A few months ago, I wrote about “Punk London”, the celebration of 40 years of Punk in London, with events, films, talks, exhibits. I was surprised about institutions supporting punk at it was a mainstream initiative:
So, 40 years on, Punk becomes mainstream and is supported and funded by the same institutions it fought against.
I said. Yesterday, I discovered that I was not the only one being surprised:
Joe Corré, son of Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, burns $7 million worth of punk artifacts: https://t.co/gDHgtogLQa pic.twitter.com/N4U96ZZNZ5
— Consequence of Sound (@coslive) November 26, 2016
In a few words:
Corré took particular issue with Punk London, a series of events celebrating the 40th anniversary of punk, which were sponsored by institutions including BFI, the British Library, and the Museum of London. “The Queen giving 2016, the Year of Punk, her official blessing is the most frightening thing I’ve ever heard,” Corré said in a press release. “Talk about alternative and punk culture being appropriated by the mainstream. Rather than a movement for change, punk has become like a fucking museum piece or a tribute act.”
Punk blessed by the Queen. Punk is mainstream. Punk is dead.