On Valium | Vatican Commandos - Housewives

Suburban Satire: Vatican Commandos and "Housewives on Valium"

The 1983 track by the Connecticut hardcore punk band Vatican Commandos serves as a blistering example of early American hardcore's penchant for suburban social commentary. Released on their debut 7-inch EP, Hit Squad for God , the song encapsulates the band's raw, "thrash" style and provides a window into the rebellious culture of wealthy coastal towns like Darien, Connecticut, where the band originated. Historical Context and Composition Vatican Commandos - Housewives on Valium

The song’s title refers to the widespread use of diazepam (Valium) among middle-class women in the 1960s and 70s—a phenomenon famously dubbed " Mother's Little Helper " by The Rolling Stones. While the Rolling Stones' take was a folk-rock observation of "quiet desperation," the Vatican Commandos approached the subject with the aggressive, "spoofy" irony typical of adolescent punk. Gerard Cosloy (@cstbtweet) • Instagram photos and videos While the Rolling Stones' take was a folk-rock