Krishnacore: The Unlikely Union of Punk Rock and Bhakti Yoga - Part I
Recently, I discovered a subgenre that I had never heard of before - “Krishnacore”- a portmanteau of "Krishna" and "hardcore". At first, I was skeptical. How could the worlds of hardcore music and the Hare Krishnas intersect? I had my doubts about the genre, since I did not have a great experiences with religious music in the past. But as I delved deeper into this genre, my initial assumptions were proven wrong. The sight of punk musicians wearing prayer beads, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, and singing praises to the Bhagavad gita was fascinating to me. It was like this genre was tailor-made for my personal taste, and I couldn't help but dive deeper into its history.
In the 1960s, the Hare Krishna movement( formally known as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) led by his Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada brought Gaudiya Vaishnavism to the West. Many Americans, particularly young, white hippies, were drawn to this new form of spirituality. They left their mundane lives to live in remote communes, dressed in saffron robes, selling flowers and literature, and chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. The movement soon after became a cultural phenomenon, with George Harrison featuring the mantra in his hit song "My Sweet Lord" and the mantra being featured in the musical "Hair." Hare Krishnas were a common sight in airports, their orange robes and mostly-shaven heads made them easily recognizable. But over the years, their presence became limited, with many airports banning them from their terminals and a Supreme Court case ultimately ruling against their right to proselytize in these public spaces.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Hare Krishna movement had a significant influence on the hardcore punk scene in New York City. The straight-edge movement, which is a subculture within the hardcore punk scene, is defined by its followers' refusal to use drugs, including alcohol. The shared values of living a drug-free and sober lifestyle, as well as the desire to reject the status quo and claim alternative identities, drew the straight-edge community to the teachings of the Hare Krishna movement. Many in the punk scene, known for its rebellious and anti-establishment attitude, found a sense of purpose and meaning in the teachings of Krishna consciousness. The Hare Krishnas, on the other hand, were able to reach a new audience and spread their message through the medium of punk music.
One of the first bands to incorporate Krishna consciousness into their music was the Cro-Mags, formed in 1983. Their lead singer, John Joseph, had embraced the Krishna faith before recording their debut album, The Age of Quarrel, in 1986. The album's title is a translation of the Hindu concept of Kali Yuga, which is a central teaching in Hindu philosophy. Other New York bands, such as Antidote and Cause for Alarm, also began to explore Krishna consciousness in both their music and personal lives. In the late 1980s, Ray Cappo discovered Hare Krishna and started the band Shelter, which is considered the first Krishnacore band. Vic DiCara also discovered spirituality and quit Inside Out to join Shelter. When he left the band, he formed 108. Both Shelter and 108 openly advocated for the Hare Krishnas. The difference between krishnacore and bands such as Cro-Mags or Cause for Alarm, which previously made some connections between the Hare Krishna movement and the hardcore scene, was that the service to Krishna had become the sole objective of krishnacore. The idea of Krishnacore spread throughout the punk and hardcore scene, both domestically and globally, and more and more bands began to spring up, though many went undocumented.
Krishnacore was not just about the music, but also about the lifestyle and philosophy that came along with it. The anti-materialistic philosophy of the Hare Krishna movement aligns with the anti-establishment attitude of punk culture, and it offers a religious framework for their straight edge outlook. The music and lyrics of Krishnacore bands often contained positive messages about abstaining from drugs and alcohol, as well as spiritual and religious themes. This unique genre continues to influence the punk and hardcore scene today, and it's a testament to the power of music to bring people together and inspire change, even in the most unlikely of circumstances.