Death in June – Lesson 1: Misanthropy (Solielmoon) 2009
Fuck, this mob are dodgy. The arguments about whether Death In June are facsists or not seem to rage on fan forums and in various other media. Do I think they’re fascists? Not sure but their celebration of european unity certainly creates a place for the comparisons to be made. Their facsist imagery is unquestionable and the argument about them using extreme material to make a point is quite frankly bullshit and if They’re not fascists then the use of the imagery is pathetic and childish. I have a similar view of Whitehouse. Those dudes are creeps, getting off on shock value. And there is something creepy about Death in June, maybe even unsettling. While I was looking around for videos to attach to this post there are some appalling fan videos using imagery of death camps. The apologia for fascist nostalgia sticks to Death in June like a fly to shit.
But this is where my dilemma comes in, I really like the music of Death in June. Especially this re-release of a compilation of the first incarnation of the band prior to 1986. This record has some of the tracks form Burial, out of print cassettes and The Guilty Have No Pride album and unlike The Phoenix has Risen, the tracks are complimented by some very good production which makes the early 1980’s industrial, gothic vibe much more special. The version I’ve got has a nifty DVD and a patch which would look nice sewn on a jacket at the next skinhead rally. This is way better than their latter day incarnation as a dark-folk band but I doubt I’ve ever been this conflicted about a band before in my life. And this comes from the mass going Catholic who has a rather spiffy collection of black metal.
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2 Responses to “Death in June – Lesson 1: Misanthropy (Solielmoon) 2009”
I have the same dilemma. Even if Death in June are not, indeed Nazis, I think that their use of Nazi imagery is pretty tasteless as best. Most of the hardcore DIJ fans I meet like to jump up and explain that nooo, Douglas P. played a show in Israel, and he’s gay so he can’t be a proper Nazi, but does that really excuse everything else they’ve done?
At the same time, The Guilty Have No Pride and Nada! are among my favourite albums of all time and have no real comparison. I end up listening to them, but not in good conscience. I’m also a huge Current 93, and I end up feeling a bit conflicted about them as well due to David Tibet’s continual collaboration with Douglas P. and also the possibly even more fascistic Boyd Rice…
I totally agree. I just bought Nada! and it is a cracking listen and then I read the lyric sheet and thought “Jeez, that ain’t right.” I’m not sure how being gay and being a Nazi are mutually exclusive. Even Sleazy from Throbbing Gristle reckons Death in June’s politics are dodgy. If you really want to scare the crap of yourself read the comments that accompany their vdeo’s on youtube. There is often a bit of Seig Heil nonsense going on.
Ducks Battle Satan 
November 8, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I have the same dilemma. Even if Death in June are not, indeed Nazis, I think that their use of Nazi imagery is pretty tasteless as best. Most of the hardcore DIJ fans I meet like to jump up and explain that nooo, Douglas P. played a show in Israel, and he’s gay so he can’t be a proper Nazi, but does that really excuse everything else they’ve done?
At the same time, The Guilty Have No Pride and Nada! are among my favourite albums of all time and have no real comparison. I end up listening to them, but not in good conscience. I’m also a huge Current 93, and I end up feeling a bit conflicted about them as well due to David Tibet’s continual collaboration with Douglas P. and also the possibly even more fascistic Boyd Rice…
November 9, 2009 at 4:31 am
I totally agree. I just bought Nada! and it is a cracking listen and then I read the lyric sheet and thought “Jeez, that ain’t right.” I’m not sure how being gay and being a Nazi are mutually exclusive. Even Sleazy from Throbbing Gristle reckons Death in June’s politics are dodgy. If you really want to scare the crap of yourself read the comments that accompany their vdeo’s on youtube. There is often a bit of Seig Heil nonsense going on.