Crass
Crass were an English art collective and punk rock band formed in Epping, Essex in 1977,[1] who promoted anarchism as a political ideology, a way of life, and a resistance movement. Crass popularised the anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, advocating direct action, animal rights, feminism, anti-fascism, and environmentalism. The band used and advocated a DIY ethic in its albums, sound collages, leaflets, and films.
This article is about the band. For the definition of "crass", see wikt:crass. For the people named Crass, see Crass (surname).
Crass
Epping, Essex, England
1977–1984
- Steve Ignorant
- Penny Rimbaud
- Gee Vaucher
- N. A. Palmer
- Phil Free
- Pete Wright
- Eve Libertine
- Joy De Vivre
- Mick Duffield
- John Loder
- Steve Herman
Crass spray-painted stencilled graffiti messages in the London Underground system and on advertising billboards, coordinated squats and organised political action. The band expressed its ideals by dressing in black, military-surplus-style clothing and using a stage backdrop amalgamating icons of perceived authority such as the Christian cross, the swastika, the Union Jack, and the ouroboros.
The band was critical of the punk subculture[2] and youth culture in general; nevertheless, the anarchist ideas that they promoted have maintained a presence in punk.[3] Due to their free experimentation and use of tape collages, graphics, spoken word releases, poetry, and improvisation, they have been associated with avant-punk[4][5][6] and art punk.[7]