The Price of Paradise
1985 · SST 58 · San Pedro, California
- Artist
- Minutemen
- Title
- The Price of Paradise
- Release
- 3-Way Tie (For Last)
- Year
- 1985
- Label
- SST # 58
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- San Pedro, California, USA
- Genre
- Punk · Post-Punk
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
The Minutemen, a post-punk rock band, formed in 1980 in San Pedro, California. Its membership included Mike Watt (bass, vocals), D. Boon (guitar, vocals), Frank Tonche (drums, 1980), and George Hurley (drums, 1980-85). They disbanded in 1985 following the death of D. Boon on 22 December. (1) (2) The group released a couple songs that referenced the Vietnam War, including "Viet Nam" (1984) on Double Nickels on the Dime, and "The Price of Paradise" (1985) on 3-Way Tie (For Last). They also released many anti-Reagan songs in the period. The song "The Price of Paradise" (SST Records # SST 058), written by D. Boon, is narrated from the point of view of a boy whose brother went to Vietnam. It argued that the older politicians did not value the lives of the young: "here in paradise the price is cheap, young men die for greed...they fight for men twice their age". The narrator believed that the government / military misled the people and soldiers about the objectives of the "unjust" war. The song also commented on the impact of the war on the soldiers: "the smell of death made his life change". D. Boon painted the front cover of this album, released just before his death - the final…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Punk Songs
The Minutemen, a Post-Punk / Art Punk band, formed in 1980 in San Pedro, California. Its membership included Mike Watt (bass, vocals), D. Boon (guitar, vocals), Frank Tonche (drums, 1980), and George Hurley (drums, 1980-85). They disbanded in 1985 following the death of D. Boon on 22 December. (1) (2) The group released a couple songs that referenced the Vietnam War, including "Viet Nam" (1984) on Double Nickels on the Dime, and "The Price of Paradise" (1985) on 3-Way Tie (For Last). They also released many anti-Reagan songs in the period. The song "The Price of Paradise" (SST Records # SST 058), written by D. Boon, is narrated from the point of view of a boy whose brother went to Vietnam. It argued that the older politicians did not value the lives of the young: "here in paradise the price is cheap, young men die for greed...they fight for men twice their age". The narrator believed that the government / military misled the people and soldiers about the objectives of the "unjust" war. The song also commented on the impact of the war on the soldiers: "the smell of death made his life change". D. Boon painted the front cover of this album, released just before his death - the final…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
American punk band formed 1980 in San Pedro, California ('Viet Nam'); disbanded 1985 after D. Boon's death. [Source: Wikipedia]