Hardcore Punk in the Age of Reagan

“Hardcore Punk in the Age of Reagan is a great introduction to the world of hardcore punk in the 1980s. . . . I heartily recommend reading it.”—CounterPunch

“For every band you recognize, there are about five you probably haven’t heard of; Hardcore Punk in the Age of Reagan excels at cataloging these bands. It doesn’t matter if the band was well-known or extremely under the radar. Fitzgerald treats those smaller bands with the same respect as the legends who endured. . . . For as researched as it is on these punk rockers’ responses, it is just as researched on Reagan’s flawed policies.”—Dying Scene

“I could spend a long time detailing everything that I took away from Hardcore Punk in the Age of Reagan . . . but then I would create a bloated post akin to the bloated stadium rock that punk usurped. . . . Fitzgerald navigates a vast amount of territory, working to cram as much as possible into a small book.”—Interminable Rambling

“From critiquing policing, religion, war time etc., this book creates a public facing and accessible history for the general public, punk fans, and scholars of punk history.”—Society for US Intellectual History

“This timely study argues that hardcore punk emerged as a musical movement critical of political, social, economic, and cultural trends that arose during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. . . . A superb resource for 1980s hardcore and Reagan’s presidency.”—CHOICE

“Hardcore Punk in the Age of Reagan is a memorable cataloging of Reagan’s crimes as articulated through the lyrics of punk bands of the era. Fitzgerald’s writing is entertaining and informative, and this book is a welcome and novel addition to Reagan-era studies for historians as well as anyone who loves punk music.”—Kevin C. Dunn, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

“Fitzgerald forces us to take 1980s punk seriously, making the case that punk rock lyrics served as a form of cultural criticism and anger directed at Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Perfect for historians, political scientists, or anyone wanting to know more about a key political and musical moment.”—Kevin Mattson, Ohio University