Unavailable on home video for many years (except perhaps as a grainy, nth-generation VHS bootleg), Penelope Spheeris' seminal document of the young 1979-1980 Los Angeles punk scene includes chaotic live performances by now-legendary groups like Black Flag (with short-lived lead singer Ron "Chavo Pederast" Reyes), X (giving themselves stick-and-poke tattoos) and the Germs (whose unpredictable lead singer Darby Crash would commit suicide before the film's release) interwoven with talking-head interviews with teenage punks and, most entertainingly, older club owners trying very hard to describe a growing form of music they were clearly unprepared for. The footage of Fear's confrontational set would later grab the attention of John Belushi, who snagged the band a 1981 appearance on Saturday Night Live (and resulted in $20,000 in damage to the studio). - Tom Fritsche

Unavailable on home video for many years (except perhaps as a grainy, nth-generation VHS bootleg), Penelope Spheeris' seminal document of the young 1979-1980 Los Angeles punk scene includes chaotic live performances by now-legendary groups like Black Flag (with short-lived lead singer Ron "Chavo Pederast" Reyes), X (giving themselves stick-and-poke tattoos) and the Germs (whose unpredictable lead singer Darby Crash would commit suicide before the film's release) interwoven with talking-head interviews with teenage punks and, most entertainingly, older club owners trying very hard to describe a growing form of music they were clearly unprepared for. The footage of Fear's confrontational set would later grab the attention of John Belushi, who snagged the band a 1981 appearance on Saturday Night Live (and resulted in $20,000 in damage to the studio). - Tom Fritsche

The third (and seemingly final) installment in Penelope Spheeris' Los Angeles music trilogy, THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION III follows not the punk acts of Los Angeles from 1996-1997 but their homeless teenaged fans. Musician interviews in this DECLINE are fewer but include interesting musings from Keith Morris from the Circle Jerks and Flea (credited as the "ex-bass player of Fear"). DECLINE III lives up to its title as Spheeris explores every facet of the gutter-punk life, from their damaged upbringings (nearly all were abused or neglected as children) to the self-destructive lives they lead on society's fringe (alcoholism, homelessness and run-ins with skinheads, among others). - Tom Fritsche

The third (and seemingly final) installment in Penelope Spheeris' Los Angeles music trilogy, THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION III follows not the punk acts of Los Angeles from 1996-1997 but their homeless teenaged fans. Musician interviews in this DECLINE are fewer but include interesting musings from Keith Morris from the Circle Jerks and Flea (credited as the "ex-bass player of Fear"). DECLINE III lives up to its title as Spheeris explores every facet of the gutter-punk life, from their damaged upbringings (nearly all were abused or neglected as children) to the self-destructive lives they lead on society's fringe (alcoholism, homelessness and run-ins with skinheads, among others). - Tom Fritsche

咖啡馆是浓缩的人间，在这小小的方寸之地，人们散布消息获取消息，透过人与人交谈的方式，可以窥见人生百态。 　　有喜欢对他人喋喋不休的讲者，就有擅用左耳朵进右耳朵出功夫的听者；有礼貌地向他人打招呼者，就有同样礼貌地给予配合者，至于彼此寒暄是为什么，各自心知；有毫无情趣的男人，就有想以自己的万种风情将另一种男人征服的女人；有滔滔不绝讲别人是非的女人，就有配合着和她说得不亦乐乎的同伴……爱情伴随人们一生，咖啡馆里最少不了的便是，经常有人奏响爱情的悲喜协奏曲，经常有人侧耳将这协奏曲倾听。

咖啡馆是浓缩的人间，在这小小的方寸之地，人们散布消息获取消息，透过人与人交谈的方式，可以窥见人生百态。 　　有喜欢对他人喋喋不休的讲者，就有擅用左耳朵进右耳朵出功夫的听者；有礼貌地向他人打招呼者，就有同样礼貌地给予配合者，至于彼此寒暄是为什么，各自心知；有毫无情趣的男人，就有想以自己的万种风情将另一种男人征服的女人；有滔滔不绝讲别人是非的女人，就有配合着和她说得不亦乐乎的同伴……爱情伴随人们一生，咖啡馆里最少不了的便是，经常有人奏响爱情的悲喜协奏曲，经常有人侧耳将这协奏曲倾听。

最近在为数不多的闲暇中，一点一点磨了一段承袭自戈达尔的论文电影拼凑成品，把我的信手涂鸦、写的无聊句子、拍的碎片化视频，还有搜集的素材一股脑塞了进去。属于是对表达方式东施效颦的一次拙劣探索。我很愿意以一个没文化的废物姿态，去保留些微弱的感受。绵羊教育磨锐气，宏大叙事杀个人 。别沉默，就是这样。

最近在为数不多的闲暇中，一点一点磨了一段承袭自戈达尔的论文电影拼凑成品，把我的信手涂鸦、写的无聊句子、拍的碎片化视频，还有搜集的素材一股脑塞了进去。属于是对表达方式东施效颦的一次拙劣探索。我很愿意以一个没文化的废物姿态，去保留些微弱的感受。绵羊教育磨锐气，宏大叙事杀个人 。别沉默，就是这样。

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years is a documentary film directed by Penelope Spheeris about the Los Angeles heavy metal scene from 1986 to 1988.

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years is a documentary film directed by Penelope Spheeris about the Los Angeles heavy metal scene from 1986 to 1988.