by Rezist De La Cruz
DIY article featuring an interview with Resist and Exist frontman Jang Lee .
For years the anarchist punk group Resist and Exist have shown more than just dedication to the punk scene , but activism in their community and environment as well . For over the past 2 decades , the band has been participating and organizing events that liberate Animal Rights , Anti-Racist , and Anti- Fascist type movements concerning political issues our society faces today . They fight and make change through their music with a peaceful message, and activism they display . The band was originally formed in 1990 in Fullerton , CA and consist of influences of early Anarchist Punk groups such as Crass , Flux of pink Indians , Rudimentary Peni , Discharge and political poetry in their music as well . The band released multiple EP’s and splits since they been together such as “Kwangju” , “Korean Protest EP” , “Dare to Struggle - Dare to Win !” , “Music for Social Change” and many more . Since the band has been active in 1990 , they have been dedicated to making music for social and political change . Their goal is to not only educate punks in the scene about the political attributes going on in our society today , but to help them be aware and help make change in our society as well . Today we have the honor to interview lead singer and founder of the group Jang Lee .
1.How are you doing today Jay , I have some questions I wanted to ask you today about your band and the movement you guys have been displaying for the past decades . How long have you been participating in Animal rights movements ? When did you first come across the idea of Anarchism and getting evolved with the punk scene ?
I first got into the Animal Rights movement when I was 16 years-old or in late 1985. I met my friend Rob Shelinky in high school who was a vegetarian, and he had connections with PETA, Student Action Corps for Animals and a couple of other groups. When I started to write them I would get tons of packages, and all kinds of information in return. I had also got inspired by Flux of Pink Indians EP, and Conflict - To The Nation of Animal Lovers EP (at that time vinyl used to come with fold out posters and tons of reading materials). The main reason I stopped eating meat is because I respect animals.
I got involved with the punk scene at very young age in Los Angeles. I used to follow a friend named Mark around who used to sing for A.D.S., hanging out on Melrose Ave, I think it was 1983 (before A.D.S. started). At that time I was more into UK 82 punk bands like GBH , Exploited and Discharge.
As for getting into Anarchism, that was due to Crass. It was more of a Peace-Punk Anarchism lifestyle that I adopted. - Jang Lee
2. Over the past years since the band has been active , has the band played any protest ? If so please share protest experience with us and events if more than one .
No, we never ended up playing at any protest or at any rallies. We mostly played for benefits and fundraisers in the early days. A couple of us used to help out and organize demonstrations, or volunteer to just help out. That’s about it. - Jang Lee
3. Who are the most influential bands/artist that inspired you to make music ?
Mostly bands from the 80's when the bands were young, creative, and had passion like a burning fire to change the word: Another Destructive System, Conflict, Iconoclast, The Liberty, Icons of Filth, ExitStance, Potential Threat, and others too. - Jang Lee
4. How do you feel about the issues that are occurring in the U.S. today with President Donald Trump ?
It’s really crazy. The guy is very straight out and forward, so you know what he stands for. I’ve read his book, and also listened to his audio books. I did a little bit of research on him and he is very dangerous. I actually see that all the presidents are puppets, because they all supported mass destruction in the Middle East: Obama, Bush, etc. and before Trump, lets not forget that former President Obama broke a record with the largest number of mass deportations.
What Trump has done unintentionally was brought a lot of the younger generation to be more aware of climate change, rainforest destruction, human rights issues, etc. Recently, I was at the Global Climate Strike in S.F. and it rejuvenated me by giving me more hope in humanity and in the younger generation by seeing how much care there is from thousands of young folks who walked out of their classrooms that morning. - Jang Lee
5. How was it like in the punk scene back in the 1990’s?
It was definitely a different time. Things were cheaper, so I was living at an anarchist/Food Not Bombs collective/ co-op house, and while there my friends and I organized many events and small festivals. We had an anarchist center also. I empathize for punks today, because in California it's near impossible to buy a house, or to open up a storefront anarchist center. We had meetings, study groups, car-pools to protests, held open discussions, and planned things. At that time it was more easy to organize. -Jang Lee
6. What advise can you give to younger punks who are getting into the scene today ?
Read all kinds of stuff. Even the stuff you do not agree with, and question everything.
Be open-minded. Learn about financial education, because once you get older reality will hit you. I had a lot of friends in the 80's who was into fighting capitalism, but once they were getting older they didn’t know how to survive in the real world, to balance their affairs, and did not make it to adulthood. Some of them committed suicide, had drug overdosed, experienced being homeless, and died on the street. You can ask any punk-rocker from the 80's and they will tell you that the majority of our friends got wiped out from drugs and alcohol use. I was always against the drug and alcohol industry. I saw what it did to my friends, to poor communities, and how it destroyed families, etc. People say that moderate use of alcohol is fine, but hey that’s what crack cocaine dealers say about crack as well and we see the results of that. - Jang Lee
7. Is their any organizations or groups you recommend that people can look into to participate in activism ?
Food Not Bombs, Vegan Outreach, Berkeley Animal Rights Center, Los Angeles, Anarchist Black Cross, Alternative Gathering Collective (Inland Empire) to list a few. - Jang Lee
8. How is the punk scene up in Northern California ?
It’s hard to catch up and fully understand the scene up here because there are too many bands from different scenes. There are a lot of good hardcore bands around here. Punks with Lunch do a lot of good things in Oakland like harm reduction, serving free food to homeless folks, etc. Its hard for me to get 100% involved with the punk scene here now-a-days because I’m working full time as an aquatic’s coordinator, and I take fitness classes after work. - Jang Lee
9. Last but not least , what is your favorite punk album ? Since we are in 2019 here is my favorite digital albums: Medusa Stare Mystic Priestess Korrosive Flower from NY Bastet Headdress Dead Tribe
- Jang Lee
Thank you so much for your time Jay , I really appreciate it . Resist and Exist is still active till this day and organize DIY events for Animal rights movement , political prisoners , and social change . Their message is for peace and equality for all , and to influence other punks to make a change in our society . With their political content , peaceful messages , and activism they display , Resist and Exist will always be the Anarcho-Punk Group that took their message and and turned it into a movement , and stayed true to their movement still till this day . Their music is a true influence for punks and generations to come after. This concludes our article on the anarchist punk group Resist and Exist , and their lead singer and founder Jang Lee . For more articles and interviews please like and subscribe on our channel and link bellow for free . Thank you .
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