Michael Croland on Jewish Punks and Non-Jewish Jewish Punks

A while back I wrote about Michael Croland, Jewish Air Guitarist. It turns out that, like me, Michael has a thing for any intersection of Jews and punk music. And he's written a lot more than I have about it. His most recent piece "The Non-Jewish Side of My Jewish Punk Research" is a hoot, chronicling a wide range of non-Jewish punks with some association or affinity for Jews. Take Total Passover, "a Jewish-themed punk band that played in Iowa in the early 1990s" led by the Jewish Andy Levy. Michael quotes bassist Tom Meehan saying, "While I'm not Jewish, I did think the band was a good fit for me. . . . Even though I was born and confirmed Catholic, I proudly wore the Star of David around my neck. This really freaked my parents out!" And on it goes, including discussion of bands ranging from the Dead Kennedy's to the Mexico City based Polka Madre, a punk polka band that uses Hebraic lettering and Jewish star in their log.

If you're at all interested in Jewish punk, read the article and check out some of his other articles and blog posts.

• Oy Oy Oy Gevalt: Punks Practice Judaism With Musical Rebellion (New Voices)


• Jewish Punks Embrace Nazi Rhetoric and Imagery (New Vilna Review)


• Jewish Punks Unite (The Forward)


• Jewish Punk and Tikun Olam (a post in his blog Heeb 'n Vegan)