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

80
greatest gift to song - the organisation that swept
their differences into the spruit that flows south of
Fun Valley. 82
Punk and hard core punk bands continued to organise concerts, but
did so on a larger scale. In some instances punk bands from
Johannesburg would join with Durban bands for concerts. One such
concert was held at the Natal University Student Union Hall in
July 1984. Five Johannesburg bands and two relatively newly­
formed local bands (Special Branch and Sanity Inspectors)
performed.
Another series of defiance concerts, entitled Free People's
Concerts took place in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town from
1971 -1987, with the exception of 1976 and 1977 when they were
banned. These concerts were initiated by a dedicated Durbanite,
David Marks, whose record and Publishing company, Third Ear, is
well known for putting local artists on the map.
Conclusion
Durban has been an important centre for the development of rock
in South Africa. It was the birthplace of rock'n'roll, spawned
some important progressive rock bands, and became the centre of
the punk movement in South Africa. Durban also has the
distinction of spawning the first all-women punk rock band in
\
South Africa, as well as an important number of bands which drew
on multi-cultural influences.
The reasons suggested for Durban's centrality in the development
of rock are rooted in the strong influence of colonisation over
Natal. Even once South Africa had been declared a republic, the
majority of white Natalians still regarded England as their
cultural and social base. Thus, the enthusiastic appropriation
of rock in Durban and relentless imitation of British bands by
local ones has been interpreted as a means of identifying with
82 s. Jacobs, City Press, 11th of March 1984.