PUNK'S NOT DEAD,
WORSE, IT'S CUTE:
PUNK ROCK TOYS
WORSE, IT'S CUTE:
PUNK ROCK TOYS
I worked as a counselor with juvenile delinquents and their parents in a
suburb of Detroit for a few years. The project I worked for put on a battle
of the bands each year as a fundraiser and a lot of the kids I worked with
were in the bands. I was in charge of putting together the “battle” usually
consisting of teen punk and metal bands. The high school music scene
was basically the same there as it had been for me back in the day. The
funny thing to me was the reaction people had to the two genres, metal
and punk. I overheard parents saying “these punk kids are alright, but you
have to watch out for that heavy metal crowd.” And it was true. I just
thought I related to the punk kids better, but they were more socially
adept, thoughtful, organized and just easier to deal with. When I was a kid
the situation was reversed. Punk was scary; being a punk was dangerous.
Punk rockers have always been smarter than metal heads, but more
courteous? Anyway, it was a shock to me. Both genres are all over
“alternative radio” now and the truth is metal does sound more
threatening than pop punk these days.
suburb of Detroit for a few years. The project I worked for put on a battle
of the bands each year as a fundraiser and a lot of the kids I worked with
were in the bands. I was in charge of putting together the “battle” usually
consisting of teen punk and metal bands. The high school music scene
was basically the same there as it had been for me back in the day. The
funny thing to me was the reaction people had to the two genres, metal
and punk. I overheard parents saying “these punk kids are alright, but you
have to watch out for that heavy metal crowd.” And it was true. I just
thought I related to the punk kids better, but they were more socially
adept, thoughtful, organized and just easier to deal with. When I was a kid
the situation was reversed. Punk was scary; being a punk was dangerous.
Punk rockers have always been smarter than metal heads, but more
courteous? Anyway, it was a shock to me. Both genres are all over
“alternative radio” now and the truth is metal does sound more
threatening than pop punk these days.
Further proof that punk
has become kind of
cuddly (and totally co-
opted) is the emergence
of punk rock toys. I gave
one of these Ramones
Bears (rated ages 3 &
up) to my friend’s
daughter for her third
birthday. She loves the
Ramones and her
favorite movie is “Rock
‘n’ Roll High School.”
Joey has taken the
place of Barney in their
household.
has become kind of
cuddly (and totally co-
opted) is the emergence
of punk rock toys. I gave
one of these Ramones
Bears (rated ages 3 &
up) to my friend’s
daughter for her third
birthday. She loves the
Ramones and her
favorite movie is “Rock
‘n’ Roll High School.”
Joey has taken the
place of Barney in their
household.
| THE ONCE FEARED RAMONES BY TOXIC TEDDIES |
Artist and toy designer James Jarvis recently created this set of
punk rockers for the art toy market. Sid is probably rolling over in
his grave over his vinyl likeness.
punk rockers for the art toy market. Sid is probably rolling over in
his grave over his vinyl likeness.
Knockdown doll makers
Circus Punks teamed up with
Trexi and entered the punk
rock toy market with these
punk-clown-fascist looking
plastic figures (actually throw
Manson in there too--see the
little x on their foreheads).
There is nothing scarier than
Nazi clowns. Sid might
approve of these.
Circus Punks teamed up with
Trexi and entered the punk
rock toy market with these
punk-clown-fascist looking
plastic figures (actually throw
Manson in there too--see the
little x on their foreheads).
There is nothing scarier than
Nazi clowns. Sid might
approve of these.
CIRCUS PUNKS FROM TREXI
Keep your eyes out for more and let us know if you find a punk rock
teddy bear (cringe).
--Craig Campbell
teddy bear (cringe).
--Craig Campbell
| "PUNK IS NOT DEAD" FROM JAMES JARVIS'S "IN-CROWD" VINYL ART TOYS SERIES FROM AMOS TOYS |
