Story by John Sarvay. Illustration by Bob Gorman.
They cut their teeth on the impatient hue and cry of bands like CRASS, the Dead Kennedys and the Clash. Or perhaps it was the angry staccato retort of Minor Threat, or the electric, static-ridden “fuck you” of early Sonic Youth or the rebellious street rhythms of RUN DMC or Grandmaster Flash. The more traditional swayed tearfully to REM or danced like pious monks to the socio-political crooning of U2 ...
Whatever the sound, it seems that alternative music and politics have always been pretty comfort-able bedfellows.
And, today, the same kids who rocked against Reagan in the 80s with what seemed then to be a futile anger are growing up and grappling with some-thing new: political empowerment.
They’re running for office, or pushing for change. Public Enemy fighting against malt liquor and taking a stand for Dr. King.
Soul Asylum whirling like dervishes at Clinton’s Inaugural Circus of Stars. Jello Biafra for mayor. PETA. Greenpeace. Choose or Lose. Lead or Leave. Rock the Vote...
They’ve always been yelling, these musical youth of our generation. But now more people seem to be listening. And regardless of their ability to win office or shape legislation, many of these alternative trendsetters may be setting some new trends in politics.
While Generation X isn’t collectively dancing in the footsteps of these young politicians, many seem to recognize their frustration with the way the system doesn’t work. And some of us quietly enjoy their willingness to speak to the issues and not
to the herd.
Still, we wonder: How long can these fringe surfers skate the edge? When will they — and when will we — become the victims of tomorrow’s special interests: our own interests?
Too soon, we think.
In this issue of Caffeine, we wanted to look at some of this new generation of politicians. So, in the following pages, we feature two of them: a Raleigh mayor-hopeful and a candi-date for the Virginia General Assembly.
Wayne Taylor is a long-time scenester now running for mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina. Superchunk recorded for his campaign commercials; Honor Role drove down to play a reunion benefit. Richmonder Beau Artabazon is mounting his first foray into electoral politics by running against incumbent Jean Cunningham, the Democrat representing much of Richmond in the state General Assembly.
More than the twenty-something political groups falling over themselves to organize in Washington, more than the eager Harvard graduates panting for a desk job on Capitol Hill, Taylor and Artabazon speak to our generation. And, not surprisingly, they are speaking with very different voices. Or maybe they’re rocking to the beat of different bands.
