Old punks never die…they just become incredibly senile social workers

So something that’s got to be interesting is age/experience in and after the movement. With all the efforts at recruitment no one seems to have looked that seriously at why people drift off or leave, and what happens to them afterwards. The party line is that they get burnt out and tired — charitably: lots of people say they just get too old — but is that right? Does participation in these kinds of moments have to lead to that kind of career path, or are we missing something?

I didn’t see the show but I’m interested that no one disavowed their past. Even the most boring and reactionary ex-punks (cough Lydon cough) still seem to recognise that their moment was something special, where their activities multiplied possibilities. I’m wondering how many of the people who subverted the media line on the summit (surprising journalists by not acting their age) have an affectionate, unnoticed, political/cultural biography of their own.