Punk's not dead

Punk is not dead and the Dead Kennedys are still putting out albums. "RAGE: 20 Years of Punk Rock" thrashes to this ideal with interviews, music and concert footage from the Germs, Christian Death and more. \nBut despite the fury "RAGE" falls short of a boot to the head for those who haven't delved deeply into the West Coast scene.\nInterviews -- including Jack Grisham, Jello Biafra and Keith Morris -- give the scene's representation an authentic touch. Here they are, the skaters, starters and shakers of the scene, at their vulgar best. But most of the commentary deals with backstage stories more than worthwhile information about the scene. \nThe punch to the story is when the artists discuss the music. Duane Peters got into punk from skating. Gitane Demone insults Green Day and pop punk style. Some interviews touch on the ever-illusive subject of selling out. The heart of the DVD is in the why, not the what, that happened. \nSo, beyond a few intelligent comments regarding music slid in, the DVD portrays trash-talking (Peters actually disses Eric Clapton), and stories of sex, drugs and being a punk. The packaging actually cites "Punks on the Street" as a Special Feature.\nAs far as real "special features" go, the extra video is just more interview material and The directors' commentary is more of a pat on the back than real backstage information. Additional audio contains four songs written for the documentary but nothing extensive. \nOverall, the DVD isn't worth the watch for those not knowledgeable on the West Coast scene. The grainy show clips are interesting, but even to those who know their stuff, it might still not be worth the time. Just go pick up a Dead Kennedys or Circle Jerks album instead.