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The Big Screen: The Decline of Western Civilization


by Stephen Becker 19 Aug 2015 12:39 PM

This week, we revisit the punk and glam-metals scenes of the 1980s, the subject of a stellar music trilogy showing this weekend at the Texas Theatre.

CTA TBD

Darby Crash of the Germs in The Decline of Western Civilization. Photo: Shout Factory

Darby Crash of the Germs in The Decline of Western Civilization. Photo: Shout Factory

BIG SCREEN LOGO FOR POSTIn 1980, documentarian Penelope Spheeris turned her camera on the hardcore punk scene in Los Angeles. Later, she captured the 80s hair-metal trend before returning to punk to create the Decline of Western Civilization trilogy. Spheeris will visit the Texas Theatre this weekend to show the newly-restored films, and this week, we talk about these works of rock ‘n’ roll anthropology.

Be sure to subscribe to The Big Screen on iTunes. Stream this week’s episode below or download it.


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