Anarhiki Vivliothiki). Some Greek webzines have also documented Greek punk history.
In 2010 the Greek girl-fronted New Wave-Punk band Barb Wire Dolls became the first band from Greece to re-locate to Los Angeles after receiving continuous airplay on Los Angeles's "World Famous" KROQ radio station by Rodney Bingenheimer on his "Rodney on the Roq" show for their song "California" from their self-released EP "Punk The Fussies!".
Notable Bands
- Deus Ex MachinaDeus Ex Machina (punk band)Deus Ex Machina is a popular Greek hardcore punk band from Athens formed in 1989 by Dimitris Spyropoulos and Dimitris Manthos, with Spyropoulos and Yiannis Venardis having already been early Greek Punk scene's 'veterans' .The band's lyrics are often political having references to subjects such as...
- Panx RomanaPanx RomanaPanx Romana is a Greek punk rock band that was established in 1977. They are very popular among Greek anarchists and have done multiple concerts in many locations of Athens. They have also performed many well known songs such as Διακοπές στο Χακί "Vacation while wearing Khaki Panx Romana is a...
- Genia Tou ChaousGenia Tou ChaousGenia Tou Chaous , , is probably the most influential Greek punk band of the 1980s. The lyrics and the music were of punk origin, with gothic, pessimistic attitude and clear heavy-metal elements.-Members:* Nikos Vosdoganis - guitar...
- AdiexodoAdiexodoAdiexodo was a Greek Punk band from Athens formed in 1983 by Dimitris Spyropoulos, Sotiris Theocharis, Stathis Papandreou, and Mimis Alimprantis...
- NaftiaNaftiaNaftia was a Greek Punk band from Salonika formed in 1988. It was the first crust punk band in Greece. They became popular because of their aggressive male and female vocals with metal influenced sound and politically incorrect lyrics....
External links
- punk.gr/english information on Greek punk in English
- Diymusic site on Greek diy movement
- Anexartisi site with lots of resources, also many Greek rock bands
- Words and Stuff articles on Greek punk, punk rock show reviews and zines
- squathost more links