Names in the Noise: The Real People Behind 5 Punk Anthems
In the world of punk, names aren't usually chosen just because they rhyme. Behind the distorted guitars and the snarling vocals, there’s often a real person—a ghost, a villain, or a tragedy—that inspired the track. Today, we’re digging past the mosh pit to find the real stories behind five iconic songs where a person was the target, the victim, or the inspiration.
1. "Richard Hung Himself" – T.S.O.L.
The quintessential horror-punk track from the 1982 album Beneath the Shadows. While the song feels like a scene from a slasher flick, Richard de la Riva was a very real person. He was a local teenager from the same Orange County neighborhood as the band. The song captures the dark, suburban isolation of the early 80s, turning a neighborhood tragedy into a haunting anthem for the "lost kids" of Southern California.
2. "Kill the Poor" – Dead Kennedys
While the title is a satirical broadside against the elite, Jello Biafra had a specific person in his sights: Jerry Brown, the then-Governor of California. Biafra often referred to him as a "Zen fascist" in other tracks like California Über Alles. In this song, the satire is directed at the cold, clinical efficiency of the political class who view humans as "voters" or "problems" to be solved with a neutron bomb.
3. "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene" – X
X is the ultimate "art-nerd" punk band from LA, and this track is a masterclass in storytelling. While "Paulene" is a composite character, the song was inspired by a real-life individual the band knew in the scene—a man obsessed with a 1950s "greaser" fantasy of violence. It’s a chilling look at the "Johnnys" of the world who confuse vintage style with actual brutality.
4. "The Man Who Folded Himself" – The Lawrence Arms
This one is for the sci-fi nerds. The song is named after a 1973 novel by David Gerrold (who also wrote the famous Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles"). The song isn't just a shout-out; it explores the book's themes of time travel and the crushing loneliness of meeting yourself in the past. It’s "Nerd-Punk" at its absolute finest.
5. "Diana" – Various UK Punk Acts
In the late 70s and early 80s, Princess Diana was everywhere. While the tabloids loved her, UK punk bands used her name as a symbol for the massive class divide in Britain. Songs like this weren't personal attacks on her; they were attacks on the concept of her—a fairy tale being sold to a generation of kids who were living in the ruins of the industrial revolution.
Why It Matters
Punk has always been more than just noise; it's a record of the people who shaped the culture—for better or worse. When we sing along to these names, we’re keeping a little bit of that history (and that person) alive.
Who did I miss? Let me know in the comments if there’s a song about a real person that haunts you.
