what's wrong with this tie?

[dr greg]

The Clash had a song; "Death or Glory".

Oh dear- you must be really old...


B
T

Old enough, I'm more the MC5/Stooges era as far as 'punk' goes, I was in the UK when the Pistols and all that stuff came out and frankly I thought most of it was utter rubbish, and time has proven me correct I think, The Stranglers still sound OK now but the Damned etc...laughably bad. I could never see how not being able to play your instrument came to be regarded as a statement of artistic worth.

 

[Creeping Past]

I could never see how not being able to play your instrument came to be regarded as a statement of artistic worth.

That's certainly the message a lot of people ascribe to punk rock, especially the UK 1976-type variant. If that was a prime concern for any of the punk rock groups in the 1970s, in my view it was a statement of cultural intent based on examples from the forgotten, exciting dark corners of rock 'n' roll, where anti-virtuosity, no-talent, downright flagrant disregard for musicianship, etc., had lurked unseen and mostly unwanted. See Lester Bangs on the Count V, The Troggs, The Stooges, and whatnot.

The Stooges are a great example of a band for whom musicianship was secondary, or even tertiary, to making some noise and having a good (bad) time. I believe they were thought of, contemporaneously, as rather basic and not the kind of thing to emulate if you wanted to be regarded as a good muso. And the MC5's pared-down riffing was the basis for rowdy sermonising, rather than a call to arms for ambitious young virtuosos.

I think that, rather than deliberately not learning how to play and using that as the basis for praxis, most of the 70s-era punk rock bands were more concerned with getting involved in music as immediately as possible. And if that meant making a record before they were 'ready' — who's judgment/yardstick should they be following, given the precedents of The Stooges, MC5, Count V, and all the rest? — so be it.

 

[BellyTank]

Yep, you're old.

Old enough, I'm more the MC5/Stooges era as far as 'punk' goes, I was in the UK when the Pistols and all that stuff came out and frankly I thought most of it was utter rubbish, and time has proven me correct I think, The Stranglers still sound OK now but the Damned etc...laughably bad. I could never see how not being able to play your instrument came to be regarded as a statement of artistic worth.

Maybe more of a social statement than a musical one? Music being the message medium.
Perhaps actual 'Artistic worth' can transcend apparent musical ability, or a lack thereof.


B
T

P
S

Beat me to it, bugger...

 

[RM Bantista]

Gentlemen,

Notwithstanding the above musical esoterica and nostalgia for one of the earlier geologic times of cultural reference, which I am personally not immune to savor for various reasons that are not under discussion, I would think that the tie is suitable and that the knot is almost so. One may have more pronounced dimple in the tie following the knot which might set it off to better effect. It may also be possible that the tie has not been tied in the best position to achieve the perfect symmetry, but I would rather hope that a more casual but nonetheless well-dressed look is to be preferred in the circumstance described, which I would venture may have been achieved. I would also have a square of some kind in the breast pocket, perhaps a white handkerchief. Silk would be nice, but cotton is also classic. Other options are also possible, up to pure black silk, though not the question.

I have been known to tie other knots of various kinds under some circumstances and considering length and weight of material of the tie. My 'goto' knot is the double-over (GI, double Windsor) which is generally more triangular and balanced and also less forgiving of various problematic conditions which may exist with other tie knotting. This has to be a matter of personal taste and preference as much as anything. Newscasters on national programs have nicely tied tie knots which are symmetrical.

From these photos as displayed on my machine, I am unable to discern what type of shirt collar is being worn. It would seem to be a button-down which I would not choose first with the other items of dress displayed.

One might also deliberately choose a larger tie knot with a less-fussy dimple which hangs with an angle that reminds one of the jacket lapel shape. There are many questions of personal discretion and choice which are encompassed by the initial inquiry so that the initial question is unanswerable by any objective measure.

One might prefer to please the aesthetic of one's spouse and thereby live long and prosper in good conscience and serenity.

Rudy

 

[HadleyH]

Smaller knot, definitely.

That's the problem.

Enough said.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Color clashes with ax knot too big

 

[BellyTank]

Not really- It's too close a red, to clash.

Here we go, talking about the Clash again.


B
T

 

[Ephraim Tutt]

Bah! Be bold Dr G.
You're a muso, not a bloody accountant!

 

[dr greg]

Gentlemen,



From these photos as displayed on my machine, I am unable to discern what type of shirt collar is being worn. It would seem to be a button-down which I would not choose first with the other items of dress displayed.


Rudy

You are quite correct of course, I should not have worn a button-down collar with such a suit, but as it was from a Jermyn St shirtmaker I allowed some vestigial snobbery to overrule such restrictions in my search for a special colour combination...a punk statement perhaps?