A historical memoir and cultural criticism of punk rock's evolution by the legendary singer-songwriter of Bad Religion, Punk Paradox is Graffin's life narrative before and during L.A. punk's early years, detailing his observations on the genre's growth and his band's steady rise in importance.
Thoughtful, deeply personal memoir ... As compelling as it is astute...Graffin is passionate in his reminiscences of a time when punk rock was not distorted with the often deserved stereotype of violence and anger. Readers will discover a trove of insights into the music industry and living creatively.
A fascinating look ... Written with the nuanced detail for research of an academic, but balanced out with a punk rocker’s experience, Punk Paradox is a rock memoir unlike most ... Graffin knows how to tell a compelling story.
A well-crafted memoir and manifesto ... Unusually, Graffin expresses solidarity with the hippies who preceded (and were reviled by) the punks, and he even has sympathetic words for the hair metal bands of Sunset Strip, who never got beaten up by the LAPD as much as the punks did ... An entertaining, memorable look at 'the most intractable paradox of all: punk as a positive force in society.'
