1.
Image via The Guardian / Martin Godwin
One very angry British man is planning on burning his £5 million (approximately $7 million USD) collection of punk memorabilia. To answer your two questions—”Why is he so angry?” and “How did he get his hands on that much punk memorabilia?”—the man in question is Joe Corré, the son of Malcolm McLaren, the manager of Sex Pistols, and Vivienne Westwood. He is also the founder of lingerie company, Agent Provocateur.
As Crack points out, Corré’s reaction is in response to Punk London, a series of events held in London to celebrate the 40th anniversary of punk that was announced earlier this year. Corré is not happy about this tribute, which is sponsored by a number of official British institutes, because he believes that this is an act of appropriation.
“The Queen giving 2016, the Year of Punk, her official blessing is the most frightening thing I’ve ever heard,” says Corré in an official press release. “Talk about alternative and punk culture being appropriated by the mainstream. Rather than a movement for change, punk has become like a fucking museum piece or a tribute act.
“A general malaise has now set in amongst the British public. People are feeling numb. And with numbness comes complacency. People don’t feel they have a voice anymore. The most dangerous thing is that they have stopped fighting for what they believe in. They have given up the chase. We need to explode all the shit once more.”
The Burning will take place in London’s Camden District on November 26, the 40th anniversary of the Sex Pistols’ song, “Anarchy in the U.K.,” and Corré doesn’t plan on doing this alone—he has asked other fans of punk to join him as well.
So, if you’re also unhappy with the Queen and Punk London, or you’re a fan of punk and you also think the Queen is appropriating punk culture, or hell, maybe you just like burning stuff, you know where to be on November 26.
Learn more about Punk London and its events here.
