Compiling a history of the "punk jump"

[mattie13]

I'd like to compile a history of "punk jumps" -- i.e. when musicians (typically rock, often punk) on stage jump during the performance of a song. Sometimes it's coordinated so that multiple musicians jump at a predetermined point in the song; other times it's a one-person affair. I'm focusing more on single, big jumps rather than pogo-stick style repetitive hopping.

Examples include blink-182, 43 seconds into this live video of Carousel from 1995; Chris 2 from Anti-Flag does this frequently, The Clash, etc. And obviously the punks weren't the first or only ones to do this. Van Halen certainly did their part to popularize it.

How far back can this trend be traced? Did somebody "invent" this move or did multiple rock musicians start doing it independently of one another?

I imagine that over time live music photographers caught on and learned to time and stage their photos in order to create the illusion of more and more height (hence the VH and A-F pics) -- is there a particular photographer we can credit for this technique?

 

[turf3]

First I ever saw of it was the Who, Townshend and Daltrey did a lot of acrobatics. Not sure if some guys were doing that kind of stuff before.

Of course you have Rudy Pompili iwht Bill Haley and the Comets, or the guys in Louis Prima's band. And of course we have this - not acrobatics exactly, but certainly a harbinger of what was to come:

 

[Michedelic]

I'd like to compile a history of "punk jumps" -- i.e. when musicians (typically rock, often punk) on stage jump during the performance of a song. Sometimes it's coordinated so that multiple musicians jump at a predetermined point in the song; other times it's a one-person affair. I'm focusing more on single, big jumps rather than pogo-stick style repetitive hopping.

Examples include blink-182, 43 seconds into this live video of Carousel from 1995; Chris 2 from Anti-Flag does this frequently, The Clash, etc. And obviously the punks weren't the first or only ones to do this. Van Halen certainly did their part to popularize it.

How far back can this trend be traced? Did somebody "invent" this move or did multiple rock musicians start doing it independently of one another?

I imagine that over time live music photographers caught on and learned to time and stage their photos in order to create the illusion of more and more height (hence the VH and A-F pics) -- is there a particular photographer we can credit for this technique?
View attachment 5322499 View attachment 5322503 View attachment 5322505

For the roots, ya gotta go back, way back, to the jazz age, with the Nicholas Brothers…

But they were only reflecting what was going on, on the jitterbugging dance floor, attaching themselves to Calloway's music.
As far as rock'n'roll was concerned, there was Jerry Lee Lewis' antics…

…and after all, he was as punk as it got in those days.
Then of course, Pete Townshend…

…and as they were a template for punk, it trickled down, especially to their greatest admirers, The Jam…

I could also mention Iggy, but he tended to slither and spazz around the stage instead of jumping.
Honorable mention should be given to Peter Wolf of the J. Geils band…

Then, while maybe not jumping per se, there was the kinetics of another punk progenitor band, the MC5(with a debt to James Brown)..

 

[Killing Floor]

HR from Bad Brains was a flier. Not my picture but this is 1982.

In 84 at a venue in Atlanta that had a 2nd story mezzanine he jumped from. He left the stage, walked upstairs and rolled over the rail. If I had to guess today I'd say 16' free fall to the crowd. He was fearless back then.

 

[Michedelic]

And speaking of copping stuff from JB, there was Mick's 'rooster on acid' bit…


But you ain't gonna beat this…

 

[dalkowski]

Laura of Superchunk.

 

[Michedelic]

HR from Bad Brains was a flier. Not my picture but this is 1982.

In 84 at a venue in Atlanta that had a 2nd story mezzanine he jumped from. He left the stage, walked upstairs and rolled over the rail. If I had to guess today I'd say 16' free fall to the crowd. He was fearless back then.

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I wonder if that sort of thing is the source of his current neurological problems and suffering.

 

[Killing Floor]

I wonder if that sort of thing is the source of his current neurological problems and suffering.

I have seen him climb PA stacks and swan dive 12'+. Maybe. If the crowd split he'd be hurt.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I'd like to compile a history of "punk jumps" -- i.e. when musicians (typically rock, often punk) on stage jump during the performance of a song. Sometimes it's coordinated so that multiple musicians jump at a predetermined point in the song; other times it's a one-person affair. I'm focusing more on single, big jumps rather than pogo-stick style repetitive hopping.

Examples include blink-182, 43 seconds into this live video of Carousel from 1995; Chris 2 from Anti-Flag does this frequently, The Clash, etc. And obviously the punks weren't the first or only ones to do this. Van Halen certainly did their part to popularize it.

How far back can this trend be traced? Did somebody "invent" this move or did multiple rock musicians start doing it independently of one another?

I imagine that over time live music photographers caught on and learned to time and stage their photos in order to create the illusion of more and more height (hence the VH and A-F pics) -- is there a particular photographer we can credit for this technique?
View attachment 5322499 View attachment 5322503 View attachment 5322505

'Don't ask me for advice on this . My stage persona is much like a potted plant in the corner next to a sofa.

 

[ardgedee]

As far as rock'n'roll was concerned, there was Jerry Lee Lewis' antics…

I have to imagine there were dozens of country boogie and hillbilly rock acts that were jumping around in the 50s. They never got on film and Jerry Lee Lewis did. But you can still hear it in their music, they had so much energy and knew they had to put on a show in whatever bar or club they were playing in that night.

 

[turf3]

So, I'd agree, the Nicholas Brothers are a good starting point. But you can probably take it back further than that.

 

[Michedelic]

'Don't ask me for advice on this . My stage persona is much like a potted plant in the corner next to a sofa.

When there's room on stage, I tend to bop/stalk around like JJ…

…but I don't do his karate kicks. The audience deserves a show(as long as the frontperson doesn't feel upstaged).

 

[Spirit of Ox]

Greg Norton from Husker Du!! One of the best!

 

[Michedelic]

I have to imagine there were dozens of country boogie and hillbilly rock acts that were jumping around in the 50s. They never got on film and Jerry Lee Lewis did. But you can still hear it in their music, they had so much energy and knew they had to put on a show in whatever bar or club they were playing in that night.

These guys were a bit obscure, a little late in the day, but aside from Frank DiNunzio, Sr., they really gave the upright a workout…

 

[dbsfgyd1]

When there's room on stage, I tend to bop/stalk around like JJ…

…but I don't do his karate kicks. The audience deserves a show(as long as the frontperson doesn't feel upstaged).

 

[dbsfgyd1]

50 years of working in mostly larger ensembles, the last 12 in a Motown review band with 5 singers and horns not to mention being 71 year old has calmed down my act.

Karate Kicks are a fond memory and to repeat at this age would likely result in either an orthopedic issue of great magnitude, torn muscles and or ligament damage. LOL!!!

 

[Lobster11]

I don't know who started it, but these guys took it to another level:

 

[pbass2]

You also had the more refined (and somewhat mincing) "prog leap":

 

[higain617]

 

[AQUANOVA]

DeeDee