Malcolm McLaren RIP
Punk has always been as much about the spirit as the music – a state of mind, an attitude that you recognise as soon as you see or hear it.
Malcom McLaren was a master manipulator of others who had this Punk spirit – notably Johnny Rotten & Vivienne Westwood – but, personally, I would argue that he was not a bona fide Punk. I see him more as an entertainer – a Svengali-like attention grabber; a Warhol-like self publicist with an ego to match .
His slippery personality means that when you start talking in terms of integrity or honesty his reputation begins to become a little tarnished. Nevertheless, you can’t ignore the fact that, but for him, there would have been no Sex Pistols. His place in history is assured.
On the day he died, Anarchy In The UK was played on the radio both going and returning from a concert in Bologna by present day carriers of the flame, A Silver Mount Zion (SMZ) from Canada.
Efrim of A Silver Mt Zion
SMZ are a far cry from the rash of three chord garage bands who surfaced in the late 1970s but their punk attitude is unmistakable. Currently, SMZ are a five piece – Jessica Moss and Sophie Trudeau on violins, David Payant on drums, Thierry Amar on upright bass, and Efrim Menuck on guitar and lead vocals. Sophie,Thierry & Efrim are from the all but defunct Godspeed You Black Emperor (GYBE).
SMZ are on stage for two hours, enough for just six songs; three taken from their brilliant new album Kollaps Tradixionales.
Needless to say, their speciality is for tunes of epic proportions. Added to this, the sense of threat and rage is ever-present, as it was in GYBE.
The key difference between GYBE & SMZ is that now the stirring instrumental passages come with words. The plaintive and ,frankly, whiny voice of Efrim is well suited for the apocalyptic imagery in what they once dubbed ‘worried symphonies’. These are uncompromisingly wordy – serious songs for serious times ; not so much rebel yells and rebel discourses.
For a band that thrive on enigma, it comes as a surprise that between each song Efrim is keen to engage and communicate with the audience. He invites questions, statements and even insults. He wants a dialogue.
The polite Italian punters are initially reticent to accept but slowly warm to the idea when its clear that he’s not taking the piss (although he doesn’t always give straight answers).
Having introduced the band with the words “Hello – we are The Foo Fighters'” , when someone asks “What’s your name?” he immediately replies “Dave Grohl” Why don’t you play drums anymore? – fires back one wit, getting the hang of this impromptu Q & A session.
A young woman politely enquires if he believes in God. “No”, he answers – “Then what do you believe in? comes the follow-up “I believe in people” he announces to warm applause.
From other exchanges, we learn: he is Canadian although he doesn’t believe in Canada as a country; he recommends books by Derrick Jensen, he hates the Internet and a fuck-boat is a ship on which Scandinavians get drunk and get laid.
Their slick website lists other FAQs they have encountered – e.g. WHY DO YOU CALL YOURSELVES “INSTRUMENTAL POST-ROCK”, BUT THERE’S SINGING? / ARE YOU INTENTIONAL?/ IS IT A POLITICS THING?
This is not standard rock territory and SMZ are no standard rock band. Their sound is intense and complex yet full of undiluted rage – a kind of controlled anarchy where hope lies in resistance.
The slogan on the t-shirts on sale at the merchandise stand read “C’mon persevere ye bright punk rockers” – fitting words in remembrance of McLaren and a reminder of the need to keep his subversive spirit alive.
