Aaron Lange’s graphic novel "Ain’t It Fun” takes us on a wild ride through the underground world of Cleveland’s punk scene.
Written by Izzy Aparicio
When people think about punk rock, the places that usually come to mind are New York, London or Los Angeles. Cleveland, on the other hand, is rarely brought into the conversation. Many people, including myself for some time, had no idea about the punk influence in Cleveland. Fueled by gritty local bands and an underground scene with hidden stars and stories, Cleveland is rooted in punk music.
My first introduction to this hidden history of punk came through Aaron Lange’s graphic novel, “Ain't It Fun: Peter Laughner & Proto-Punk in the Secret City.” The novel tells the story of Peter Laughner, a pivotal figure in Cleveland’s punk scene, intertwining the history of Cleveland with it. Laughner’s influence reached across bands like Pere Ubu, Rocket From The Tombs and Cinderella Backstreet, cementing Laughner in punk history.
Laughner was everywhere. Beyond the music scene, he was a frequent writer and active member of the poetry scene in Cleveland too. Laughner was truly a character, making the most of his life before passing away at 24.
Lange’s motivation to write “Ain’t It Fun” stemmed from the mystery and scattered stories surrounding Laughner.
“Framing the story around him provided a lot of opportunities to spin out into other related and tangential subjects to create a complete view of the entire cultural climate,” Lange said.
Punk culture makes you naturally gravitate towards it. It’s fun – maybe a little loud – and even though it may be more underground, still accessible. The stories that people tell, many forgotten, are filled with edgy fashion, amazing voices and rich personalities that allow punk music to live on forever in our city with people who embrace it.
“I walk around downtown, Bay Village, the Flats or some area and I can see buildings or areas that jump out at me because I know [punk history] happened here,” Lange said. ”It kind of brings the landscape alive in a way. So we're not just sort of like passively running errands or going from point A to point B, but like your environment kind of talks to you.”
Although I found punk music later in life, the culture, style and sheer energy of it captured my imagination. Cleveland’s punk history feels like an underappreciated treasure, waiting for more people to uncover it, and deepening one’s understanding of their surroundings once they learn it. Things that you might have once thought of as just buildings become venues that artists performed at or places where stars once hung out. While some may have a hard time connecting with punk culture, it's easier if you try to connect with the people who make it up first.
If you truly want to understand Cleveland, start with its punk legacy. It’s a story of art, music and truly interesting individuals – and it’s ours.