Book Reviews

Evolution of a Cro-Magnon

By John Joseph

Price: $20.00

John Joseph should be dead. Having lived the life of adversity that he was subjected to it would seem like the only option, but his autobiography Evolution of a Cro-Magnon is a written testament to his will to survive.

Anyone who has heard Joseph’s hugely influential hardcore band Cro-Mags won’t be surprised that he has seen his share of hard times. The sonic power and lyrical content on their debut album, The Age of Quarrel is proof enough that Joseph and his band were the real deal — this wasn’t watered-down suburban punk, but pure outrage laid over a blistering soundtrack.

Born to a woman who lived at the mercy of her abusive husband, Joseph was taken from his parents at a young age and bounced around myriad horrible foster homes. After suffering neglect and abuse at the hands of many sadistic “caretakers” Joseph opted for a life on the streets and crime, rather than remaining a victim. After months of hustling in the seedy underbelly of 1970s New York, Joseph ended up in the toughest youth correctional institution the city had to offer. And this was all before he turned 16.

But Joseph was able to channel a life of hardship into his music, and the result is a tale of continual rebirth. As the title suggests, Joseph shares with you his “evolution”, from his discovery of punk rock on the streets of New York in 1977, through the exploration of his own spiritualism with the Hare Krishna religion, and of course the rise and eventual fall of the mighty Cro-Mags.

There is simply not enough room to go into the amazing details of Joseph’s life, but through every hardship and setback, he found his voice and channeled it back into his music. Joseph is the living embodiment of the old adage “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” and this book offers a rare glimpse into the soul of a truly strong individual.

-Tripp Underwood