Viet Nam Vet
1995 · Knot KM-002 · New York
- Artist
- Vilently Ill
- Title
- Viet Nam Vet
- Release
- Split
- Year
- 1995
- Label
- Knot # KM-002
- Format
- 7" · EP
- Country
- New York, USA
- Genre
- Punk · Hardcore Punk
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation — Punk Songs
Hardcore Punk group Vilently Ill, released the song "Viet Nam Vet" (Knot Music # KM-002), out of South Haven, Michigan, USA. The back of the sleeve said: "the material on...this split EP was recorded in mono between August '94 and '95 on cassette on home stereo. Yes, the guitars sound like blown speakers, but that's exactly how it's supposed to sound. If you demand music with professionally cleaned sound, go to the mall and buy a Green Day, Offspring or other fake corporate punk album instead". The song presented a Vietnam veteran suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - frequently referenced in post-war 1980s songs about US veterans, often connected in songs to stress, shell shock, flashbacks, nostalgia, and feelings and dreams related to an event: "lost in battles fought long ago". The vet became addicted to drugs: "fucked up on pills and booze, screwed up life".
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Lyrics
English: Lost in battles fought long ago What year is it? You don't even know Viet Nam vet - a life erased Viet Nam vet - a life debased
Notes
Knot Music, PO Box 501, South Haven, MI 49090-0501 USA, "first pressing: 500"; the Vilently Ill side of a split EP, label marked B with a photo of a child aiming a rifle. The front sleeve, over an 18th-century engraving of a hospital scene, lists intro :20, "Viet Nam Vet" :34, "Kill for Fun" :17, "Fashion Sucks" :27, "Hidden Agenda" :25, "Your Profits" :47, "Chained" :09, "Govt. Sponsored Devastation" :35, "Refuse to Fight" :15, "In the Name of Christ" :25 and "Vilently Ill" :15. The back prints all the lyrics; the insert, headed by a gas-mask photo and the "Slovenian proverb" "Speak the truth - but leave immediately thereafter", states that the Vilently Ill side was recorded in mono between August '94 and January '95 on cassette on a home stereo, thanks Pneumatic Values, Old Style Beer and Rattlehead Studios, and is signed "Vilently Ill - March 1995". [From the record sleeve and labels]
About the artist
Hardcore Punk and Powerviolence group from upstate New York, USA; members included Cypress Phil the Necromancer, Jim Miller, Matt Kennedy and Ryan Prenatt.