FROM ROCK 'N 'ROLL TO HARD CORE PUNK - UKZN ...

assess.
102
As has been mentioned, Flame was one non-white South African rock
band that became internationally successful. It was only when
the band went to the United Kingdom, however, that it became
recognised. This is a severe indictment on the South African
music industry as well as the political regime, which through
.consistent repression made it necessary for creative talents to
leave the country in order to make a living.
Rock Music in Durban and its Relation to Socio-Political Events:
1964 - 1972
In the early years of rock in Durban rock musicians considered
their image as rock musicians and, in fact, their socio-political
stance to be linked to their perception of themselves as either
'commercial' or 'progressive'.
Typically, a commercial rock band (white or black) made little
or no conscious effort to address socio-political issues, since
its main emphasis was on playing hit-parade material, and
providing entertainment for the ever-growing crowd of local
teenagers who supported rock music. Many of these commercial
bands were extremely popular, and some even received support from
the local music industry. It has been mentioned that most of the
musicians I interviewed who belonged to bands which considered
themselves 'commercial' admit ted that they had been vaguely aware
of the extent to which apartheid violated human rights, but that
they chose not to engage in a discourse of confrontation with the
system.
The reasons for this choice have not been clearly articulated by
any of my interviewees. However, a number of possibilities can
be derived from statements made by interviewees when asked about
their socio-political stance and its link to their music.
The most common response to a question regarding the socio-