Punk and Anarchism: UK, Poland, Indonesia

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Punk and Anarchism: UK, Poland, Indonesia
Donaghey, J. Punk and Anarchism: UK, Poland, Indonesia
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Download date:06. Aug. 2018

Punk and Anarchism. UK, Poland, Indonesia.
by
Jim Donaghey
Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Loughborough University
April 2016
Anti-copyright

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ABSTRACT

This thesis explores the relationships between punk and anarchism in the contemporary contexts of
the UK, Poland, and Indonesia from an insider punk and anarchist perspective. New primary
ethnographic information forms the bulk of the research, drawing on Grounded Theory Method and
an engagement with Orientalism. The theoretical framework is informed by the concept of
antinomy which embraces complication and contradiction – and rather than attempt to smooth-out
complexities, impose a simplified narrative, or construct a fanciful dialectic, the thesis examines the
numerous tensions that emerge in order to critique the relationships between punk and anarchism.
A key tension which runs throughout the PhD is the dismissal of punk by some anarchists. This is
often couched in terms of ‘lifestylist’ versus ‘workerist’ anarchism, with punk being denigrated in
association with the former. The case studies bring out this tension, but also significantly complicate
it, and the final chapter analyses this issue in more detail to argue that punk engages with a wide
spectrum of anarchisms, and that the ‘lifestylist’/‘workerist’ dichotomy is anyway false.
The case studies themselves focus on themes such as anti-fascism, food sovereignty/animal rights
activism, politicisation, feminism, squatting, religion, and repression. New empirical information,
garnered through numerous interviews and extensive participant observation in the UK, Poland, and
Indonesia, informs the thick description of the case study contexts. The theory and analysis emerge
from this data, and the voice of the punks themselves is given primacy here.

KEYWORDS
Punk, anarchism, UK, Poland, Indonesia, DIY, anarcha-feminism, squatting, anti-fascism, animal
rights

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you, dziękuję, and terima kasih to all the interviewees whose words, thoughts, opinions and
insights helped form this thesis. Special thanks to all those who showed me such kind hospitality on
my travels around the UK, Poland and Indonesia – extra special mention to Dolly, Lukas, Richard,
Seamus, Gosia, Piotrek, Kunx, Gary, Ania, Charlie, Teuku, Kamil, and Goty.
I am eternally indebted to the most adept PhD supervisor imaginable, Ruth Kinna – thank you for all
your expert guidance and support. Thanks also to the whole community at Loughborough
University’s Department of Politics, Philosophy and International Relations, especially Dave Berry,
Uri Gordon, Alex Christoyannopoulos, Marcus Collins, Chris Szejnmann, Pauline Dainty, everyone at
the Anarchist Research Group, and all fellow PhD candidates. Forza Egaleco!
To the punks and anarcho-types of Leicester (and even the wider Shire): Marcus, Sham, and Kirsty of
Die Wrecked (I hope you had as much fun as I did over our short but illustrious ‘career’); the
Leicester DIY scene; the master parsnip chefs of Food Not Bombs Leicester; Leicester Solidarity
Group; assorted anti-fascists; Leicester People’s University; thanks for keeping me firmly grounded,
usefully busy, and (more-or-less) sane.
Thanks to Paul Michael for some final proof-reading, and to Jamie Donnelly for the drawing on the
cover of a punk enjoying some Bakunin Brand Vodka. And thanks to comrades in Bandung and
Warsaw for the translation work.
All my love and deepest gratitude to my partner Amy – your support has been invaluable. And to
our new daughter Saoirse – stay free kid! Don’t let the bastards grind you down.
UP THE PUNX!

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LIST OF IMAGES/FIGURES

Fig. 1.1 (p. 18) – Banner of P.J. Proudhon at the Klub Anarchistyczny at Rozbrat Squat, Poznań.
Fig. 1.2 (p. 21) – Sticker which accompanied the book Punkademics, in pastiche of the Misfits skull logo.
Fig. 1.3 (p. 22) – Poster for Punk Scholars Network conference, which included Rimbaud as a panel contributor.
Fig. 1.4 (p. 25) – Disc of Oi Polloi’s Ar Ceòl, Ar Cànan, Ar-A-Mach, (Nikt Nic Nie Wie, 2006).

Fig. 2.1 (p. 42) – Screen-print art at InstitutA, Depok.
Fig. 2.2 (p. 44) – Logo of ‘Anarchistic Undertones’ record label, as taken from the And You Call This Civilization
compilation co-released with Pumpkin Records (2010).
Fig. 2.3 (p. 44) – Anarchist imagery in the booklet of Fever – Biała Gorączka’s album, Spokój, (Pasażer, 2003).
Fig. 2.4 (p. 46) – Disc of Icons of Filth, Not On Her Majesty’s Service, (Mortarhate, 1982).
Fig. 2.5 (p. 48) – Lost Cherrees logo, taken from Hung Drawn and Quartered, (Anti Society, 2012).
Fig. 2.6 (p. 50) – Anarchist Black Cross logo on the disc of Prisoners of War, benefit compilation (POW, 2011).
Fig. 2.7 (p. 51) – Class War punk compilation tape, Inside for Us, Outside for Them, ‘For Class War prisoners,’
(Filthy Tapes, c. 1990s).
Fig. 2.8 (p. 56) – Edge of the Lardarse, live tape, (Fluff, 1996).
Fig. 2.9 (p. 57) – The Now or Never Sound Endeavour, punk compilation benefit for Norwich Anarchists, (c.
2008).
Fig. 2.10 (p. 57) – Pages of the CD booklet of Autonomads/Black Star Dub Collective split From Rusholme with
Dub, (Abracadaboum, Active Distro, Antikörper Export, General Strike, Maloka, Mass Prod, Pumpkin, Rodent
Popsicle, TNS, 2011).
Fig. 2.11 (p. 58) – Population Against Corporation. The Front Cover Archives compilation (benefit for the Shell
To Sea campaign), (Front Cover Productions, 2008).
Fig. 2.12 (p. 60) – Detail from CD booklet of Spanner, Crisis, (Active Distro, Pumpkin, Maloka, Mass Prod, 2011).
Fig. 2.13 (p. 61) – Anti-Nazi patch in the UK.
Fig. 2.14 (p. 63) – Anti-fascist patch in the UK.
Fig. 2.15 (p. 64) – Details from cover of Doom, Rush Hour of the Gods, (Flat Earth, 1996).
Fig. 2.16 (p. 64) – Cover of booklet in Active Minds, Turn Back the Tide of Bigotry, (Active Distro, 2012).
Fig. 2.17 (p. 65) – ‘Vegan Bike Punk’ sticker produced by Active Distro.
Fig. 2.18 (p. 66) – AntiSect, Hallo there… How’s Life?, (Graven Image, 1991).
Fig. 2.19 (p. 67) – Meatpacker sticker.
Fig. 2.20 (p. 67) – Details from the CD booklet of Active Slaughter, 4T2ude, (Active Distro, 2008).
Fig. 2.21 (p.69) – Detail from the CD booklet of Autonomads/Black Star Dub Collective split From Rusholme
with Dub, (Abracadaboum, Active distro, Antikörper Export, General Strike, Maloka, Mass Prod, Pumpkin,
Rodent Popsicle, TNS, 2011).
Fig. 2.22 (p. 78) – Detail from cover of Sanctus Iuda, Rząd - Korporacje - Wy/Zysk, (Demonstracja Tapes &
Distro, 1995).
Fig. 2.23 (p. 79) – Detail from Nikt Nic Nie Wie catalogue sheet (summer 1996), which accompanied
Homomilitia, Twoje Ciało - Twój Wybór, (Nikt Nic Nie Wie, 1996).
Fig. 2.24 (p. 80) – Muzyka Z Barykad [Music From the Barricades], (Irokez, c. 2004). Benefit for Federacja
Anarchistyczna.
Fig. 2.25 (p. 81) – The Fight, Maldicion, (Nikt Nic Nie Wie, 2009).
Fig. 2.26 (p. 82) – ‘No Coke, No Meat, No Bullshit,’ mural in Café Tygrys, Warsaw, (run by punks).
Fig. 2.27 (p. 83) – Food Not Bombs [in Polish] banner, Poznań.
Fig. 2.28 (p. 84) – Selection of antifa stickers from Warsaw.
Fig. 2.29 (p. 85) – ‘Good Night Left Side,’ fascist graffiti very near to Wagenburg in Wrocław.
Fig. 2.30 (p. 85) – Front gate of Rozbrat, with SS and celtic cross fascist graffiti (just) visible.
Fig. 2.31 (p. 86) – Banner in support of antifa prisoners in Russia, in Poznań.
Fig. 2.32 (p. 88) – Anti-fascist graffiti in Warsaw.
Fig. 2.33 (p. 89) – Detail from flyer for 161 Crew antifa group in Warsaw.
Fig. 2.34 (p. 89) – Anti-fascist artwork in Zemsta anarchist bookshop, Poznań.
Fig. 2.35 (p. 91) – Patch of Keparat, punk band from Bandung formed in the 1990s.
Fig. 2.36 (p. 91) – Turtles Jr merchandise, boasting their longevity.
Fig. 2.37 (p. 92) – Sticker of an (old) band called Frontline, featuring circled-A and celtic cross.
Fig. 2.38 (p. 92) – Antifa imagery on sweatshirt in Bandung (front and back).
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Fig. 2.39 (p. 99) – Detail from cover of Krass Kepala, 10 Years Of Madness, (Imaginaire, Bandung Pyrate Punx,
Rinderherz, 2015).
Fig. 2.40 (p. 99) – Circled-A patch in Indonesia.
Fig. 2.41 (p. 101) – ‘Teruslah Bersinap’ [Keep Shining], patch in Indonesia.
Fig. 2.42 (p. 103) – Screen-print artwork at InstitutA, Depok.
Fig. 2.43 (p. 104) – ‘Brewing.’ Stencil at Pirata House, Bandung.
Fig. 2.44 (p. 104) – Mural at Pirata House, Bandung.
Fig. 2.45 (p. 105) – Anti-fascist tattoo in Bandung.
Fig. 2.46 (p. 105) – ‘Perangi Rasis! Perangi Fasis!’ [Fight Racism! Fight Fascism!]. Detail from CD booklet of
Riot Connection Oi! compilation, (Warrior Records, Riot Connection Records, 2010).
Fig. 2.47 (p. 106) – Food Not Bombs mural at Pirata House, Bandung.
Fig. 2.48 (p. 106) – Patch from Indonesia (it used to say ‘go vegetarian!!’ but I adapted it for my own use).
Fig. 2.49 (p. 107) – ‘Food Not Corporation.’ A twist on the Food Not Bombs theme, on a patch in Indonesia.
Fig. 2.50 (p. 107) – ‘Hit neo-liberalism.’ Sticker in Jakarta.
Fig. 2.51 (p. 108) – ‘Continue poverty! People are already used to being poor so I raise fuel prices again!’
Poster in Jakarta.
Fig. 2.52 (p. 109) – Disform sticker in Jakarta.
Fig. 2.53 (p. 110) – ‘Oppose! Corporate Crime.’ Poster at InstitutA, Depok.
Fig. 2.54 (p. 110) – Black and red anarchist flag at a gig in Bandung (being used as a modesty curtain for the
toilet).
Fig. 2.55 (p. 110) – Mural opposing ‘Corporate Colonialism’ in the Americas, at InstitutA, Depok.
Fig. 2.56 (p. 114) – Active Distribution sticker.
Fig. 2.57 (p. 116) – Several CrimethInc. posters at InstitutA, Depok.
Fig. 2.58 (p. 117) – The anarchist library at Rozbrat, Poznań.
Fig. 2.59 (p. 122) – Bandung Pyrate Punx logo from Krass Kepala, 10 Years Of Madness, (Imaginaire, Bandung
Pyrate Punx, Rinderherz, 2015).
Fig. 2.60 (p. 122) – Anarchist and revolutionary imagery from lyric sheet of Autonomads, No Mans Land, (Mass
Prod, Ruin Nation, Pumpkin, 2009).
Fig. 2.61 (p. 122) – Black and red anarchist flag (used as a curtain) at Rozbrat, Poznań.
Fig. 2.62 (p. 123) – Detail from back cover of Angry Scenes vol. 5 compilation, (Angry Scenes, 2011).
Fig. 2.63 (p. 124) – ‘Go Vege!’ sticker with ‘Wagenburg Breslau’ stencil (Breslau was the name for Wrocław
before 1945.
Fig. 2.64 (p. 127) – Detail from the CD booklet of Autonomads/Black Star Dub Collective split From Rusholme
with Dub, (Abracadaboum, Active Distro, Antikörper Export, General Strike, Maloka, Mass Prod, Pumpkin,
Rodent Popsicle, TNS, 2011).
Fig. 2.65 (p. 127) – Black and red anarchist flag flying from the roof of Odzysk squat in Poznań.
Fig. 2.66 (p. 127) – Detail from CD booklet of Spanner, Crisis, (Active Distro, Pumpkin, Maloka, Mass Prod,
2011).

Fig. 3.1 (p. 130) – Sticker of Pumpkin Records, DIY label.
Fig. 3.2 (p. 133) – Detail from Spanner, Crisis, (Active Distro, Pumpkin, Maloka, Mass Prod, 2011).
Fig. 3.3 (p. 140) – Anti-sexist sticker, UK.
Fig. 3.4 (p. 141) – Sticker featuring Poison Girls lyric, UK.
Fig. 3.5 (p. 146) – Detail from Bastards In Blue compilation by Now Or Never! (c. 2012).
Fig. 3.6 (p. 152) – Image from t-shirt from Equal Fest #3, held at Wharf Chambers, Leeds and 1in12 Club
Bradford, March 2013. Image is pastiche of a Discharge logo.
Fig. 3.7 (p. 155) – Detail from A-Heads, Damaged Goods, (DIY, 2012).
Fig. 3.8 (p. 157) – Homomilitia, Twoje Ciało - Twój Wybór [Your body, your choice], (Nikt Nic Nie Wie, 1996).
Fig. 3.9 (p. 158) – Detail from Infekcja, S/T, (Scream Records, Trująca Fala, Caramba, Drop Out Records, Zaraza
Production, Chaos W Mojej Głowie, 2011).
Fig. 3.10 (p. 162) – Back cover of Homomilitia, Twoje Ciało - Twój Wybór [Your body, your choice], (Nikt Nic Nie
Wie, 1996).
Fig. 3.11 (p. 163) – OZZIP leaflet, March 2012.
Fig. 3.12 (p. 165) – ‘Woman’s Liberation,’ tattoo in Indonesia.
Fig. 3.13 (p. 166) – Feminist patch in Indonesia.
Fig. 3.14 (p. 167) – ‘My Mind, My Body, My Choice,’ patch in Indonesia.
Fig. 3.15 (p. 168) – Pro-gay patch in Indonesia.
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Fig. 3.16 (p. 169) – Flyer for Needle n’ Bitch Collective at InstitutA, Depok – note especially ‘Wymns Safe
Space.’
Fig. 3.17 (p. 170) – Feminist CrimethInc. posters at InstitutA, Depok.

Fig. 4.1 (p. 173) – Detail from Sanctus Iuda, Rząd - Korporacje - Wy/Zysk, (Demonstracja Tapes & Distro, 1995).
Fig. 4.2 (p. 175) – Mural at Rozbrat, Poznań.
Fig. 4.3 (p. 178) – Anarchist squatter symbol, as used by Inner Terrestrials, on IT! (Mass Prod, General Strike,
Active Distro, 1997).
Fig. 4.4 (p. 180) – Detail from Autonomads/Black Star Dub Collective split From Rusholme with Dub,
(Abracadaboum, Active Distro, Antikörper Export, General Strike, Maloka, Mass Prod, Pumpkin, Rodent
Popsicle, TNS, 2011).
Fig. 4.5 (p. 182) – Squat logo near Wagenburg, Wrocław.
Fig. 4.6 (p. 184) – Housing campaign banners on the outside of Syrena squat, Warsaw.
Fig. 4.7 (p. 186) – ‘Reclaim The City!’ Mural at Syrena, Warsaw.
Fig. 4.8 (p. 190) – Board outside Syrena, advertising events such as accordion lessons.
Fig. 4.9 (p. 191) – Poster for the ‘Piknik’ event at Przychodnia, Warsaw.
Fig. 4.10 (p. 194) – Mural at Rozbrat, Poznań.
Fig. 4.11 (p. 195) – Bike workshop at Rozbrat.
Fig. 4.12 (p. 197) – Banner at Rozbrat in solidarity with Köpi (Berlin), Ungdomshuset (Copenhagen), Les
Tanneries (Dijon), Blitz (Oslo), Yfanet (Thessaloniki).
Fig. 4.13 (p. 198) – Stickers on the fridge in the kitchen at Rozbrat.
Fig. 4.14 (p. 200) – ‘Poznań not developers. Rozbrat, it’s not for sale.’ Mural at Rozbrat.
Fig. 4.15 (p. 202) – Sign at Wagenburg, Wrocław. Addition to the left reads: ‘Private area. No trespassing.’
Fig. 4.16 (p. 205) – Squat kayak, Wagenburg, Wrocław.
Fig. 4.17 (p. 219) – Poster of Köpi (Berlin) on the walls of Pirata House, Bandung.
Fig. 4.18 (p. 220) – Another European squat poster at Pirata House, Bandung.
Fig. 4.19 (p. 221) – Mural at Ammunition distro, Medan.
Fig. 4.20 (p. 222) – Ammunition distro, Medan.

Fig. 5.1 (p. 225) – ‘Free Aceh Punx’ zine, Bandung, January 2012.
Fig. 5.2 (p. 226) – Poster for the Subhumans gig in Bandung, September 2012.
Fig. 5.3 (p. 227) – Moshing melee in Bandung.
Fig. 5.4 (p. 228) – Bandung Pyrate Punx drum kit, on stage.
Fig. 5.5 (p. 229) – Poster for gig in Medan, with twelve bands on the bill.
Fig. 5.6 (p. 230) – ‘Run down’ for gig in Pekanbaru, January 2015, with twelve bands on the bill.
Fig. 5.7 (p. 232) – ‘Run down’ for gig in Padang, January 2015, with fifteen bands on the bill.
Fig. 5.8 (p. 232) – Movement Records ‘Do It Yourself Label,’ detail from Street Voices, Kill Me With Your Lips,
(Movement Records, 2010).
Fig. 5.9 (p. 233) – Detail from Total Destroy, Biar Mampus, (Movement Records, 2009).
Fig. 5.10 (p. 233) – ‘DIY or die,’ tattoo in Bandung.
Fig. 5.11 (p. 234) – Punk wares for sale in Medan.
Fig. 5.12 (p. 234) – Several distro stalls at gig in Jakarta.
Fig. 5.13 (p. 235) – Hands up if you know where Klub Racun is!
Fig. 5.14 (p. 236) – ‘All Cops Are Bastards,’ pages from ‘Free Aceh Punx’ zine, Bandung, January 2012.
Fig. 5.15 (p. 237) – ‘The more you try to suppress us, the larger we get.’ Detail from ‘Free Aceh Punx’ zine,
Bandung, January 2012.
Fig. 5.16 (p. 238) – Detail from Infekcja, S/T, (Scream Records, Trująca Fala, Caramba, Drop Out Records, Zaraza
Production, Chaos W Mojej Głowie, 2011).
Fig. 5.17 (p. 239) – ‘ACAB’ patch in the UK.
Fig. 5.18 (p. 240) – ‘ACAB’ sticker in the UK.
Fig. 5.19 (p. 241) – Disc of Autonomads/Black Star Dub Collective split From Rusholme with Dub,
(Abracadaboum, Active Distro, Antikörper Export, General Strike, Maloka, Mass Prod, Pumpkin, Rodent
Popsicle, TNS, 2011). ‘ACAB’ visible near top, with up-turned burning police car.
Fig. 5.20 (p. 242) – Riot police in Poland. Detail from Stracony, Uważajcie – Bomby Wiszą Nad Waszymi
Głowami, (Tribal War, 1999).
Fig. 5.21 (p. 242) – Cover of Bastards In Blue compilation by Now Or Never! (c. 2012).
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