From Library Journal
Over the past six years, Daniel Sinker's Chicago-based Punk Planet has grown from being one of the better self-published fanzines dedicated to punk culture to a professional, income-generating publication that hasn't lost sight of the ideals and uncompromising style that first garnered it attention. This collection of interviews reflects one of Punk Planet's most important qualities: Sinker's willingness to look beyond the small world of punk bands and labels and deal with larger issues. With interview subjects ranging from punk icons Thurston Moore and Ian MacKaye to Noam Chomsky and representatives of the Central Ohio Abortion Access Fund, as well as many other artists, musicians, and activists, this book is not solely for the tattooed, pierced teenage set. All of the interviews are probing and well thought out, the questions going deeper than most magazines would ever dare; and each has a succinct, informative introduction for readers who are unfamiliar with the subject. Required reading for all music fans. Vincent Au, New York Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Library Journal, February 15, 2001
"All of the interviews are probing and well thought out...Required reading for all music fans."


Hartford Courant, January 7, 2001
"...'We Owe You Nothing' goes beyond the more obvious figureheads to feature interviews with a lot of the players behind the scenes..."


Book Description
The first compilation of the riveting and provocative interviews of Punk Planet magazine, founded in 1994 and charging unbowed into the new millennium. Never lapsing into hapless nostalgia, these conversations with figures as diverse as Jello Biafra, Kathleen Hanna, Noam Chomsky, Henry Rollins, Sleater-Kinney, Ian MacKaye, and many more provide a unique perspective into American punk rock and all that it has inspired (and confounded). Not limited to conversations with musicians, the book includes vital interviews with political organizers, punk entrepreneurs, designers, film-makers, writers, illustrators, and artists of many different media. Punk Planet has consistently explored the crossover of punk with activism, and reflects the currents of the underground while simultaneously challenging the bleak centerism of today's popular American culture.


From the Publisher
Punk Planet Magazine has just won an Utne Reader 2000 Alternative Press Award!!


About the Author
Daniel Sinker began publishing and editing Punk Planet magazine at age 19. Punk Planet has been a driving force in both punk music and progressive politics since its inception in 1994. Other contributors to the book include Joel Schalit, David Grad, Charlie Bertsch, Luis Illades, as well as many other interviewers who have been instrumentally involved in punk rock since the early 1980s. The Chicago-based magazine is distributed worldwide and has been covered by The Nation, Spin, Chicago Reader, New York Press, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Metropolis, Emigre, Utne Reader, and many other publications.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The first compilation of the riveting and provocative interviews of Punk Planet magazine, founded in 1994 and charging unbowed into the new millennium. Never lapsing into hapless nostalgia, these conversations with figures as diverse as Jello Biafra, Kathleen Hanna, Noam Chomsky, Henry Rollins, Sleater-Kinney, Ian MacKaye, and many more provide a unique perspective into American punk rock and all that it has inspired (and confounded). Not limited to conversations with musicians, the book includes vital interviews with political organizers, punk entrepreneurs, designers, film-makers, writers, illustrators, and artists of many different media. Punk Planet has consistently explored the crossover of punk with activism, and reflects the currents of the underground while simultaneously challenging the bleak centerism of today's popular American culture.

FROM THE CRITICS

Eric Weisbard - Village Voice

In principle, the idea doesn￯﾿ﾽt seem that outrageous: Why not create a magazine about music and politics that doesn￯﾿ﾽt have its hands tied behind its back from the start, freed from the shallowness and trend mandates of official media, the insularity and disciplinary bifurcations of academia, and the ideological blinkers that held back Maximum Rock n Roll? So try thinking of anyone but Punk Planet who￯﾿ﾽs pulled it off.

Utne Reader

Not just for fans of punk rock Punk Planet is a fine source of articles about politics, current events, and do-it-yourself culture.

Vincent Au - Library Journal

With interview subjects ranging from punk icons Thurston Moore and Ian MacKaye to Noam Chomsky and representatives of the Central Ohio Abortion Access Fund, as well as many other artists, musicians, and activists, this book is not solely for the tattooed, pierced teenage set. All of the interviews are probing and well thought out, the questions going deeper than most magazines would ever dare; and each has a succinct, informative introduction for readers who are unfamiliar with the subject. Required reading for all music fans.

Camille T. Taiara - San Francisco Bay Guardian

We Owe You Nothing provides a discerning look into the do-it-yourself movement and efforts to keep the political and creative roots of punk alive and adaptive in an environment of constant flux.

Charles Aaron - Spin

Refusing to accept that ￯﾿ﾽpunk￯﾿ﾽ is either bled-corpse history or emo-go-lucky playtime, Punk Planet argues that music and politics always mix, and that it￯﾿ﾽs possible to grow up without copping out.Read all 8 "From The Critics" >

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Punk Planet is indispensable reading for anyone and everyone who is interested in vital music that has yet to be co-opted, commodified, or covered to death in the mainstream press. Passionate music writing for the right reason. — (Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times, author of Let it Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs)

ACCREDITATION