Now this right here is some perfect late night reading… Vice sat down for a ridiculously long and comprehensive interview with Penny Rimbaud and Steve Ignorant of Anarcho Punk legends, Crass. If you’re either a former Crust Punk or are for whatever reason scratching your head going “What’s a Crass?” this is an absolute must read for both of you… especially the latter.

If you pick up some crap book about the history of punk rock, chances are there will be about 90 pages dedicated to Joe Strummer’s jackets but only two sentences about Crass. This is despite them selling millions of records, singlehandedly creating the DIY punk blueprint, and maintaining their hard-line libertarian and anarchy principles even as they reach their mid-60s today.

A lot of you reading this will be aware of their logo and the fact that they were a punk band, but not a lot of people know their actual story. Because it’s so inspirational and so “anti-music” (in the sense that it was a total revolt against the established music industry of the time) we feel that everybody with even a passing interest in punk rock should hear it.

And so we interviewed founding members Penny Rimbaud and Steve Ignorant for a brief history of the group and to procure their ideas surrounding this issue’s theme. During the talks between myself and Penny that preceded this interview I discovered that the unthinkable has happened and that Crass, the most anti-authoritarian, anarchy-endorsing free spirits in the history of punk music, are on the verge of going to Crown Court to ask lawyers and judges to intervene in a huge row over some remastered CDs.

The interview covers the long history, members and ideology behind what have become one of the most influential Punk bands ever. A history that includes seemingly going against their own ideals and lawyering up for a court battle over the control of their back catalog of music. Really interesting stuff and a great read.

I know Crass’ logo is one of the most recognizable punk icons out there and become just as ubiquitous symbol for whatever “Punk” is supposed to mean these days as the Crimson Ghost. But how many of you are really familiar with what that icon and the band truly symbolized and fought for? No excuses, if you own a Crass tee, pin, patch or record I want you to read this… And remember, this is coming from a bunch of dudes who tried (and succeeded) in selling a $45 Anarcho New Era.

Read Anarchy and Peace, Litigated: A Brief History of the Idealistic Punk Icons Crass, and Why in 2010 They Are Going to Court Over Some Total Bullshit by Vice Magazine

- My Pal the Crook