In 1967, the British punk band Crass transformed an abandoned farmhouse in Essex, adhering to the principle of “open-door policy” for everyone, and began living in a commune. Crass’s experiences in music and daily life inspired many later punk community members and bands. Around 2010, I traveled to Indonesia and personally witnessed how local punk communitie organized music events and managed spaces in collective ways. Influenced by my experiences in Indonesia, I have since participated in founding and operating several punk collectives in Taipei, including the one I currently belong to, Suck Glue Boys. To me, the term Tǔ Pào” (DIY) reflects the group’s limited resources and skill levels, but it is also a conscious decision: upholding the spirit of mutual aid and overcoming challenges through collective effort.
CHEN Weilun is a member of “Suck Glue Boys,” a punk music and culture collective based in Taipei, Taiwan. As a fan of punk rock, he is particularly interested in the cases of political action in the history of punk rock and enjoys reflecting on the connections between music and activism. Additionally, he is deeply inspired by the “DIY” ethos. Since 2009, he has been organizing music events in various urban spaces, such as riversides, art spaces, parades, parks, and music rehearsal rooms. These events are often quite grassroots and heavily reliant on the mutual support of community members.
In addition, Chen Weilun is now a contributing editor for the “Iceberg News” column at Coolloud, translating news related to the Global South. He has also previously worked as a music journalist for Pots Weekly.