Punk: What The Hell Is It

I am relatively new to these here forums and article databases, so I'm not going to get too far ahead of myself. First and foremost, I seem to notice as I skim through messages and responses that there's an awful lot of bitching going on. If you must, please e-mail me directly so that I can save some poor passer-by's time with your opinions of me. Secondly, let's get this straight: I'm not here to preach, just to inform. Sorry if I come off like that at one point or another. A lot of you have a misconception as to what punk really means. I'm here to clarify.

Let’s go over this shall we? I know that most of you have seen the topics such as “punk is dead” or “what is punk?” or whatever. Mainly, punk isn’t dead, as no genre can really die until no one at all listens anymore. That’s not the case. Punk can stand for two things: the aforementioned musical genre or an attitude based on your beliefs. Punk used to mean being different and individual, which as you can see does not refer to modern times. A huge population of “tweens” and teenagers look at the modern punk scene believing that it was always this simple to go out and have blue hair or get their genitals pierced. Not the case. Back in the heyday of punk, if you walked out of your scene where this was accepted, you got your ass kicked. I can liken it to segregation in the 1940’s & 50’s. It levels with that kind of hate. Why? People will always be afraid of what they don’t understand, and generally few are willing to accept something that’s different.

Getting away from the attitude aspect, let’s look at the musical scene. What we accept as traditional punk was known at the time as hardcore music. Bands like Television, the Ramones, Agnostic Front, Talking Heads (yes, they were a punk band), among others, were starting to influx the New York scene, mostly at the famed venue CBGB’s. Jersey had a few; most notably, the Misfits. Another bundle of bands grew from the Orange County scene. Los Angeles and San Francisco were the stomping grounds for acts like Black Flag, Youth Brigade, Social Distortion, Flipper, Bad Religion, Wasted Youth, and Dead Kennedys. Washington DC also had a nice little scene with the groups Minor Threat, Teen Idles, Iron Cross, Black Market Baby, and TSOL. Other scenes were up and running in Chicago (Effigies), Minneapolis (Husker Du), and many parts of Canada. Other bands started one places and ended up a lot bigger in another. Bands like Bad Brains (DC) and Fear (LA) started in out elsewhere, but later moved to New York.

This big scene as a whole would contribute to many things you see nowdays. The best example I can give is that Minor Threat were pretty much the pioneers of the idea of being "straight edge" It meant no drinking, no drugs, no one night stands. In some cases, the kids were completely celibate. The idea is still around today, minus the whole celibacy thing.

This movement started around 1977 and ended in the early 80’s. Many of the more influential punk bands had fazed themselves out or broke up. Most other punk bands that didn't break up changed their style (or "sold out") and became New Wave bands. By 1988, Minor Threat, the Misfits, Husker Du, and Black Flag, along with countless other bands, had broken up. (Ironically enough, the very next year a band that would later help start the “punk” resurgence released their first album. They formed under the name of Manic Subsidal, but you probably know them as the Offspring.) Many had spawned other bands. Ian McKaye (Minor Threat) formed Fugazi, Glenn Danzig (Misfits) would start Samhain before having a semi-hit with the band named Danzig, Henry Rolling (Black Flag) would form the Rollins Band, and Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) would start a spoken word career. It appeared as if the scene was pretty much killed off.

Around 1991 or so, the grunge scene would start a huge trend. With bands like Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam popularizing the new genre, it effectively made hair metal “uncool” and MTV “VJ’s” now denounced the much happier “cock rock” for something that many more angst-ridden teenagers could identify with; Simple brooding music that had a dark lyrical front. Some punk bands originally started because they couldn’t identify with metal groups (like Judas Priest) or the pop at the time (like the Bee Gees). They really couldn’t identify with anything that resembled hair metal, because they sang about having all the girls, partying every night, and anything with a large amount of decadence. Most punks generally didn’t party on the L.A. strip every night, didn’t have the prettiest girl, or couldn’t spell the word “decadence”. It was a totally different world. When they couldn’t identify with music, they made their own. In that respect, I’ll say grunge had a very punk element. But beyond that and the simplistic music, there’s not much of a comparison.

So here we go. The 90’s arrive and grunge is in, and then it’s out. Alternative rock is now in for a short time, spawning off from grungier stuff. The rock becomes a little more contemporary. And wham! It’s around 1998 and the scene consists of a new form of music, which people are calling punk. The bands that moved in from here were those that enjoyed a brief period of television and radio overkill (some still do today). These bands, of course, include Blink 182, the Offspring, and others previously unknown to the masses at the time, Unwritten Law, Living End, and Pennywise. Later on, bands like Bowling For Soup, Lit, and Good Charlotte would be referred to similarly. Not as popular as the pop counterparts of the time like Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, as well as the influx of boy bands and girl solo artists, these bands made a dent that would start a much bigger movement in the new millennium.

This is where you’ll have to bare with me here, folks. I’m not that fluent with this newer breed of punk (although I do listen). So a lot of this is what I’ve come to understand so feel free to correct me. Around 2001 or so, a newer breed of bands showed up with a slight edge to the music. It was a bit heavier than the pop-punk artists and the lyrics were more meaningful and deep. Branded “emo” for its emotional lyrics and fanbase, emo was supposedly originally started by bands like Rites Of Spring, 7 Seconds, and Embrace. It was after the hardcore scene was pretty much over and the music was a bit slower and often sung either in a “whiny” voice or screaming. You can see where that comes out in today’s emo scene. Modern hardcore and “scre-emo” bands are obviously much different than the old hardcore scene, but the dark and sometimes politically motivated lyrics are all still there from time to time.

So as you can see, it’s pretty damn impossible to clarify what punk really is based on music alone. The “genre” has changed and branched off into other forms of punk. Almost like sub-genres in metal, punk cannot be defined only in music alone. Punk is simply a way of being. The idea that you shouldn’t be controlled by society in the way you look or act or feel. Be yourself and if somebody doesn’t like it, screw them. That’s where today’s punk is kind of lacking. But being at the shows, seeing the younger kids in the old school shirts, and seeing Social D playing to a packed audience 26 years after the band started, there’s definitely a sense that a little bit of the scene is still alive. That’s all you really need.

And if you don’t like this article, screw you.

Comments

[broken_bottles]

1st.

Too much on Punk already, but I see your point. It's a genre, it's evolved, it's got poppy. If you don't like don't listen.

[dookedoutnimrod]

you forgot to mention something called DOOKIE? may not be punk but it should be mentioned since u mentioned blink

[Scorpio420]

It's a shame emo is considered a form of punk. I still say punk is a way of life and the mere fact that the "industry" first labeled anyone who did not fit the mold was a "Punk", just re-inforces my theory that most of the people that make up this "industry" are not worthy of such an important job. Speaking as a former "Punk", I had my share of fights, beatings, peircings, tats, and to hear band such as Blink 182, Good Charlotte being reffered as punk makes me want to beat up those make-up wearing posers. They might have evolved from Punk but they will never be punk...as we evolved from monkeys, we will never be monkeys. So stop trying to be "cool" and find yourself a new "label". Punk was never about being "cool" is was about being yourself. Why don't you try that you wankers!!

[Boot]

WHERE THE FUDGE ARE THE SEX PISTOLS AND SHAM 69!!!!

[DisgruntledDuck]

Nothing about the english movement!?

[the_dude1829]

i think this article was good, but flawed. you skimmed over some stuff like the rebirth of punk, after the grunge scene died. you left other stuff like british punk(clash, sex pistol). nice to see you included punk influenced suff like emo, i dont like emo but it stil is an evolution of punk. i didnt like some stuff, and thought it was a bit short, but 5 stars for having the balls to write it.

[Scorpio420]

Crap, this really got me goin on another rant. Bands like Simple Plan, Avril Lavigne, Good Charlotte, Fall Out Boy have the average listening audience of 6-19. So we have thirteen years of catching up do if we want to crush these music "faux pas" Let's start with every song about "how it's hard living in this world when mommy and daddy is paying for everything". Then let's skip to the songs where "I'm 15 and I love you more than I will love anybody in my entire life" and last but not leased "I'm 13 and you left me and I will never love again" Now take this so called musical crap and flush it. Kids today this is good music, give them a Zepplin cd or Hendrix, then jump to GnR, how bout some Metallica, Sex Pistols,Vandals and Ozzy throw in some Alice in Chains for flavor and a bit of Rage against the Machine for luck, then we are getting somewhere. Now this is only the beggining. We have to keep them on the mainstream because they think just cause you heard of these bands they are cool. Help me Help you!!

[Scorpio420]

Sorry, the Vandals are not really mainstream but you should listen to them anyways. Where is the Kiss Army when you need it??

[Scorpio420]

Why don't they listen to Donny Osmond or little Michael Jackson from the Jackson 5...they pretty much have the same lyrical content Simple plan and the rest of the other Brady Bunch Bands. Oh thats right image over substance...I forgot.Sorry.

[Scorpio420]

Boot:
WHERE THE FUDGE ARE THE SEX PISTOLS AND SHAM 69!!!!

DisgruntledDuck:
Nothing about the english movement!?

Yeah!!!What they said!!!

[rockinlewis]

well done

[ilovepixies]

It was correct but you shoulda mentioned the english scene because no offence but us brits created punk and you all copied us... argh why do americans try and claim amricans started punk. I do love black flag and minor threat tho. I like a lot of american punk bands.

[ilovepixies]

Plus it was the pistols not the ramones, ramonees are more pop punk

[cefasnacht]

ilovepixies:
It was correct but you shoulda mentioned the english scene because no offence but us brits created punk and you all copied us... argh why do americans try and claim amricans started punk.

that's hilarious, some people think the know the history of punk and say stupid shit like this! if the "brits" (clash & pistols) created punk, the how comes the ramones released their first album and was already doing a tour of europe while johnny rotten was still clean cut and wearing a tie? and even years before that the stooges, velvet underground, dmz, and the sonics were doing punk on this side of the ocean!

[thetragicflaw]

as evryone else has said, nothing about england, the creators of punk. i dont liek pnuk really, but i tae urr point.

[cefasnacht]

ilovepixies:
Plus it was the pistols not the ramones, ramonees are more pop punk

just look at the dates of when their first albums were released man! the ramones were out first, and they were just as dark as the pistols, not "pop", they just talked about how shitty life was, not the government

[vanceboy]

I guess more of a history lesson than anything...pretty good article for the most part, 4 stars.

[satanic_cigar]

ah ***, you guys are absolutely right. i did kind of right this on a whim of boredom. so i really do apologize for the lack of coverage on the UK scene. i really can't believe i forgot to mention it. damn!

[satanic_cigar]

damnit! yeah and i forgot about green day. not a big fan, but dookie was obviously huge. and well, i never thought the sex pistols were ever that great. jerry only taught sid vicious to play bass for christs sake. but definitely should have mentioned them along with clash, sham 69, et al.

[Scorpio420]

cefasnacht, sorry dude but I'll have to go with thepixielover on this one. What you are talking about is the "so called " mainstream punk of that era not where it originates. The punk movement was created in England, before flamming plz get your facts straight. Kudos to you satanic_cigar, not a bad report but don't forget the lads on the other side of the creek, these guys lived it before singing it!!

[The Mofaster]

I was about to say too... like the absenceof the British Punk movement was missing.... but its cool... most of us know that history anyways.

[validlitterdept]

embrace? punk? pff

[ffaf_kick_ass]

sex pistols?

[Pyro128]

Dookie

[Tyler the Great]

wasted too much time on the modern crap. Otherwise, great article.

[OnlyInvalids]

Washington DC also had a nice little scene with the groups Minor Threat, Teen Idles, Iron Cross, Black Market Baby, and TSOL.

TSOL was an LA punk band not DC.
Ramones introduced punk to the brits. July 4th 1976. The show where people like Joe Strummer and Johnny Rotten decided they wanted to play like the Ramones did. Sid played because he wanted to be just like Dee Dee.

[forevergonzo]

Isn't the bitching that you complained about in the beginning of the article really what punk is about.
And on top of all the british punk bands you didn't mention, there were also the Stooges and The Velvet Underground which were both a huge influence on both the sound of punk and the attitude of punk.

[Letterbomb11]

I don't care if a group is punk or pop-punk or anything else. I like a group because of their music not genre. If it sounds good, i'll listen.

[proguit933]

i looked up emo on wikipedia just to see what it said and it said that minor threat started it and i was like what the ***?

[rancidbass220]

2 things to state here. punk is a lifestyle. its about being yourself,being an individual. this doesnt mean going to shop at hot topic to get your crap because that store manufactures punk as a clothing style,which it isnt. 2nd thing is just about some of the comments: "It was correct but you shoulda mentioned the english scene because no offence but us brits created punk and you all copied us... argh why do americans try and claim amricans started punk."-ilovepixies. "that's hilarious, some people think the know the history of punk and say stupid shit like this! if the "brits" (clash & pistols) created punk, the how comes the ramones released their first album and was already doing a tour of europe while johnny rotten was still clean cut and wearing a tie? and even years before that the stooges, velvet underground, dmz, and the sonics were doing punk on this side of the ocean!-cefasnacht. ok im just gonna sum this up w/ a quote from one of my favorite movies " I don't know who started it and I don't give a ***. The one thing I do know is that we did it harder, we did it faster, and we definitely did it with more love, baby. You can't take that away from us." -Stevo, SLCPunk.

[TriggerHappy]

good article someone actualy described the different punk scenes and branches of punk cause what is punk music music mainly connsisting of powerchords

[PumpkinsPunk]

This is one of the reason's we cant have Woodstock.

[Emenius Sleepus]

It's a shame emo is considered a form of punk. I still say punk is a way of life and the mere fact that the "industry" first labeled anyone who did not fit the mold was a "Punk", just re-inforces my theory that most of the people that make up this "industry" are not worthy of such an important job. Speaking as a former "Punk", I had my share of fights, beatings, peircings, tats, and to hear band such as Blink 182, Good Charlotte being reffered as punk makes me want to beat up those make-up wearing posers. They might have evolved from Punk but they will never be punk...as we evolved from monkeys, we will never be monkeys. So stop trying to be "cool" and find yourself a new "label". Punk was never about being "cool" is was about being yourself. Why don't you try that you wankers!!

It's shit when the ideas that you suffered for are being turned into another plastic soft-core product, isn't it...

[Emenius Sleepus]

TriggerHappy:
good article someone actualy described the different punk scenes and branches of punk cause what is punk music music mainly connsisting of powerchords

if people actually took some effort, they would have searched the UG and found some very similar articles that are much better and more in-depth. But not bad otherwise.

[neocon58]

How did you manage to skip the year 1994 in this article? Did The Offsprings and Green Days multi-million selling albums slip your mind?

[hayward]

if you insult, you don't know what punk is.

[cefasnacht]

Ramones introduced punk to the brits. July 4th 1976. The show where people like Joe Strummer and Johnny Rotten decided they wanted to play like the Ramones did. Sid played because he wanted to be just like Dee Dee.

Thank you, someone intelligent enough to look at the dates and realize that us New Yorkers started punk

[jed_punk]

Nice article ! Punk will never die !

[Scorpio420]

cefasnacht:
Ramones introduced punk to the brits. July 4th 1976. The show where people like Joe Strummer and Johnny Rotten decided they wanted to play like the Ramones did. Sid played because he wanted to be just like Dee Dee.

Thank you, someone intelligent enough to look at the dates and realize that us New Yorkers started punk

If anything , Detroit started punk in the 60's with MC5 and the Stooges, the you had two Virginia boarding school dropouts Richard (Hell) Meyers and Tom (Verlaine)Miller who kinda did something, I guess now I could go on and tell you how the Sex Pistols came to be and why they inspired the world to "be" punk and created the "British Punk Movement" but you probably know that.

[ash_punk_4_life]

average article but could have focused more on older punk than new "punk"

[ilovepixies]

cefasnacht

I think its unfair to say that I came out with shit when I was stating something blatantly obvious although all the roots of punk come from different places such as the stooges and VU the big punk explosion spewed out of kings road in london. Ramones released their first album in 1976 and the pistols released the 7" of anarchy in the UK the only reason they couldn't release anything other than a single sooner is because no one signed em until EMI released that single then the pistols were promptly dropped by the label and then again by A&M until Virgin finally agreed to release nevermind the bollocks. On a footnote the pistols started in 1972 under the name of 'the strands'two years earlier than the ramones recruiting rotten in 75/

[ChordMonger]

goddamit man, wether you consider emo to be punk or not i dont care, but youve gotta be outa your ***in' mind if you consider emo to be MUSIC. MY GOD! where has all the talent gone. believe me, i feel for musicians today, since the record co.s have corruped and cheapened almost everything on the radio/t.v./whatever, but honestly, its just SO BAD! the people that listen to it must be brain-damaged in some way. and btw, kudos to throwinf Flipper into your article but why the absence of any english punk?

[kevinm4435]

Well, at least he mentioned hardcore.

[appetite]

hmmm, interesting article and a good read, although it is flawed. nevertheless, the other members of UG have already mentioned the flaws, so i am not gonna repeat it. better luck next time man, and all the best

[jonnyrotten45]

ok ive been reading your posts been reading your posts and itrs made me sick. like people have been saying punk is a way of life and not a way 2 dress but if u the reason people made punk(and i don't care if it was the brits or the americans)is because they were tired of being normal people and didn't care what other people though of them thats what every 1 w should do just not care. who gives a *** about emo and grunge, i sure as shit don't. so just live your own lives and be the person u wan't to be cause who cares is your hair is red or purple if u like it say *** u!!!

[jonnyrotten45]

and stop whining about people selling out 2. if some one gave u a shit load of money 2 do somthing u love ne way what would u do refuse it....i don't think so and no more shit about im poor so im on the internet wtf is that here i am not poor and i like punk so the *** what

[lacey_the_crazy]

Not too bad overall, it takes a lot of guts to tackle this topic, I think.
Cheers.

[Cmoney]

i see your point
i ust think they should call this so called new breed of punk/emo sissy bitch music then no more problems with people saying "this is punk" "no it's not thats gay" see problem solved

[Krazy_Munkey]

you pretty much entirely forgot the U.K. and the Eighties, and you have no idea what the phrase "alternative rock" means (just like all the metalheads here), but aside from that, this is pretty good. And actual emo (the Used is pop-punk and Dashboard Confessional is alternative) is pretty crazy stuff.

[sexy-man]

actually the offspring is more of a ska band

[Smokey Amp]

Not bad, I like your point of Punk music evolving, it's what I've been saying for a long time. But you missed alot of information out on your timeline.

[kjohnson08]

Scorpio420:
It's a shame emo is considered a form of punk. I still say punk is a way of life and the mere fact that the "industry" first labeled anyone who did not fit the mold was a "Punk", just re-inforces my theory that most of the people that make up this "industry" are not worthy of such an important job. Speaking as a former "Punk", I had my share of fights, beatings, peircings, tats, and to hear band such as Blink 182, Good Charlotte being reffered as punk makes me want to beat up those make-up wearing posers. They might have evolved from Punk but they will never be punk...as we evolved from monkeys, we will never be monkeys. So stop trying to be "cool" and find yourself a new "label". Punk was never about being "cool" is was about being yourself. Why don't you try that you wankers!!
[POSTED: 07 September 2005 - 12:46]|

this guy must be british or something...

[Alkaline Trey]

I listen to what is labelled today as "punk" or pop-punk or emo-punk music, people label me emo/punk, but I don't care what people label me, like you said, screw them. I just hate people that say punk is a way of life rah rah rah I'm so punk look at my mohawk and the fact that I listen to all the UK bands rah rah rah, yeah, I listen to the Sex Pistols, but I also listen to Blink 182 and Juliana Theory. By the Way, I think the Cure should've got a mention. P.S. You people would be more punk if you stopped complaining and arguing about what punk is and isn't and if you stop trying so damn hard to be punk, if you dont give a crap how people depict the "life-style" then you won't have to worry about it and be back to the original stage of it all, not caring. Well, that's my two cents.

[DisgruntledDuck]

ah ***, you guys are absolutely right. i did kind of right this on a whim of boredom. so i really do apologize for the lack of coverage on the UK scene. i really can't believe i forgot to mention it. damn!

Don't beat yourself up. It was a good enough article; there's been a lot worse. Just missed an important paragraph or two.

[DisgruntledDuck]

actually the offspring is more of a ska band

I do hope that was sarcasm.....

[Scorpio420]

1: For kjohnson08 remarks...almost I'm Canadian.
2: Now for Alkaline Trey, I'm glad you are comfortable with yourself...good for you. And you bring up a good point, the world is full of posers. To be "Punk", it has to go something like this: I don't conform with society/government so I don't dress like the "normals" because they are all rats, fighting for the same piece of cheeze. My political views are that the society/government always screws the little guy in whatever they do, hense they are evil. And we hate evil things. The "system" does not work and never will so I will not conform to society norms and values. I used to be "punk" but when I eventualy grew up and found out it's better to fight the system from the inside than the outside.(plus I wanted money so I can feed my eventual family) I still have some of the same views and opinions I once had but from a different perspective. If you dress like a "punk" because you think it's cool/stylish to dress that way...good for you poser, you have the right to pose wherever you like, but the important thing here is to be yourself. It's like wearing a Army uniform all the time and not being in the Army. Don't do it to be cool...be yourself, and if that means your a poser, well pose away.

[Scorpio420]

BTW now I'm an accountant for the Can Government...how ironic.

[southern_stylin]

I liked this article, good writing. I still have to say that I like the mid to late nineties 'skate punk' or whatever you call it, the best. You know, all the Epitaph bands and Fat Wreck Chords. Shit like that.

[green_ramou!]

ehrr ramones??? sex pistols?? dookie?? come on if youre gonna write an article make it at least relevant, everyone know what the f*** punk is... and if you decide to do it anyway, then run some backgroundchecks or KNOW what youre talking about.. dont bitch about punk becommin pop it's still the same thing as always! punk is not anythin about sayin *** the government, punk is (like all music) about havin fun! more than anything really...

[Scorpio420]

green_ramou!, I guess De La Rocha had nothing to say but chew your gum and ride your bike to town when he wrote "Killin in the name". You obviously don't listen or understand the lyrics of songs do you? You would not be old enough, no no no , smart enough to actualy buy a record and listen to the songs that don't play on the radio would you?? More listening...less talking, or writting

[SumXnofx]

god damn im tired of people actin like they know everything about emo and punk. Who the hell cares, if u like the music then listen to it. I hate people who r so closed minded and dont give anything a chance.Half of u have probally never even listned to an emo band , so dont go judging it before u actully listen to it.

[Dark_Sanity]

Where is the Kiss Army when you need it??

we're on our way!!

[Scorpio420]

SumXnofx:
god damn im tired of people actin like they know everything about emo and punk. Who the hell cares, if u like the music then listen to it. I hate people who r so closed minded and dont give anything a chance.Half of u have probally never even listned to an emo band , so dont go judging it before u actully listen to it.

You might be right on not knowing much about emo but what I do know is that I'm not very impressed so far. I don't know if Sum41 is pop/punk or emo but I saw them before they got all that (SummerSaulttour'00) and they were a little louder/hardcore than what they are now and they were very good, they sounded different. Now they all sound the same to me, like clones or something, same beat on drums, pretty much the same bass line and most important same topics/themes to their songs from one band to the next. Is this what emo is? plz correct me if I'm wrong.

[Scorpio420]

What ever happened to skate/punk. I liked Pennywise, Lagwagon and the likes but I don't follow that anymore.

[Scorpio420]

They all sounded the same too...did emo evolve from this???

[jonnyrotten45]

ehrr ramones??? sex pistols?? dookie?? come on if youre gonna write an article make it at least relevant, everyone know what the f*** punk is... and if you decide to do it anyway, then run some backgroundchecks or KNOW what youre talking about.. dont bitch about punk becommin pop it's still the same thing as always! punk is not anythin about sayin *** the government, punk is (like all music) about havin fun! more than anything really...

r u ***ing kidding me. punk in the 70's was all about anarchy or rebelion. it was about having fun but punk had and has a political side 2 it

[jimmyjazz03]

pistols???.. Clash???.. Anything on british punk at all???.. NO!!!!

In that respect this article really sucks a lot. You just cant omit those bands and talk about friggin' good charlotte and simple plan!!!.. 2 stars maybe

[uLtim8_Sadista]

i'm ever so confused

[trepkos]

ilovepixies:
It was correct but you shoulda mentioned the english scene because no offence but us brits created punk and you all copied us... argh why do americans try and claim amricans started punk. I do love black flag and minor threat tho. I like a lot of american punk bands.

Sorry dudes, but he is quite right about the english scene.

[pinkfloyd20]

i just wish i could have lived back in they day being or trying to be a punk was not a fad im sick of all the posers saying their punk and so misunderstood just because they listen to simple plan drives me nuts cause it's not about that it's about you going out doing your own thing and not caring. i feel a revolution coming

[the_dude1829]

endland started the anarchy punk vs government thing. but most of those bands were inspired by a ramones concert in london, where they were supporting some stupid band, and stole the show cause nobody had heard anything like them before

[the_dude1829]

the english scen still shopud have been included in the article considering it was the biggest and most influential

[the_dude1829]

the english scen estill shoud have been included in the article considering it was the biggest and most influential

[weedmark101]

You should've mentiond the sex pistols man. Punk is all about being who you want to be and not being afraid to show it. If anyone dosen't like it you can tell em' to Fuck Off. As time goes on things change. Some for better and some for worse but what dosen't change is that being yourself and not giving a shit what other people think or say is Punk. There is no need for a 10 page history lesson on where it came from, just be yourself and tell everyone else to go *** themselves.

[Let it Happen]

weedmark's got it right. no need for a long, boring history (which was full of huge holes n e way)What the hell is punk? that shoulda maybe taken two sentences, (like weedmark101 did )not 15 pages

[ThE_dEcIeVeD]

give the guy a break, he only written it out of boredom.

[ledsoldier]

its good but u shoulda mentioned that its mainly focused on American punk

[soankeyman820]

Emo may be a genre of punk, but it isnt of teh punk nature-if there is one. You forgot to mention a few things, one of them is that punk doesnt have to be about piercings, drugs, and violence. I follow the straight-edge punk movement to say that since punk is about doing whatever the hell you want, stick to taht rule. I hate the way people ONLY see "punk" as people who dress and act one way. Punk is a rebellion and should be treated as such. Also, you forgot to mention Dookie, Ska, The Ramones, Sex Pistols and the rest of the Bristish movement. 1994 was the year of teh 90s punk revival, and you only skimmed the surface. Oh, and btw-Good Charlotte isnt punk!!!! They're whiney wanna-bes under the label "poser"!

[GnRrelease_it]

*ahem*
THE SEX PISTOLS!!
THE CLASH!!

british punk owns.

[julian2k4]

theres only one thing i got to say....and its that in my opinion from about 1990 up....80% of music is bullshit and isnt worth listening, thats why i never turn on a radio....music today is just a buisness like any other and has lost its real meaning....did u know that this year the world wide record industry will gross over 40 billion dollars?

[bloodstained]

All you need to know, is that everyone who trys and tells you what punk is, is a lier and a fake. Punk is another label, Surpuss that and be yourself. Fuck Punk, Go Music!

[bloodstained]

julian2k4:
theres only one thing i got to say....and its that in my opinion from about 1990 up....80% of music is bullshit and isnt worth listening, thats why i never turn on a radio....music today is just a buisness like any other and has lost its real meaning....did u know that this year the world wide record industry will gross over 40 billion dollars?

That's due to the five key major label record companies (Universal, Sony, Emi, Warner Brothers, BMG)controlling 95% of the music industry.

[nightvanguard]

hahaha most of my friends and every teen and his mother here in our place dress up like punks and then call themselves rockers and talk so much bullshit bout it just becase they think its "in" and cool..
geez..
ijust dont really give a ***..to each his own..

[TeddyRamone]

Punk is a way of life, it's about being street kids, it's about living your life to the fullest without being thrown about by them rich f*cks. Punk has always been my sub-culture, and I must say I'm ashamed of "punk" bands nowadays. Whatever happened to listening to Minor Threat, One Way System, A Global Threat, The Casualties? Whats with gay poppies naming themselves punk? F*cking posers. As for those new punk kids who declare themselves punk because of dumb reasons, stop being trendy wankers you wankers. All I gotta say is, punk is a way of life, music for street kids and underground music followers.

[sexpistolramone]

who cares what the *** punk is labeled...listen to the music ***ers

[jeshawk]

punk is a philosophy.. that's all you need to say. AND YEAH! A GLOBAL THREAT ROCKS! so does minor threat (by the way they supported sXe =) )

[kittycatk]

I like music, punk or not...it's just music.

[n0selfesteem]

I enjoyed it, but it's missing ska (which fits in with punk pretty well) and British punk such as The Clash, the Buzzcocks, and Sex Pistols.

[2xtreme101]

what the hell are you guys talking about Good charlotte is the only real punk bands out there

[LiveOrDie]

kind of made it seem like punk turned into grunge and aternative in the 90's until blink 182, but there were bands that i would believe carried the torch like NOFX, Avail, Dillinger Four,inquistion, The unseen, rancid and so many more. There are also lots of new bands that still play punk music that aren't "emo" and have nothing to do with that good charlotte fall about boy ridiculousness if thats even a word.

[nightvanguard]

i just think punk is a lifestlye and shit
to hell with everyone
be yourself you ***ing poser shits

[TeddyRamone]

Blackend, you're just jealous you aren't "punk" enough for us. Yeah, A Global Threat and Minor Threat rock. Start listening to "Straight Edge". Yeah The Unseen rocks too. For all you wankers who say punk is dead, listen to "False Hope" by The Unseen and practically all songs by The Casualties and you would know punk literature and and music. That should give you wankers an idea of what punks are. Good Charlotte the only real punk band? Over my f*cking dead baboon's red a$$. Just because the guy playing the guitar has a thousand spikes hairstyle you call them punk? They sing sh*t, they are sh*t and will always be sh*t. You wankers don't even come close to explaining punk, not even near the "P". So I suggest you wankers get a grip, start wanking like you guys always do, and be slaves of the rich and authorised. You guys don't even know what's best for you.

[2xtreme101]

lol finally sum1 replies to my good charlotte comment..i was just joking..i just wanted to see how angry sum1 would get...it was a joke..come down

[2xtreme101]

calm down***...i diffenetly dont think good charlotte is the only real punk band out there..they arent even punk..there shit..i dont like them..but i dont care wut music i listen to...i dont care about it if its punk or not...u ppl r weird..u think ur punk just cuz u listen to "punk" music...

i want to be punk, soo ill just listen to the romanes..sex pistols..the clash..etc..and ill just consider my self a punk just cuz i listen to them..thats pathetic and stupid...and thats wut most ppl do to try to be punk

[ilovepixies]

TeddyRamone:
Blackend, you're just jealous you aren't "punk" enough for us. Yeah, A Global Threat and Minor Threat rock. Start listening to "Straight Edge". Yeah The Unseen rocks too. For all you wankers who say punk is dead, listen to "False Hope" by The Unseen and practically all songs by The Casualties and you would know punk literature and and music. That should give you wankers an idea of what punks are. Good Charlotte the only real punk band? Over my f*cking dead baboon's red a$$. Just because the guy playing the guitar has a thousand spikes hairstyle you call them punk? They sing sh*t, they are sh*t and will always be sh*t. You wankers don't even come close to explaining punk, not even near the "P". So I suggest you wankers get a grip, start wanking like you guys always do, and be slaves of the rich and authorised. You guys don't even know what's best for you


Amen brother exactly what I think. You english? unseen playing astoria on november 2nd should be a riot

[Scorpio420]

TeddyRamone:
Blackend, you're just jealous you aren't "punk" enough for us. Yeah, A Global Threat and Minor Threat rock. Start listening to "Straight Edge". Yeah The Unseen rocks too. For all you wankers who say punk is dead, listen to "False Hope" by The Unseen and practically all songs by The Casualties and you would know punk literature and and music. That should give you wankers an idea of what punks are. Good Charlotte the only real punk band? Over my f*cking dead baboon's red a$$. Just because the guy playing the guitar has a thousand spikes hairstyle you call them punk? They sing sh*t, they are sh*t and will always be sh*t. You wankers don't even come close to explaining punk, not even near the "P". So I suggest you wankers get a grip, start wanking like you guys always do, and be slaves of the rich and authorised. You guys don't even know what's best for you

WOW!!...Give them hell Ted. There seems to be an overwhelming group of posers here and it is refreshing to see someone who gets it. That goes out to thepixielover as well.

[ilovepixies]

Why thankyou scorpio420 finally a bit of punk unity

[dannypal]

Real punk is bands like the velvet underground and the stooges, and all the new crap like greenday n shit isnt punk its pop, its not even remotly punk! i think the nearest thing to punk these days are bands like the white stripes, von bondies ect... people will defo dissagree but for me punk started in the 1960s and it is a type of music that goes against everything eles. The velvet undergounds white light/white heat was the first punk albem. I think that the sex pistols were one of the most manufactured bands of all time!

[ilovepixies]

And just to end the american/british battle as to who started punk (not that I care all that much) The Damned were the first punk band to release a song 'new rose' and they were brits my uncle knew em

[Scorpio420]

dannypal
I think that the sex pistols were one of the most manufactured bands of all time!

Quite right. McLaren "made" the pistol out of ideas he got from different band styles, primarily the NY Dolls, but, he just dressed his band like that because that's the way they acted because the were "punks". They just gave a sence of style to their ideals, wich are not giving a Fuck and delibertly not fitting in with society.

[nagirrab]

You can trace developments of music through time and see influences. You see it in every style of music. Most of the bands that get derided for apparently pretending to be "punk" probably dont think that they are a punk band. They may admit they have been heavily influenced by it, but they are just making their own music. I listen to whatever music sounds good to my ears and i really don't care what other people think about it. I really don't care what band is punk and what band isn't. Punk gives a good sense of community and that is the side of it to be encouraged, and the people who have made intelligent comments about this article seem to recognise that.

[Xeus]

where the *** was the god father of punk?

Iggy Pop

other than that, 4 stars mate =)

[mrFood]

Nice analysis, but you gorgot the Clash and the Sex Pistols.

[ELEVEN]

bands like simple plan, yada yada yada i like to call 'modern punk' becuase i don't know what else to call it while keeping it PG13. i like what someone said about them being make-up wearing posers.. becuase.. ya! everyone who wears the black and grows a mo-hawk says their trying to be different..everyone seems to be doing it.. so that makes you the same.. and mainstream.. and i hate it. i wont quote cobains definition of punk its too long, but i agree with it. so lose the make-up, and maybe try strumming 3 times on the first two chords, and then 4 on the next instead of
G x 8, Em x 8, C x 8, D x 8. if the black, the makeup, and the hair is you, then fine. but if you saw it on t.v, and its the reason you picked up a guitar, i pitty you. you are missing out on so much.

[nightvanguard]

this shits too confucing
just because you have listened and actually liked and ***ing memorized every punk band out there doesnt mean youre a punk too..
geez people
punks not somethin to brag about..
if youre one then ***ing shut the hell up and do something you think is right for the people..

metalheads dont care hahaha

[funkmasterswede]

^^What the hell is wrong with you, he is just trying to set some facts straight because there are alot of ignorant people on this site. Metalheads are just as stupid as people who listen only to punk, people should try to be open to all styles of music. Nice job on the article.

[AnnaPlaysGuitar]

Yeah, I wished you would have mentioned Green Day.. they did have a bit of an effect on modern-day pop punk...

[AnnaPlaysGuitar]

Other than that, good article.

[TeddyRamone]

ilovepixies, Scorpio420, thanks. But no, I'm not English. I'm a Singaporean, from Singapore. Hope you guys know where that is. I've been studying punk ever since I was 13, in the scene at 15, till now. And I'm only 18. So for those "matured" wankers who are older than me, start thinking openly, and don't just nod in agreement with the government if you don't even know what's best. You think everything that the government does is beneficial? In Singapore, the citizens put their hands on their hearts and pledge "to build a democratic society". How can that be possible when there is no freedom of speech, no justice, no equality? The government here emphasizes on multi-racial/cultural living, having Racial Harmony Day too. But check out the reality, all those having good jobs and high ranks in the army are all of a certain race. Punk is all about disagreeing with all the wrongdoings of the authorised. You don't spike your hair and claim you're punk. Punk is an attitude, it's intangible, it's inside you. And from this reality, that's how punk music came about. Songs full of angst, hatred etc. aimed at the government, unfair authorities and such. THAT is punk music. You don't play punk songs singing "I just wanna live...". That's a whole lot of bull. Punk music reflects largely on reality, street kids wasting their lives away doing wrong things, unfair treatment, inequality etc. So for all those wankers suggesting Good Charlotte and such as punk bands, get you d*cks on a chopping board say goodbye to your manhood. Losers.

[Davidleerothsha]

"i want to be punk, soo ill just listen to the romanes"

isn't this a lettuce?

[OneEyedMan]

My god, this man has pointed out a major fact that no one here has realised. With the examples given,who cares what country of origin they are, at the begining of the 'punk' label they had talent and the songs had musical merit which with time has become a rarity with repeatitive imitations taking real talents place.
Bands like The Ramones had talent, they played music their way, how they liked, they didn't set out to play music in the form of 'punk', they played music how they liked it, then all you bastards went and labelled them, made out that they were copying ideas from other bands, not creating their own music.
The bands that have musical talent are the ones that are remembered in the end, none of this 'pop punk' shit out nowdays is going to be remembered at all, bands like RATM, RHCP etc, the bands which had real musical talent, channeled their thoughts and ideas into their music and truly made music for what is for, which is expressing yourself not having 'fun', if you want to have fun go play sport, these bands are the legends of our society, because they got recognised for their true talent and prevailed over the 'clone' bands which ride a fad.

'Punk' is dead people.

Or atleast not in ourmainstream music atm. They are all posers and copy cats and the real people who are expressing them self, being themself and playing their own music haing to fight the hard fight to get the recognition they deserve.

Help fight the lame over told song about boy losses girl, no one cares about your petty relationships so shut the *** up!

[Scorpio420]

ilovepixies:
...finally a bit of punk unity

Dude, I think OneEye and Teddy hit the proverbial nail right on its proverbial head. It's too bad that the industry evre claimed "Punk" as their own. Punk is an Idea, Punk is a belief not just 3 cord music but a message behind the music... something that is not watered down/censored/fluffed up...something real. There is something more behind this candy coated society it's called the real world and there is nothing MTV about it. "Punk" may be dead but I'm sure the ideals behind it still beats feirce in some hearts out there other than mine, and who knows it might come back...hopefully not in Emo/BubbleGum/Pop "Punk" genre.

[tbs_182]

does anyone realise that its not the band themselves that call themself punk? the MEDIA calls them punk...so for the people who typically say "blink/gc/sum are all 'make-up wearing posers' and i wanna beat them up", think if you've ever heard or seen any of those bands actually call themselves punk.

[ilovepixies]

Blink 182 do claim to be punk I remember reading an interveiw with their lead singer and he was saying that he played 'punk straight from the heart' and that 'punk was in his veins'

[TeddyRamone]

This is where I come in and reply to she. Oi Polloi back to you. tbs_182, I don't think, I KNOW I've ever heard or seen any of those bands actually call themselves punk. I've read before in an interview, interviewer asks Green Day "What's it like to be the godfather of modern punk music?" and that vocalist goes "Oh yeah that's cool we've always played punk so we appreciate being called godfather of modern punk music". Over my dead baboon's red a$$ you are. Sure they sing disagreement in "American Idiot", but why don't they go all out in the video? Why not turn the American flag upside down since they're singing sh*t about America? 'Cause they got them balls up in their throats. They don't wanna get f*cked. Sure, some people might say it's smart not to, but if you dare to put it into words, lyrics, songs, why don't you go all out on your actions? Aren't teachers emphasizing actions speak louder than words in school? So squeeze them genitals and call yourselves a whore. Here's another example of a band calling themself punk. Check out the new band The Faders. In an MTV interview they called themselves Pop Punk Rock. They stressed on the word Punk. Hell, I'd rather call "Where Is The Love" a punk song. Check out all the facts in the song. Oh yeah, a local punk band from my country even made punk cover of that song, because it connects well with everyone and every punk. All those facts inside, those are what punks have been trying to make you wankers realise since the dawn of time. Well not exactly the dawn of time but, you guys get the point. I mean, come on guys, GC, Blink = punk? I'd rather qoute from Slipknot, GC/Blink = Shit. Singing about boy meets girl, boy loves girls, boy leaves girl or vice versa, man that sh*t has been like repeated over and over again.

[TeddyRamone]

OH YEAH! I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THIS GIRL! Avril Lavigne. She claims she's punk too. 65% of the photos you see of her, you can see her wearing a Dr Martens 14 eyelet Steel Toed boot. That really makes my blood boil. So does wearing DMs make you punk? Hell, some punks can't even afford boots, but they know their roots. Even me, the most I got was a 10 eyelet DMs. Wankers here, I see them changing boots every half a year. Fashion. Bleargh! I've been wearing the same pair of boots for 3 years, and I still got pride in them. Just because you dress up doesn't mean you're a punk. Some kids respect their parents and wear formally when they're out together. A civilian in the eyes of the unknown, but through the eyes of his friends and in his heart, they know he's a punk. I might be Asian, but I sure as hell know much more reality facts more than some of you. Especially you wankers singing love songs just like your "idols".

Should we start a topic on skinheads now? Not those facists white power skins, just normal SHARP skins. They play Oi! music, similar to punk. I don't see why we can't talk abt skins.

Qoute:
Punx and Skins are out everynight
Punx and Skins not looking for a fight
Punx and Skins just wanna have some fun
Punx and Skins will always survive.

Steel Toe Boots
Spikey Hair
We don't care
Punx and Skins

[TeddyRamone]

Honestly, I listen to everything. Techno, trance, classical everything. Even gregorian chat, although I'm not quite sure what they're trying to say. Music is universal, yes. But when wankers take punk onto a different route, I'm gonna give 'em the boot. Just like these poppies nowadays. Up Yours.

[Scorpio420]

I hear you Teddy even though you are "Straight Edge". (I Used to be Anarchist Punk) It gets under your skin cuz it's what you beleive in and they are makin a mockery of it with their trends. But hopefully this fad will pass. It's cool to rebel, you know and it is also very profitable. Their is no honnor in selling out...but who is honnerable these days. It's all about making a quick buck and selling yourself to whatever label pays more. I wouldn't even be surprised if we would see a Avril "Punk" clothes line out now. Hopefully people will growup and see the light...they don't care what they sing as long as it sells. That's not music, that is a crime.

[Scorpio420]

TeddyRamone:
Should we start a topic on skinheads now? Not those facists white power skins, just normal SHARP skins. They play Oi! music, similar to punk. I don't see why we can't talk abt skins.

Where I come from the only skins around are wearing Swastikas. I never heard of "SHARP SKINS". But Oi! music...it sounds jewish...I might be living under a rock or something cuz I never heard of it before. That would be Fucked up, Skinheads signing jewish songs.

I can alomost read the reply posts now..."Scorpi, you're a dumbas$!" but plz explain none the less.

[acdc101]

ilovepixies:
And just to end the american/british battle as to who started punk (not that I care all that much) The Damned were the first punk band to release a song 'new rose' and they were brits my uncle knew em

Like *** they were. They released the first SINGLE.

[acdc101]

^Supposedly anyway.

[I_Buy_Peace]

This is my opinion, so tell me if im blatantly wrong, but i think the old punk should come back, like the sex pistols, the jam and the ramones, the new punk is too poppy. as it stands I dont listen to any new music and its because the new pop-punk ruined it, no offence to anyone who loves it

[THE GRIM ROCKER]

well im my view theres two types of punk sound, british punk eg sex pistols, the jam {legends) . and american punk sum41 blink,greenday...the list is endless

[whatne1wuddo]

Crap, this really got me goin on another rant. Bands like Simple Plan, Avril Lavigne, Good Charlotte, Fall Out Boy have the average listening audience of 6-19. So we have thirteen years of catching up do if we want to crush these music "faux pas" Let's start with every song about "how it's hard living in this world when mommy and daddy is paying for everything". Then let's skip to the songs where "I'm 15 and I love you more than I will love anybody in my entire life" and last but not leased "I'm 13 and you left me and I will never love again" Now take this so called musical crap and flush it. Kids today this is good music, give them a Zepplin cd or Hendrix, then jump to GnR, how bout some Metallica, Sex Pistols,Vandals and Ozzy throw in some Alice in Chains for flavor and a bit of Rage against the Machine for luck, then we are getting somewhere. Now this is only the beggining. We have to keep them on the mainstream because they think just cause you heard of these bands they are cool. Help me Help you!!

way to destroy the whole point of music. creativity and fun. no one can tell anyone what to listen to, and no music is crap, because someone out there loves it, and has just as much as a right to love it as you have a right to love your favorite artist

[TeddyRamone]

F*ck Nazi Skins. SHARP means Skin Heads Against Racial Prejudice. Their music is called Oi!. Try Cocksparrer, The Business, A.C.A.B., they're skinhead bands. I'm not quite sure how to explain their literature and music, but they're a bit similar to punk music. Their songs are mostly about disagreeing with the government, not exactly wanting to overthrow, just disagreeing. Some of A.C.A.B.'s songs are "Freedom and Justice", "Racial Hatred", "Where Have All The Bootboys Gone?". Hope the title alone gets you thinking, 'cause I can't quite explain their music in words.

All I can say is that I support underground rock, especially punk and Oi! music. Stay true to your roots. May the Oi! be with you.

[jimmcs2000]

Scorpio420,
I see you mean the start of the popular punk rock which i was not referring to. In that case you are completely correct. I'm not complaining about an ass kicking just sharing an expeience. Whatever the *** you want to call it, Punk for life.Fight the big machine with every breath you take and bring the power to the induvidual. It is a lifestyle and a genre of music with many variations. I don't care who started it, just glad they did. 420

[nightvanguard]

i agree ***ingly whatne1wuddo

[Scorpio420]

whatne1wuddo
way to destroy the whole point of music. creativity and fun. no one can tell anyone what to listen to, and no music is crap, because someone out there loves it, and has just as much as a right to love it as you have a right to love your favorite artist

I guess you missed the title of this thread now did you. What I'm reffering to is all this pop/emo/bubblegum/lolypop/"punk" that claims to be "punk" when in reality they are posers and quite deffinetly dumming down the music scene. Everybody jumping on this pop/emo/bubblegum/lolypop/"punk" bandwagon with boy meets girl, boy loves girl, girl leaves boy, girl goes nuts, yadidadida... no matter what their musical talent is, the meaning behind lyrics, a message I hear in somes songs are people taking pitty on themselves, the overwhelming repetitiveness from band to band and we buy into that crap perpetuating the cycle.I'm generalising of course but "they" are mocking our ideals and beleives with their trends and vocals. You are right though, music is about creativity and fun but it can also be political, poetic, you can express yourself and your opinions, tell a story and most important somewhat inteligent. Sometimes the music can be very simple(Ramones, Clash, Nirvana, The Beatles...) but if you "feel" the lyrics it doesn't really matter. When you have lame music, lame lyrics, people pretending to be what they are not and practicly spitting in the face of the innovators of the genre...that pisses me off. Now that being said you have to realise I'm speaking in generalities of course. I don't listen to Simple Plan, Good Charlotte, Fall out Boy...but I did hear their songs more than once and I did change the station. I don't claim to know everything about those "genres" of music but I don't think they are heading in the right direction. Now your right, no one can tell you what to listen to but I personnaly know fans of these "genres", again I'm speaking in generalities, but they think these bands are "for real". They think they are the second comming. They don't see or can't understand the concept that some of these band are "manufactured" by the media and the labels they signed with...and that is sad. These people are not stupid, just ignorant and most of all def NOT PUNK.

[TeddyRamone]

Hey scorpio.. Haha sorry didn't tell ya, I'm not a straight edge. But I'm no junkie either. Anyway, I do hope everyone gets the idea now. I hate trendy wankers to the core, sometimes I wish could just slash 'em with a butcher knife. Fashion, bleargh. I don't think they even know what wearing boots mean, or why we wear leather jackets. I miss my leather jacket, sold 'em to my best friend. At least I got a bondage jacket now. You don't see that everyday from where I come from. Oh well, wankers will be wankers. whatne1wuddo, yea I hear you. RATM rocks. I'm getting sick of typing all these out, them wankers won't ever change. All I can say is, F*ck You Wankers.

[TeddyRamone]

One of my band's songs. Hope you wankers get an idea of punk literature in the lyrics.

"F*ck You"
Say all you want I won't f*cking listen
Can't you see I'm straight down defiant
D.I.Y. that's what we are
With faces stricken with scars

The system always tells us what to do
I won't put faith in those who are f*cking me and you
You lie when you say that you care
Plain bullsh*t it's you political play

Down with the government - F*ck You
Down with the politics - F*ck You
Enough of the false hopes - F*ck You
Underground punks say - F*ck You

You call us different f*cking names
When you know we're one and the same
We're the punks we're a menace all around
We'll bring the government

[TeddyRamone]

Hey, sorry if I posted too much. Just wanted to get things straight. Hope all of these gets into your head you wankers. Punk 4 life. Oh yeah, The Casualties and The Unseen rock my socks. Haha...

Oh yeah, in case you wankers are wondering how punk is real punk, go to www.punkcore.com and stare in awe. That's the difference between us and you poppy lil' cunts.

[firdaus125]

hahaha this guy called blink 182 punk ...

[Divine Sin]

"Punk is an endangerded species"

...but there is always a subcultural following, as for the emo crap and pop music (ie simple plan, blink 182, my chemical romance) ZER0 musical talant and the lyrics are even worse. I am glad to see that most of you understand what punk is, stands for, and what makes punk music punk. I didn't know there were any punks left (or anyone who truly understood what it means).

[Divine Sin]

I want to correct myself, these pop bands may have musical talent but they don't show it in their music. They just conform to what everyone else in ther world of "pop punk" is doing because they are afraid of change and experimenting or playing their own music. They don't write music for themselves or their pretentious fanbase. They write it for the record label so that the executives can bath in money b/c the bands that they own write the same thing over and over. At times these bands do experiment but usually the label doesn't like this 'new' or 'different' music b/c they want money so the band changes it to please them or the label gets someone else to write the music for the bands and the bands end up playing somebody else's music. The label will only release music that they know made cash the first time so they release the same lolipop crap repeatedly. That is a reason not to support these bands and another reason to rise up and express individuality be it musical or personal.

I f***ing hate this fake pop sissy crap.

[satanic_cigar]

jesus christ would you people get over the blink 182 reference in the goddamn article. i didnt write a ***ing article on blink 182, i wrote it on punk. and they are most definitely "pop-punk". i shouldn't have mentioned them in the same breathe as say the offspring or unwritten law, who were much different before they got "big", but please give it a rest.

[scarryman199]

guys punk in itself is suposed to not be mainstreme it if ne thing is suposed to have an underground feel with an i dont give a *** attitude so by saying pop punk u r contradicting urself also by writing an article about punk u r taking away from the meaning of it also all u people comenting about wut punk truley is and shit are all just little idiots who have no clue wut they r talking about punk dosnt have one form or meaning punk isnt just a genre of music it is a lifestile so how about all u ***ers all choked up on wut genre blink is or if gc is punk or not shut the *** up and start to take music for wut it is too u not for wut it means to everyone else and by doing that u r on ur way do being punk like the greats of rancid and the misfits

[guitarinsean]

i was just reading and what about Velvet Revolver i think they are rock they are kinda like GnR but more kick ass well to me they are so i thought they could go in here too

[LochieW]

Let's start with every song about "how it's hard living in this world when mommy and daddy is paying for everything".

Thank you for the song idea.

[l_ampao_l]

AMEN to that.

i totally agree with you....a lot of people nowadays calls themselves "punks" and i dont even see why...some of these so-called punkistas or whatever wear black shirts, spiky armbands, chokers, and stuff but their attitude is sooo pop...sadly...we're living in a world full of posers..

[TeddyRamone]

Yeah, exactly. "Punk". I can't stress anymore about all this crap. Eyeliners, spikes, baggy pants, skate shoes, damn since when did the underground army evolve into freakin' wankers? Wankers, wankers. Please understand punk literature and music, what it means and stuff before calling yourself punk. You don't even know what's punk, and I sure as hell know you can't explain punk in 50 words. Not even close to the "P" of punk. Some punk songs might be about love, but its all angst, not sadness. Damn I'm getting of all these. F*ck you wankers.

[Scorpio420]

LochieW, I'm glad you like my song idea, but I think about 20 emo bands already beat you to the punch on that one but wait...they are all the same, so one more doesn't hurt. More plastic for the fire. It's like what I said before it's all about image over substance. It's better to be trendy than to be yourself, how patheticaly sad. So what if you are called a geek, nerd, jock, "punk", skater, whore...you are what you are so quit pretending and following those stupid MTV shows. They are just dumbing you down to be able to sell you more crap...And that's why I think MTV should burn or be accused of Treason for intentionnaly bringing the nations IQ to the equivalent of my left nut.

p.s. Yeah, I wish could see you Ted in your bondage jacket in Singapore...boy they must stare a hole strait through you but if your the kind of punk you claim to be...FUCK those conforming/socialite wankers!!!

[Scorpio420]

Listen/read to the lyrics of Hooker with a Penis by Tool (Enima). It's about how he sold out but how he is confortable about that and how he does not care what other people think about him. It's about giving in to the advertising,media.

BTW it's not really about a hooker w/ a penis, just name calling

[theskankingape]

i dont know about anyone else, but i dont care how it started, i dont care how its branded, i lisen to it because the rush you get evrytime you lisen to a proper PUNK song and just the fact of not caring what anyone else thinks, so why shud you care wat anyone else thinks about what punk is?

[TeddyRamone]

Thanks Scorpio. Oh yeah, come to think of it, my horoscope's a scorpio. Haha. Well, I could get a group photo of me and my mates, and I'll be glad to send it to you.

My mind is not for rent
I won't listen to what you say
You better take a hard look
We are sick of all your rules

By the ink on my skin
you can see that I'm the real thing
Up the f*ckin' punx
Our sound is f*cking strong

Proud to be punk
We don't give a f*ck
Proud to be punk
Whoah oh..

Proud to be punk
We don't give a f*ck
Proud to be punk
Up the punx!

[kelso12345]

yeah,good article punk really isnt dead but has evolved quite a bit

[Dogwillhunt]

Scorpio, you're right about what Hooker w/ a Penis is about, but I think Maynard is thinking metaphorically as himself as a hooker with a penis. What he does when he "sells out" is he prostitutes himself to the mass public, so it actually is about a hooker w/ a penis in metaphorical terms. Maynard James Keenan is one of the deepest lyrical writers out there these days so you know every song he writes, while not being literal, all have a distinct way of being literal in a roundabout way.

[BlackToComm]

look...The dictators were the had the first ever punk record out in 1974, they were inspired by the stooges and the MC5 two of the greatest bands ever, the dictators helped inspire the ramones who inspired all the english shit like sex pistols and might i emphasise the SHITness of the english version.

No mention of Patti Smith either definatly one of the cleverest and most brilliant writers of the new york punk scene.


by the way mans come from Nottingham England

[carelessdrummr]

punk is a category of music dedicated to those who want to get known famous and fast without putting any effort into maturing their musical skill. don't get me wrong i love listneing to punk, but after keeping time to it i can tell that is takes about as much skill to play punk as it takes to get in paris hiltons pants

[carelessdrummr]

punk is a category of music dedicated to those who want to get known famous and fast without putting any effort into maturing their musical skill. don't get me wrong i love listneing to punk, but after keeping time to it i can tell that is takes about as much skill to play punk as it takes to get in paris hiltons pants

[st4r]

Anyone noticed that emo spond from grundge and post goth? Not punk. O I almoso forgot The Clash>you

[Poonbaba]

This goes out to everyone complaing this band or that was left out, I have seen no one even mention Iggy Pop or the New York Dolls. Not that I'm a fan or anything, but these bands played vital roles in the creation of punk music, at least in the traditional sense of the word. As for today's pop punk, I blame Green Day, for better or worse.

[gnr_fan_17]

Nirvana was not punk, they were grunge, punk and grunge are two different things. Where are the Sex Pistols or The Clash or even Green Day here? I don't like it...

[Fight_the_power]

England ????

[wingedgopher]

good article. nirvana was a grunge bad but what was grunge if not a flavor of punk? either way good article.

[xbleedingheartx]

if you think its gay!, your GAY!

[Maggot penis]

may i point out that first punk has its origins in the sixties from bands like the troggs(wild thing) Mc5(Kick out the jams mother****ers)and the velvet underground(heroin).Im shocked that the sex pistols weren't mentioned let alone the british movement and sum-41 sucks massive dick thats not punk thats shit glad you pointed out hardcore bands like Bad brains.

[Maggot penis]

by the way iggy pop new york dolls rock and you didnt even mention D.O.A

[notoriousnumber]

i dont see why we need to be informed about how a crap genre has evolved. very much into a crapper genre im afraid. im surprised at how many ppl can adore such a simple and tedious genre. power chords and screaming? we-haaayy go the punx. have some originality and some brainwaves you fools. i pity you. in fact....

(in mr.T accent) i pity the fool!

[Ringgold]

I though punk was that good but Thanks God he lead me the way to listen to the real music not those punk attitudes. METAL!!!!!

[Ringgold]

well, I don't criticise punk. I like some punks too but some are just really simple man can't stand with it and can't call it a music. I don't mean that simple music is bad but too much is bad man and its crap. Man some also got really bad lyrics damn it. And some punk musicians are ****. They think that they got the best genre in the world and no other. Ironically they are. Some punks are really stupid. Just stupid. They thought they know the what the meaning of life with their lyrics and s***. But their lives are s*** as s***.

[Ringgold]

Man what's the big deal of being a punk? and some claim they are anti-government. What's the big deal? They think about human equally and s*** and no master no ruler but acting really ironically. Look at the lyrics man!!

But I think not all punks are life that. I'm an ex-punk and but still play punks songs if I need so or if I want. Just really hate the genre. The main point is

WHATS THE BIG DEAL OF THIS PUNK ATTITUDES AND MUSIC? just simple and nothing very special.

[trog_ishloser]

Really good article. I liked how this person just went through it. I agree that it's blasphamy that he didn't talk about the Clash and the Sex Pistols. But I say I'd have to disagree with 7 Seconds being an early emo band. 7 Seconds is way faster and more political than the emo bands of today. And everyone that said "You forgot DOOKIE!!"...This is an article about PUNK, not Green Day. I didn't see him mention any other punk album that is way better than that (but 'Dookie' is better than 'American Idiot') so don't even bother telling us. I just wish he could've talked about how today we have good punk bands like Anti-Flag; NOFX; the Casualties; the Unseen; and the Bouncing Souls. And the DESCENDENT's early beginning of Pop-Punk.

[ZackEpiphone]

ABSOLUTELY! exactly ... correcto! Who likes punk other than no name punks them selve?! WE dont like punk.. why do artists still go on about making it so good? I dont like it.. so i dont listen! CLASSIC ROCK ALL THE WAY ! That kind of music should come back !

[Punk Rocker]

Punk is standing up for what you believe. I consider myself punk starting with the fact I refused my teachers punishment and told her to f***in shove it.

[lookz_r_dcv1ng]

and once again here we go with the usual "what's punk and what's not" battle, when will it ever end...everyone had a different point of view on what punk is, in this case...it's music

[zeppelin91]

why havent THE EXPLOITED been mentioned in this article ?

[Metallica708]

punk = the ramones. that's my opinion. how many people are going to flame me for it?

[harryden]

You've missed some of the best punk bands ver. The Clash, Sex Pistols

[rockergurl09]

and there was little to nothing on the anti consumer attitude as well as the do it yourself ethic. I knew that and I'm not even punk! (just partially by attitude.)

spam and useless comments deleted

[SumGreenNOFX182]

I agree 100% with this guy.

[fallinsuburbia]

I'll write one if I have to. I didnt find to much information with this

[parrottjake]

Pennywise is punk. Pennywise is punk.

[Riotface]

Punk music is what you make it. And I've noticed the one thing that all punks have in common is the music and the scene.... and maybe beer . And when I talk about punk music I'm not thinking Blink 182 or Good Charlotte or this new crap. I'm talking Riot 99 and Behind Enemy Lines.

[BasketCaseGD]

WER TH FUK WER GREEN DAY!!?!?!??!!?!?!!!??! :m)

[BasketCaseGD]

:M)

[TotalyHAB]

green day Sucks and all modern punk sounds the same, they all hate america and yet they still live in this beutiful country for some reason i recon so they can take it down with there anti american liberalism. but as ignorant as greenday and blink 182 is they did something right cuzz they r pritty damn popular its to bad we have to live in a society to day that sings about americans being idiots. I SAY FUCK PUNK ROCK THEY DONT EVEN FUCKING PLAY GOOD GUITAR. AMERICA KICKS ASS!!!!!

[rolemodel47]

where the heck is Anti Flag

[untitled039]

You have forgotten the other half of old school punk, THE BRITISH SIDE. The Sex Pistols and The Clash were just as good (The Clash were better) than the American guys

[pie_man_25]

wow, the ramones were punk? I just thought they were cool and that new punk was just a bunch of upstarts trying not to be emo.

[HorrorFiend]

WHAT ABOUT NOFX? they made punk famous, and greenday should be listed as pop. oh and you forgot about the ska movement.

[markdirt]

this is a stupid article. punk started in the 60's. vu and stooges? good job not mentioning them.

btw to all you responders, bands like nofx/anti-flag, etc are all super bad pop bands.

[lagooner33]

Punk to me has always been about being against what people expect or desire. In many ways the blues lotharios such as BB King and even Ray Charles were punk in that they were very much anti-establishment and political in many respects. On a more current level, there are a lot of artists around that wouldn't normally be considered punk until you feel the true sense of the word. People like Beck for example are very much against the natural order, which in a way makes them punk. It's not all about piercings, green hair and to hell with the government. Which is why Johnny Rotten turning into a capitalist estate agent in LA is pretty much the ultimate in punk. Turning your back on the genre that created you as a legend and actually embracing the establishment?! now *that's* punk!

[fas11030]

punk sux

[David34343]

I can't believe Sum 41 wasn't listed

[xWHATSERNAMEx]

Nice article. It was long, but good! Punk is very much alive, though very different from the "begining punk". The only area I would disagree on would be the emo thing. My Chemical Romance, Glass Jaw, Fall Out Boy, etc. These bands are emo. Their genres even say "Emo". The newer/recent punk bands such as Green Day, Blink 182, Sum 41, Simple Plan--these bands are true punk. Just look at the stereotypes. Punk is rough and grungy. I am a punk and any one else will say that we're so different from emos. Emos are preppy "clean" versions of punks. You'll notice emos don't touch ripped, dirty clothing. No! They dawn the clean cut shirts with tons of beaded jewelry. Thus they resemble preps. Emo is also a way for preps to "rebel" without losing their prep friends. In the looooong run, preps accept emos not punks.

[datexrape_]

Where's New York Dolls?
They may not have embraced the punk image.
But they were the first PUNK SOUNDING band ever.
They were out before the Sex Pistols AND The Ramones.

Hell, the Ramones and the Sex Pistols were influenced by the dolls.
...And whoever said "you forgot about ska".
Ska isn't punk.
Ska was like mento and jazz mixed.

Unless you mean third wave bands that incorporate the two, like Against All Authority..

This is lame, I learner nothing from this article. Hahah.
by the way, it's not "Henry Rolling" it's Henry Rollins.

[mattvh93]

satanic_cigar wrote:

damnit! yeah and i forgot about green day. not a big fan, but dookie was obviously huge. and well, i never thought the sex pistols were ever that great. jerry only taught sid vicious to play bass for christs sake. but definitely should have mentioned them along with clash, sham 69, et al.

you suk

[mattvh93]

fas11030 wrote:

punk sux

you suk too

[Skam127]

I agree until u talk about the Living End in the same breath as Blink 182. Prisoner of Society is the most punk song to come out sionce 95 and they have a whiole host of other songs that really push the old puk ideal. They are also more punk by the fact they don't do all the sterotypical tattos stuff now which isn't really rebelling. they let their music do the talking.

[wtf290]

Punk isn't cool.

I'm not saying punk sucks-far from it. The reason punk isn't "cool" is because it's different. The lamblike minds of those we call "Preps" don't embrace true punks, because, duh, those kids are losers, or dorks. I know a kid named Jeremey-he's a likeable guy, and any "Prep" I know would admit that he's alright-but, of course, they wouldnt invite him to a party, because they wouldn't want people saying, "Who invited that weirdo?" Then again, these are the people who talk to me, make jokes, and hang out with me...but as soon as their "Cool" friends show up, I am not spoken to, or even acknowledged, until the "Cool kids" decide it's time to leave, and that weird kid gets left behind.

Back to Jeremey.

He is the most punk kid I know-not for listening to anti-establishment music, not for having a mohawk or liberty spikes. It's becuase he does what he wants, and he doesn't care what people think of him, becuase he's happy with himself.

It's that mentality that is what true punk is, "I don't care if you don't like it, because I do." Even if everyone starts thinking like that, it won't stop being punk-if everyone expresses it the same way, that way of expression has lost it's meaning.

I don't know if this is a widespread story, but I heard it from a friend and I think itg expresses my point well:

"A man came up to me an asked, 'What is punk?' I proceded to kick over a garbage can and said, 'That is.' So the man kicked over another garbage can and said, 'So that's punk?' I said, 'No, that's a trend.'"

[Emopunk824]

Social Distortion isnt punk their a blues rock

[snuggleblade]

I think there is mall punk like anti-flag or refused and fashion punk like rancid or green day, and then there is real punk like melvins, butthole surfers, flipper, the locust, melt-banana, fantomas and moistboyz.

[snuggleblade]

how can i forget, crass is the real deal too.

[worst nightmare]

punk is a life style. there are people who dress the part but thats really not who they are. there is what you have years ago when it first came about compared to today which i believe is a futuristic version. people just brought the style up to this decade. don't get me wrong i love punk as it was but i also like todays.
I do think emo is a branch off of punk, but off of todays punk with more emotional lyrics and different sound. Punk and emo style are kind of similar

[scratchpunk99]

english punk, irish punk and yeah punk is more than the music its a life and an idea (them against us)

[Rock? Anyone]

Drop Kick Murpheys
Dead Kennedys
THE CLASH
SEX PISTOLS

And any other old school punk mentions in posts ^^^^^ thats punk

[AtlantaHardcore]

Flipper still rules, OK?

[DanTheAutomator]

ilovepixies wrote:

It was correct but you shoulda mentioned the english scene because no offence but us brits created punk and you all copied us... argh why do americans try and claim amricans started punk. I do love black flag and minor threat tho. I like a lot of american punk bands.

I understand this post of yours is from some time ago, but it is wrong. Although it doesn't mean shit who started punk, when it was started, or where, I have to give credit where credit is due, especially when someone wrongly insults the real creators of the music. Punk was here in America in 1971 with the New York Dolls. If you want to go back even farther, you could say Velvet Underground in the sixties, even though I don't exactly consider them "punk". Regardless, both bands were playing punk music way before the Clash, Pistols, the Damned or any other Brit punk band.

Secondly, American punk bands didn't go around saying every single place in the world besides the UK was bollocks or boring.

[PoshBoy]

Great article, but I'm like 99.99% sure that TSOL was from OC. I found it extremely interesting

[StratJunior]

Green Day Rules! Best Punk Band out there TODAY! u cant deny it!

[richo36]

EMO IS A LOAD OF SHIT AND I HOPE IT DIES OUT LIKE GRUNGE DID (not that grunge wasn't good or anything, nirvana rule!)

[bass_masta123]

NO, to sum punk up it is a sub genrea or rock, created because everyone in the 70s was tired or listning to hippie music about love and devotion, it is all about speaking out for what you think is right and not what someone else says is cool, every punk should differ in there own way
there are 6 off sub genreas of punk i can think of they are´
pop punk- paramore,pink ect,,,,the bands who take punk to a mainstream level, (aalthough it was created to not be mainstream)
emo punk my chemical romance ect, the bands that basically tell all there listners to go kill themselves ect
punk rockreal, original honest punk, the first and only true form of punk. bands like the sex pistols and the clash, dead kenedys ramones misfits ect.
hardcore punk this includes bands such as the anti nowhere leauge and AFI ect, punk rock but only heavier.... there are a few more
post `punkthese are bands who dont try to include emo lyrics about wanting to die and dont try to be mainstream, these include bands like greenday and blink 182, these may be considered wona be punk or pop punk but they aim to be punk, arnt corpral sell outs althtough you get the odd person who thinks they are down with the punk scene coz they like these types of bands, but yeah they use the same foundations of all the 70s punk bands
grunge this may not be considered punk but reading through kurt cobains biography he tried to make nirvana songs sound like punk songs, instead he created a compleatly different genrea of music therefore is a god for creating a amazing genrea of music ;D;D;D.....(my opinion there)

this is all basically the foundations and types of punk if you dont like it and cant except it then **** off, i have propbably missed out a few pink genreas but oh well im tired ;P

[VanTheKraut]

Good. Left out the British scene though 7 out of 10.