If Punk Rock wasn't dead before......

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.....is sure as fuck is now. Has anyone seen these?

http://www.voyagertoys.com/graphics/fullsize/full-CBGBasst1-lg.jpg

http://www.sweatyfrog.com/lib/sweatyfrog/joeyramone.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 17 August 2003 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Adding insult to injury, the `Pistols action figures are marketed by some company called Stronghold as part of the CBGB's series. Not for nothin', but....and call me pedantic...but THE SEX PISTOLS NEVER PLAYED AT CBGB's!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 17 August 2003 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"Oh my god, haven't you heard?"
"What?"
"Punk rock is over"

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 17 August 2003 16:48 (twenty-two years ago)

do they have G.G. Allin?

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 17 August 2003 16:50 (twenty-two years ago)

do they have G.G. Allin?

I think I'd actually endorse a GG Allin action figure....so long as it burped and farted and pissed and shat and cussed, etc.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 17 August 2003 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Why is Kurt Vonnegut cradling that mike stand?

― Burr (Burr), Sunday, 17 August 2003 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Top right, Paul Durkin rocks out.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 17 August 2003 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't know about y'all, but who WOULDN'T luv some 12 inches of Snoop?

http://www.voyagertoys.com/graphics/fullsize/full-snoopafly_lg.jpg

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Sunday, 17 August 2003 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I need that!

― Mike Taylor (mjt), Sunday, 17 August 2003 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

hahahahahahhahaha

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Sunday, 17 August 2003 19:50 (twenty-two years ago)

they have nick cave dolls now? I want one (ends obligatory bongwater reference)

― simon 803 (simon 803), Sunday, 17 August 2003 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

didn't Sid play there circa "My Way"?

― M Matos (M Matos), Sunday, 17 August 2003 21:00 (twenty-two years ago)

He might've done, but Sid solo does not equal the `Pistols. Actually, I think Sid played Max's Kansas City, not CB's.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 17 August 2003 21:22 (twenty-two years ago)

ha ha alex, weren't you the one who asked "who cares about this?" on the olsen twins thread?

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 17 August 2003 21:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, that was me. But I fail to see a correllation betwenn not caring a tinker's cuss about Les Twins Olsen and expressing deep regret and disdain at the discovery of Sex Pistols/Ramones action figures.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 17 August 2003 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

do you see the correllation between the intake of oxygen and breathing?

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 17 August 2003 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Adding insult to injury, the `Pistols action figures are marketed by some company called Stronghold as part of the CBGB's series.

CBGB's series, eh? Where's the Television action figures?

― Christine 'Green Leafy Dragon' Indigo (cindigo), Sunday, 17 August 2003 21:30 (twenty-two years ago)

http://fp.entertainmentearth.com/AUTOIMAGES/SGA019lg.jpg

Oh, yes.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Sunday, 17 August 2003 21:32 (twenty-two years ago)

The other two can only haunt the Stronghold company from beyond the grave but can't john lydon sue for infringement of a "distinctive likeness"?

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex what is the difference between having an action figure of a band and having a T-Shirt of a band? Honestly - why is one OK and one not (assuming yer a fan, blah blah Shania thread)? What sacred respectful aura does a manky old T-Shirt have that an action figure lacks? (I'm leaving copyright infringement etc out of this cos I get the feeling you'd be equally apalled if John Lydon had cast the molds himself.)

― Tom (Groke), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:34 (twenty-two years ago)

"you bastards that doll totally rips off my image and besides it look NOTHING LIKE ME"

mclaren wd have sold dolls of the pistols if he hadn't had a film to make = dolls are in the original "spirit of the pistols"

the ramones are all called "ramone" = dolls are in the original "spirit of the ramones"

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:38 (twenty-two years ago)

OH NO!! GIRLS BUY DOLLS = rock is dead :(

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm interested in Alex's reasons not only so I can rockist-bait him as per but also because I sneakily AGREE with him - not in a 'punk is dead' way but in an 'action figures are a step too far' way, I've always been kind of snobbishly horrified by the action figure aspect of fandom and I can't quite put my finger on why.

― Tom (Groke), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:40 (twenty-two years ago)

d'you know anyone who actually buys those creepy tableaux in forbidden planet?

i had a glow-in-the-dark wolfman when i wz a kid: it didn't even fit together properly unfortunately

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:43 (twenty-two years ago)

wasn't there even a joke about selling sid dolls in "greatest r&r swindle" or am I imagining it? i know there were "viciousburgers" in the movie.

and I'm with Tom about the "step too far" thing. i think dolls in general are creepy and horror movieish (ventriloquist dolls especially {yikes!}), but when combined with fandom dolls are extra creepy in a "Misery" #1 fan or kirk-and-spock making out fiction kind of way.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:45 (twenty-two years ago)

when i wz in FP last week i eagerly scanned the hellraiser figurines in case they had a "butterball" i cd buy and pretend i had a plastic model of mark lawson — but it had SOLD OUT!! (i guess a coachload of late review fans had just passed through)

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:45 (twenty-two years ago)

see what I mean?

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:46 (twenty-two years ago)

The only action figures I've actually shared house space with as an adult are:

- Giles from Buffy, which Sarah was given for her birthday.
- Noo Noo from Teletubbies, which Isabel bought ages ago and is sitting on one of my stereo speakers. I don't mind this even though it marks the precise point when Teletubbies sold out.

As a kid I didn't have many - an action man I used to felt tip all over.

― Tom (Groke), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:48 (twenty-two years ago)

i wasn't allowed them as a kid, and was indoctrinated by hippy parents to fly kites and garden and shit like that instead. they even tried to get me birdwatching as a nine year old. maniacs. now i waste my money on houllebecq in hardcover thanks to them.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:53 (twenty-two years ago)

auf zur disko (12:45:06 am): i dont think girls wd play w. these ramones dolls mark
auf zur disko (12:45:34 am): for one thing the hair is uncombable
auf zur disko (12:46:15 am): also u can't change the clothes
auf zur disko (12:46:22 am): ergo the doll is rub
evazev (12:46:53 am): post on the thread!!
auf zur disko (12:47:39 am): haha ew ilm is like, gross

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:53 (twenty-two years ago)

The Big Boi doll pictured above is the same make that was crushed underfoot at Club Freaky Trigger by a laughing Tim Hopkins, btw.

― Tom (Groke), Sunday, 17 August 2003 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

i want all of these

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 17 August 2003 23:04 (twenty-two years ago)

If they were life sized, and could move and sing and dance under their own power, then it'd be worth the money.
If not, then theres no point in making them.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Sunday, 17 August 2003 23:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex what is the difference between having an action figure of a band and having a T-Shirt of a band?

Fair question, Tom. You could even take it a step further and ask why I'm not offended by Kiss action figures. I think in this particular case, it's because Punk Rock seemed initially interwoven with particular ideals and conviction that set it apart from the shenanigans of bands like Kiss (who were, of course, BORN and DESIGNED to sell themselves out and merchandise like crazy). Why do I consider action figures the death knell of Punk idealism (more so than t-shirts)? Well, basically because it signifies the reduction of maverick, revolutionary ideals into a literal plaything. I know that sounds melodramatic, but think about it. The Ramones and the Sex Pistols (take your pick at who were the real intial representation of Punk Rock --- that's a debate for another ancient thread) used to literally strike fear into the hearts and minds of the establishment, and ultimately inspired whole generations of artists in their wake. Now, they're simply toys. I realize that the odds of someone buying a Johnny Rotten action figure for their child is relatively slim ---> these figures are invariably aimed at the wallets of collectible-crazed middle-aged geeks in states of arrested development, but still. A toy's a toy's a toy, whether it lies face down in the bottom of a chest of legos or it's propped up on someone's workdesk as a bit of hepcat tchotchke (how does one spell that word?) designed to indicate some anti-establishment aesthetic and finger-placement on the cutting edge of pop culture.

T-shirts, meanwhile, are a bit more amorphous. Sure, they can be manipulated or worn ironically (hello, Shania), but they're not toys.

I don't know. I just find it all a bit sad.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 17 August 2003 23:25 (twenty-two years ago)

wasn't there even a joke about selling sid dolls in "greatest r&r swindle" or am I imagining it?

You're thinking of the cover of Some Product. Witness....

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0000073Q0.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 17 August 2003 23:33 (twenty-two years ago)

i wanna sue catwoman doll :(

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 17 August 2003 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Just wait - soon punk will become undead. Once painted upon black velvet, surrounded by massive 'Spanish dungeon' plaster frames, and hung above sofas in suburban rec rooms, punk will follow in the footsteps of poor tormented zombie Elvis. Some moons hence, Joey Ramone will arise in a truckstop in Utah. Mark my words.

― Kim (Kim), Monday, 18 August 2003 00:03 (twenty-two years ago)

These action figures/model figurines are just current a design/art fad. There are people making these dolls of all sorts of weird items.

I'm just suprised that they don't have the Ramones crossed with the Planet of the Apes.

― earlnash, Monday, 18 August 2003 00:18 (twenty-two years ago)

the Ramones crossed with the Planet of the Apes.

BONZO GOES TO BITBURG!

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Monday, 18 August 2003 00:25 (twenty-two years ago)

the Ramones crossed with the Planet of the Apes.

"I wanna be Primated"

sorry, I'll get my coat.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 18 August 2003 00:26 (twenty-two years ago)

they need to make an action figure of whiny punk rock fans crying about posers.

― keith (keithmcl), Monday, 18 August 2003 00:36 (twenty-two years ago)

They need to make action figures of a bunch of people making and buying action figures.

― Kim (Kim), Monday, 18 August 2003 00:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Kim, someone already has:

http://www.epicheroes.com/acatalog/toys-simpsons4comicshop.jpg

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Monday, 18 August 2003 01:46 (twenty-two years ago)

that snoop dogg figure looks nothing like him

― robin (robin), Monday, 18 August 2003 01:59 (twenty-two years ago)

the thing I object to is the fact that they look cartoonish.It trivalizes the idea to the point of as if saying "Yeah, we told you, they were really just a bunch of angry kids." If they were coughing up blood or taking a shit it'll be pretty cool.

― Cacaman Flores, Monday, 18 August 2003 02:30 (twenty-two years ago)

It trivalizes the idea

Precisely my point.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 18 August 2003 02:35 (twenty-two years ago)

oh christ.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 18 August 2003 02:38 (twenty-two years ago)

oh christ.

http://www.mcphee.com/pixlarge/10746.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 18 August 2003 02:40 (twenty-two years ago)

"punk" as transgression = quaint?

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 18 August 2003 02:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Kim, someone already has:

-- Kingfish (jdsalmo...), August 18th, 2003.

...inaction figure, more like!

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Monday, 18 August 2003 02:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Are you a punk, Alex in NYC?

― d k (d k), Monday, 18 August 2003 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

it's like a window onto an amish community or something.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 18 August 2003 02:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Ok now I want action figures of people at computers posting to threads about whether other action figures should exist or not.

― Kim (Kim), Monday, 18 August 2003 02:47 (twenty-two years ago)

would they look like YOU? (ha ha oh mercy)

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 18 August 2003 02:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Jesus needs more points of articulation

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Monday, 18 August 2003 02:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Well duh Jess. That's like OBVIOUS or something.

― Kim (Kim), Monday, 18 August 2003 03:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh and you know what else? One would have to look like YOU TOO! Do you s... blah blah blah... I'm going to bed.

― Kim (Kim), Monday, 18 August 2003 03:07 (twenty-two years ago)

they already made jess -

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Monday, 18 August 2003 05:03 (twenty-two years ago)

all of blounts sins are hereby forgiven

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 18 August 2003 05:05 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, jim finally found someone who he can creepily google and past simpsons and related pictures with

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 18 August 2003 05:11 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, jess finally found another reason to hate me beyond liking music he doesn't. hooray.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 18 August 2003 05:15 (twenty-two years ago)

group hug!

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Monday, 18 August 2003 05:27 (twenty-two years ago)

haha jim i dont hate you.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 18 August 2003 05:29 (twenty-two years ago)

blount i'm merely ambivalent about.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 18 August 2003 05:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Jesus needs more points of articulation
That would make his religion to flexible to keep ~~his sheep~~ his flock under control. Besides, the Prince of Peace cannot have "king-fu" grip...just "Exciting Die For Your Sins Action!"

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 18 August 2003 12:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Doesn't the usual creepiness-boundary with action figures fall somewhere around the point where they start depicting real people? I can't think of any exceptions to this rule. Even KISS: the action figures can represent the stage personalities they "played," just like Star Wars figures were of Luke and Han, not Hammill and Ford.

The funny bit to me is that the two examples here -- Pistols and Ramones -- both seem appropriate: the Ramones always had their comic-book vibe, and that Joey pretty much just turns him into the Peter Bagge character he already was. Pistols maybe less so, but they were sort of comic-vivid dolls, too. This is just the logical endpoint of the New York Dolls' influence!

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 18 August 2003 13:26 (twenty-two years ago)

dolls dressed in 'punk' clothing is a good idea. come on its either that or dull army type clothing.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 18 August 2003 13:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the way the Snoop doll has 26 more points of movement than the actual Snoop.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 18 August 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

< COMIC BOOK SHOP OWNER VOICE>
"They are not 'dolls'; They are 'Action Figures'...Thenk Yuu."
< /COMIC BOOK SHOP OWNER VOICE>
On the plus side, wouldn't it be great to see little kids waving their Action Figures around and making guitar riffs with their mouths instead of machine gun noises with ther mouths.
Machine gun noises are soooooo 1954.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 18 August 2003 13:44 (twenty-two years ago)

i have a master p doll/figure/thing. squeeze him and he grunts 'nnnn. na na na na.'

at one point , we tried using it to teach a furby (remember them?) to growl no limit-style. mebbe you had to be there.

― bucky wunderlick (bucky), Monday, 18 August 2003 13:57 (twenty-two years ago)

bands like Kiss (who were, of course, BORN and DESIGNED to sell themselves out and merchandise like crazy).

As opposed to the Pistols? Come on, the band was only ever designed to sell bondage trousers...

― Jim Eaton-Terry (Jim E-T), Monday, 18 August 2003 14:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Not exactly. That was Malcolm McClaren's goal. I doubt the band members saw that goal as relevant.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 18 August 2003 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Jango Fett vs Joey Ramone! FITE!!!!!!

― Dale the Titled (cprek), Monday, 18 August 2003 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

the thing with these figures is that their models didn't actually do anything interesting enough to want to act out

― sean g, Monday, 18 August 2003 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

nobody's mentioned the sum 41 action figure video yet!

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 18 August 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

We're still in denial.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 18 August 2003 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

If Joan Jett had an action figure, you best believe I'd buy one and display it proudly in my apartment. So there.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Monday, 18 August 2003 14:41 (twenty-two years ago)

what the fuck is an "INTERACTIVE FIGURE"? is it like this mug, which can be interactive when i throw it against the wall?

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Monday, 18 August 2003 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

it means you can make (guitar|machine gun) noises with your lips while you play with it.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 18 August 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.medicomtoy.co.jp/new/tsuhan/2002_10/photo/02-09t-02p01.jpg

― kephm, Monday, 18 August 2003 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/revbps/Miniature-Skyline/003.jpg

― kephm, Monday, 18 August 2003 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey, where'd you get that Gary Glitter lego guy from?
http://www.deansplanet.com/scary_celebs/scary_celebs_gary_glitter.jpg

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 18 August 2003 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

anyone remember the judge jules and paul oakenfold dj action figures
they advertised in the face that time ? they were besieged by
requests from superclub types but unfortunately
the figures were fakes. it was the april edition of the mag see.

― piscseboy, Monday, 18 August 2003 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

In the future everyone who's famous for 15 minutes will have their own action figure.

― DavidM (DavidM), Monday, 18 August 2003 17:25 (twenty-two years ago)

whoa! a skyscaper-sized han solo in carbonite!

sure beats that model that geek idiots have on their walls:
http://www.travelswithtigger.com/dc1098/tig_han.jpg

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Monday, 18 August 2003 18:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Are there New York Dolls dolls?

What's up with the Snoop doll's outfit? Somehow I really doubt Snoop would rock that weird ass yellow-and-black split-down-the-middle shit.

― Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Monday, 18 August 2003 19:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmmm. The face on that Snoop doll looks like a character from Aeon Flux.
http://www.sadgeezer.com/aeon/short5-9.jpg http://www.sadgeezer.com/aeon/short5-9.jpg

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 11:39 (twenty-two years ago)

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