Starring Tom Snyder, Kim Fowley, Joan Jett, John Lydon, Patti Smith, Paul Weller, Elvis Costello, Iggy Pop, The Jam, The Plasmatics, The Ramones
Written By:
Directed By:
Studio: Shout! Factory
Buy on Amazon.com link

Yeah I’m young, I totally didn’t think Tom Snyder had a show before the Late Late Show. I just knew him as the guy with the big bushy eyebrows. But this is an Emmy Award nominated show and this DVD features (on 2 discs) 8 full episodes and live performances from some of the biggest punk & new wave bands & artists of the 70’s. Bands like The Ramones, Elvis Costello, Iggy Pop, The Jam, The Plasmatics, Patti Smith, and John Lydon.

The focus of this DVD is the emerging movement of punk & new wave, and Tom Snyder interviews a lot of the people I mentioned above. The groups perform on the show, and discuss their music a little bit while Tom Snyder smokes on his cigarettes looking clueless as ever. But got to give him some credit for actually booking these bands and letting them have a say on what was going on back then. And to actually have them play on his TV show as well. The most interesting thing on the DVD was the round table discussion with Bill Graham, Robert Hilburn, Kim Fowley (who looked oddly like Willem Dafoe in Boondock Saints: ie the drag scene). Tom Snyder told Kim Fowley that he looked “ridiculous.” The three talk about the differences between punk rock & new wave and if there is a future for those type of bands. Later on, Paul Weller of the Jam and Joan Jett of the Runaways come on the show to defend their bands to a bunch of stiffs. They were both very young, and held their own. They pretty much showed the group that they DID make it in the music scene after all. It was definitely interesting, to me anyway, for what stuff they were talking about on the show. Tom Snyder had to be corrected by Paul Weller a few times, that they did make it, and were popular in Britain, and I just think Snyder was tip toeing around his comments after that.

I didn’t really want to see the full shows because, sometimes old talk shows are just awkward to watch. But there is an option to view just the songs and think that was a smart move on Shout! Factory’s part. The menu was a bit glitchy because it kept stopping when I clicked on certain songs. Not sure if it was just my DVD though. The Plasmatics’ performance was a bit out there and i’m sure scared all the old people in the audience. Wendy O, quite the looker back then, especially in that school girl outfit. Wasn’t she a porn star? Their music wasn’t special though and just seemed like it was just a novelty act. Being different to be different; like blowing up a car on TV. The Jam perform “Pretty Green” and “Funeral Pyre,” and I kind of wished they played something different, something faster perhaps? The Ramones played three songs “We Want the Airwaves,” “I Wanna Be Sedated” and “The KKK Took My Baby Away.” Marky replaced Tommy at this point so it’s not the original Ramones. But still fun to see the band perform; makes me hate myself for not getting out to see the band play on one of their many farewell tours. I didn’t watch Patti Smith because she just frightens me, same can be said for Iggy Pop. That guy’s skinny body dancing around gives me nightmares.

I don’t remember this show because I was too busy watching Sesame Street and playing with Legos to notice anything about punk rock. But it’s something to look back and watch because it’s interesting to hear what everyone thought about certain bands and topics like punk rock and new wave. Check out this DVD for the performances and the round table discussions too.

Features:
October 11, 1977 – Joan Jett, Paul Weller, Bill Graham, Kim Fowley and Robert Hilburn in a roundtable discussion on the emergence of punk
February 3, 1981 – Elvis Costello & The Attractions songs: “New Lace Sleeves”, “Watch Your Step”
February 12, 1981 – Iggy Pop songs: “Dog Food”, “Five Foot One”, “TV Eye”
May 20, 1981 – The Plasmatics songs: “Head Banger”, “Master Plan”

Disc 2:
May 11, 1978 – Patti Smith
June 25, 1980 – John Lydon
May 27, 1981 – The Jam songs: “Pretty Green”, “Funeral Pyre”
September 1, 1981 – The Ramones songs: “We Want The Airwaves”, “I Wanna Be Sedated”, “The KKK Took My Baby Away”

Audio:
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Stereo

Video:
Standard 1.33:1 Color

Subtitles:

Favorite Scenes: The Jam, The Ramones and Plasmatics performances
Rating: NR
Running Time: 300 minutes
Extras Rating:
Overall Rating: