Punk and Theater

In The Law of Revenge, the teenage protopunk-worshipping rocker Beak enters Judge Hack's courtroom with an electric guitar strapped on, intending to serenade Fred, the man who has murdered his sister. The courtroom descends into chaos when Beak, thrashing a discordant melody, sings:


Dead Fred


My heart is my guitar
And my blood runs thick,
My veins pop open when
I’m playin’ my licks.

My music is a speedball
That I shoot up my arm,
My weapon is a solo shot
Down on Yasgar’s Farm.

Hendrix is dead, Fred.
Morrison is dead, Fred.
Joplin is dead, Fred.
Belushi is dead, Fred.
You’re dead, Fred!
You’re dead!

I’d rather be dead than
Be a corporate sheep,
I’d rather be an icon
Than a lonesome fool,
I’d rather be a Jesus
Than a pop star geek,
I’d rather be a rock with
An empty head!

No, No, No!
I ain’t quite as
Dead as Fred!
I ain’t quite as
Dead as Fred!
I ain’t quite as
Dead as Fred!
No! No!

Beak, like the rest of his family, opts out on the chance to exact revenge on Fred, the condemned killer. Punk has hijacked his existence. He succeeds only in disturbing Hack and everyone else in the courtroom, leaving the judge one final option.

See a preview of Revenge here.