What does Punk mean for me?
Stories about family, independence and music
When the crew of Radio Punk offered me a space for a publication I thought about what could be interesting to read. Well, I am Benjamin, for all just „Benny“, 31 years old, from the province of Bolzano. For those who don’t know, I can’t walk well on my own. At the age of 14, I went to my first Punk concert and I really discovered a world. A world where values as respect, equality, friendship are really important. Then I started seeing the bands for the first time. And every concert was a big party. At a certain point, it wasn’t just seeing the bands but seeing the bands together with friends.
When I lost my mother in 2008 I hadn’t been to a concert for a long time. That night at Ska-P concert I was reborn and I understood the power of music and the energy that music can give. At the age of 20 I started driving around alone – simply because I wanted to go to more and more concerts and I couldn’t ask every time my father to take me there.
But I discovered the true value and importance of what I proudly call my Family in the hardest moments during the last years. When my father already was very bad because of very serious health problems, I still left to Valencia for exactly 18 hours. A fast trip 1.600 kilometres from home. Just to take some of those hugs full of positive energy and with a deep meaning in a terrible moment – to find a bit of strength to go on. Same thing 3 weeks after the loss of my dad. No, it isn’t a small thing going 1.600 kilometres from home and be sure that there is someone who waits for you with open arms and and an open heart. A hug or some good words really make the difference in these moments and are the only medicine in some moments.
Two extreme examples to say that Punk for me really isn’t only music. It means an international Family, it means really close relationships that go beyond every geographical distance and all the other things that could separate people.
Surely without Punk I wouldn’t be the person I am and I wouldn’t have met some people who are a really important part of my life. It’s More Than Music.
Benjamin Rauch