Punk rock : everything you need to know

Claire Abe — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 11:40:04 +0000

Calling all the rebels of society!

Today, we will be heard and loud because today’s topic is PUNK ROCK!

So, style your hair crest, put on your jacket, and let’s discover the genre!

DISCLAIMER: This post is based on some of my knowledge and is backed up and supplemented by research done before its writing. You can find the sources at the bottom of the page.

Note: Bands/ artists I quote in the posts, I only mention them to give you an idea of the sounds you find in the different genres. But I want to be clear that over time it has become more and more complicated to do it with style blends and so on.
In addition, my goal is not to categorize artists, but to present them to you so that you discover the different possibilities that there are in rock and metal. And even make you enjoy those genres.

PUNK ROCK: WHAT IS IT?

Punk rock is a musical genre derived from rock. It appeared in the mid-1970s in the USA, Australia, and England. The period in which it develops the most is between 1974 and 1976. It will become worldwide thereafter.

It intervenes while some are fed up with the music of the time (including rock), which they call «docile».

The word punk is not a «very good term» over the years. It will describe successively: a rotten wooden plank, a homosexual, and a thug/rascal.

PS: I have no grievance against homosexuals, I just relate facts.

You understood, the word punk does not have a good reputation. But it will please the rock area that will use it to describe this new genre. Three critics “argue” over who used it first. But all agree on the same bands:

Those who played Garage Rock in the ’60s,
Those who were inspired by it.

THE ORIGINS OF PUNK ROCK

We can go back a long way to see traits that will correspond with punk rock.

The 1950s

We start to hear the excitement that will carry punk rock around 1958 with The Phantom (who’s real name is Jerry Lott).
The same year, Link Wray (a proto-punk pioneer) revolutionized the music:

In Rumble, he uses distortion, feedback, and power chords (and is one of the first to use them).
Feedback: it is a kind of controlled feedback that can increase the maintenance of notes on the guitar.

Proto – punk: a musical genre from the mid-1960s to the early 70s considered to be a pioneer/precursor of punk rock

The 1960s

In the 60s, the latter will again advance the music. Link Wray joins forces with Bunker Hill (gospel singer with a distorted voice related to this genre) for the song The Girl Can’t Dance.

The same year, The Kingsmen (Garage band) sing Louie, Louie. And we also see the beginnings of punk performances:

The text is incomprehensible because it is poorly articulated,
Guitars filled with distortions,
One of the first performances where you can hear a swear word. (The drummer drops a “fuck” because he dropped one of his chopsticks)

Thereafter, bands such as The Trashmen, The Sonics, The Monks, Love and ? And The Mysterian will contribute in their own way to punk rock.

Also, ? And The Mysterian will be considered by some as the 1st punk band.

In 1964, in England, bands made music that can be compared to the American Garage Band. For example:

You Really Got Me and All Day and All Night from the Kinks
My Generation from the Who

The latter will start to «punkified» English rock.

In 1967, in the USA, the Velvet Underground released White Light/ White Heat. A game-changing album. They will influence generations of musicians. Including Buzzcocks that will be inspired by Sister Ray.

1969 marks another turning point. We can actually see punk taking shape. And thanks to 2 bands from Detroit:

MC5
The Stooges

Another group will also influence : Led Zeppelin with Communication Breakdown.

All this will lead to the 70s, when punk will be at its peak.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PUNK ROCK

First, the punk genre is very varied and ambiguous artistically speaking. There is a striking contrast between the intellect side and the “raw” side. But everyone has this desire to do something new.

Also, another fact, there was no punk rock record before 1975/1976.

INSTRUMENTAL

The songs are short. There is no intro and little solo (and they are usually basic). The structure of the song is mainly as follows: versus 1 – versus 2 – bridge 1 – versus 3 – bridge 2 – chorus – chorus.

The rhythm is almost always down stroke (which means that you only scratch the strings down) and it is played quickly.

You can see that they usually use 2 or 3 chords for a song. And they often use the same chords for several tracks.

The sound of the guitars is very distorted.

THE BAND

It mainly consists of:

Two guitars,
A battery,
A bass,
And a singer

Aussi, l’équipement est minimalist.

LYRICS

The lyrics evoke the worries, frustrations, and rage of the teenagers of this period. We can find the themes of unemployment, social conflicts, rejection of politics, sex, drugs, anomie, …

It is a confrontation with the culture of the time. The goal is to provoke and shock.

They also talk about more conventional rock-and-roll topics such as flirting, heartbreak or buddies.

PUNK ROCK BANDS

We find in punk rock bands:
Patti smith, Television, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Blondie, Talking Heads, Buzzcocks, Modern Lovers, The Saints, The Damned or The Misfits.

Later, we will find The Offsprings, Bad Religion, Rancid or Green Day.

From the punk rock genre will come a revolutionary cultural movement: THE PUNK MOVEMENT.

THE PUNK MOVEMENT: WHAT IS IT?

As said before, the punk movement stems from punk rock.

It begins as an artistic movement expressing the anguish, rage, emotions, and desires of difference of the teenagers of the time. It responds to the political and socio-economic reality of that period. Politics will have a big place in the movement.

Punks want to be heard and share their ideologies. And if that means going to extremes, so be it.

The ideologies of punk are: anarchism, individualism, existentialism, anticapitalism, anti-authoritarianism, or even antiracism.

Slogans such as “No future”, “Anarchy” or “Punk is not dead” flourish everywhere. They are also proponents of what is now called DIY. They are advocates of freedom of thought and expression and are opposed to the consumer society.

In addition, in the early days, people in the movement usually come from oppressed or marginal backgrounds in society.

They will also differ from the others with their clothing style: «fetish» garments, sleeveless t-shirts, pants with many zippers or leather with nails, clothes with provocative slogans or illustrations, and clothes mended with tweezers.

The movement and its ideologies will be repeated many times for commercial purposes.

EVOLUTION

We can’t talk about decline in the case of punk. It is certainly an underground genre (like many rock and metal genre), but it still exists today. Its impact is, moreover, colossal.

His way of thinking has changed society. But the movement will also significantly change the way albums are marketed as well as fashion.

In addition, from the punk rock will come subgenres such as post punk, hardcore punk, or pop punk.

Conclusion

Few genres have had an impact like punk. Even if he has not «lived» long, his diversity and his commitment will influence hundreds of musicians posterior and not only! Society itself will be impacted by punk as much in politics, as in marketing, fashion or culture.

You can (re)discover punk in the playlist just below.

As usual, feel free to share as much as you can if you liked it or if you think someone might be interested.

Also, you can see all the drawings / caricatures right here !

See you soon !

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