LA PUNK’S SCENE
Penelope Spheeris' Decline of Western Civilization
If you want an up-close-and-personal look into the early LA punk scene, look no further than Penelope Spheeris’ The Decline of Western Civilization.
The documentary explores the punk movement of the late 70s and early 80s, with plenty of concert footage from bands like Black Flag, Fear and the Circle Jerks.
Spheeris was perfectly poised to document the scene; at the time of filming, she was married to Bob Biggs, artist and owner of Slash magazine. He also launched the eponymous record label that released featured band Germs’ album (GI).
The movie quickly became a cult classic, especially for those who were deeply devoted to punk, and spawned two sequels, The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years and The Decline of Western Civilization Part III.
The Decline of Western Civilization is notable for its camera work. The shots don’t just show you a mosh pit; they put you inside one. Spheeris achieved this by hiring cinematographer Steve Conant, who had experience shooting L.A. Lakers games: “My logic was that if he could follow the ball, he could follow the kids in the pit.”
The concert footage is intercut with interviews with bands Germs, Black Flag and X, and with punk fans and notable members of the punk community.
The movie premiered in 1981 and was, predictably, controversial. LAPD Chief of Police Daryl Gates even wrote a letter demanding that the film not be shown in Los Angeles ever again.
Despite complaints from the more square members of the country, the movie has become a cultural touchstone. In 2016, it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
The Decline of Western Civilization is available to stream on Amazon Prime and Tubi. It’s also available for rent on iTunes and YouTube.
