While I'm not about to imply that you don't have your own personal definition of what punk rock is, if you happen to be searching for one, I know where you can find it. Just look at the bottom of the Kurt Cobain signature Converse that are heading to stores soon! On the inside of the shoe, a simple phrase is scrawled:
As someone who has worn Converse for years, waiting for the somewhat strange way I walk to rip out the heel in the specific way that it always rips out, then duct taping that area up until I get around to buying a new pair... it's kind of hard for me to completely tear Converse up over this. Their shoes have been associated with punk for quite some time, so it's not as if they're just pulling that link out of thin air to profit on a "hot trend." But there's still something that doesn't sit quite right with me.
There are two pairs of shoes -- a One-Star low-top with Kurt's signature on it, and an All-Star high-top covered in writing. The former is far more tasteful than the latter, but I have never been all that big on shoes or clothes that are covered in writing. It is also reported that the writing and words were taken from the published journals of Kurt Cobain -- and that may well be my issue with it.
I know I've never pontificated about how much I despised the journals being published, but now that the opportunity has been handed to me on a silver platter, I may as well. I can't think of anything more nauseating and gauche than publishing a dead man's journals. I'm sure they're very interesting, but considering he had ample opportunity in life to make his words public at will, I can't help but think he never intended for his private thoughts to become public knowledge. I actually started tearing up my paper journals after his were published, and every time I fill a book, I destroy it, because nobody lives forever and too many people could be hurt by the most unfiltered truth. But I digress.
This is my issue with the shoes: not only were the man's private words published for any old person to read on a whim, casually dismissing them if they seemed unimportant, but now, they're emblazoned on shoes, as well. Tacky.
Reportedly, there will be "several" designs -- there are currently photos of two of them here. I don't know -- maybe they're awesome, and I'm feeling particularly emo today. What do you guys think?
