OLD TRICKS, NEW TREATS is book three of the BAG OF TRICKS trilogy: a compilation of short stories about San Francisco punks in the early 80’s.
- Punk offered liberation but also danger—how did women navigate those contradictions?
In the early days of punk in the US, I don’t recall there being that much of a danger to women in the scene. It was a lot more artistic and experimental and inclusive. Of course, there are always outliers and dangerous situations anywhere, anytime, so that was there too.
One time, I met someone at a show when I was there with another friend who knew this person. They invited us to a party and my friend didn’t want to go, but I was always up for a party, so I said sure. I went with them- alone- and it turned out there was no party, just their loft in an abandoned sort of warehouse. They tried to rape me, and I somehow talked them out of it, then jumped out a 2nd story window and ran away.
I’m guessing a lot of women went through that type of experience- many of whom did not have the happy ending that I had. But again, that’s all the time, in any cultural scene. Think of Mia Zapata years later. We’re fine until we aren’t. - Do you see Babs as an emblem of female autonomy or survival?
Well, Babs was certainly a survivor. But so are most of the characters in my stories. I think what makes Babs unique is that she was so frail and uncertain for so long, and then suddenly she was swept up in this gust of possibility and potential strength. It could have skipped her entirely. It could have happened to someone else. But Babs was in the right place at the right time, and she grabbed the golden ring and ran with it. I think most of us- whether women or men- would do the same. - How did female friendships function amid the chaos?
I think just like anywhere else in the world. Women gravitated together because we understood that we were different from the normies out there and needed to stick together. We gossiped, and bleached and dyed our hair together. We grew as people and as artists or whatever it was we were into. We helped one another navigate the dark streets, the drug buys, the mosh pit aggression, the good and bad relationships, and growing up with only our peers to model ourselves after. We made mistakes, and either grew from them or shrank, hopefully evolving together in the end. At least, that’s how it was for my girlfriends and me. - How has the role of women in punk culture evolved since then?
Man, there’s still disparity, just like any place else. There are some amazingly talented female musicians and artists and movie directors out there, but really? They’re just musicians and artists and movie directors. Why put a ‘femme’ label on them? And then sadly, even as 50% of the population, we are still under-represented everywhere. For whatever reason, male writers and artists and directors etc are more in the public eye. This is true in the punk scene as much as everyplace else. - What conversations do you hope today’s young women start after reading Old Tricks, New Treats?
I’d love for young women to talk to one another about trusting themselves. We need to be taught how to listen to that still, small inner voice that sometimes has to scream at us to not go there or don’t walk into that burning building! I know when we’re that age, still fiding our own voices, we are so often swayed by what others are saying or doing. Especially with all this social media swallowing us up whole. So, we can’t necessarily go back in time and unplug all the way. But if young women could take the time to tune into that inner voice and pay attention to it, that would be the best gift for the future of all.
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OLD TRICKS, NEW TREATS is book three of the BAG OF TRICKS trilogy: a compilation of short stories about San Francisco punks in the early 80’s.
Follow the adventures of The Shits, Val, Sophie, Babs, Carla, Red, Marco, Bags and all the rest of the rag-tag gang of street punks that populate these stories. Ride with them as they hit new highs and lows, make mostly bad and occasionally good choices, and aim for uncharted lives in the end.
Link – https://amzn.to/4oFYSzL
About the Author
Ruby grew up in the foothills of Northern CA and the West Texas flatlands, riding horses in the back woods near Folsom Prison, and singing with family on the back porch. She attended SDSU at fifteen- studying electrical engineering and drama- then stumbled into life on the streets of San Francisco, enchanted by all the grime and glitz, the drugs and wild nights, even the discordance and insanity of life as a punk in those early days. Moving on, Ruby co-founded the North Coast California Earth First! in Arcata, CA while attending Humboldt State, and fished across Alaskan waters. Eventually, she moved to Seattle, WA where she opened a series of restaurants, then transitioned from restaurateur to singer/songwriter when she started the roots-rockabilly band Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers in 2002. Thrice Grammy-considered, they tour the world and produce award-winning records. In 2023, Ruby wrote Bag of Tricks after reconnecting with old punk friends and reminiscing about those lost years. Most of what she wrote came from events that really occurred, though Ruby took liberties and changed some details because she could. Find more at https://www.rubydeephilippa.com/
Find Part Seven HERE
