You Werent There: A History of Chicago Punk 1977 1984 (2007) dir. Joe Losurdo Christina Tillman
You Weren t There: A History Of Chicago Punk 19771984 looks back on the impact that the Punk movement had on the Windy City. Though overlooked in the annals of Rock history when compared to mediacentric Los Angeles, New York, and London, Chicago served as an important early supporter of this burgeoning and controversial scene. From what is now considered to be the first Punk dance club in America (La Mere Vipere), to protohardcore clubs (Oz, O Banions), and All Ages DIY scene (CentroAm Hall), Chicagoans made sure that there were outlets for the genre that was often blacklisted by the mainstream local live music scene. This small, but dedicated scene had to endure harassment from the Police, City Hall, NeoNazis, and even the audience, as well as making uneasy alliances with the everpresent Chicago criminal underworld. It was a scene that could be violent and unsavory at times, but always tempered with large doses of humor, art, and intelligence.
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