'Desolation Center' Is a Film About '80s Anarchic Punk Rock Desert Gatherings
An era that formed the basis for Burning Man and Coachella.
Directed by documentary filmmaker and TV producer Stuart Swezey, Desolation Center explores the world of the anarchic punk rock movement and its gatherings in the desert during the ’80s. The film will feature an array of rock bands from the era, such as Sonic Youth, Redd Kross, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, Swans, Savage Republic, Survival Research Laboratories, and Einstürzende Neubauten.
According to the synopsis, “Desolation Center is the previously untold story of a series of early 80s guerrilla music and art performance happenings in Southern California that are recognized to have paved the way for Burning Man, Lollapalooza, and Coachella, collective experiences that have become key elements of popular culture in the 21st century.” The film aims to document “a time when pushing the boundaries of music, art, and performance felt almost like an unspoken obligation.”
For those interested, Rooftop Films will be screening Desolation Center at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn on August 15. You can watch the official trailer above, or head over to the project’s website to learn more.
In other news, Kazuda Xiono returns in the second and final season of Star Wars Resistance.
