Naked Raygun: Chicago’s first post-punk band
In the early 1980s — when blue eye-shadow and big hair was all the rage — Naked Raygun made pop-punk history.
Founded in 1981 by guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Marko Pezzati, Naked Raygun emerged from the shadows of the Chicago music scene.
The band broke musical boundaries in the United States and became one of the first bands to adopt the artsy post-punk genre, which was already popular in the United Kingdom.
Taking on this post-punk sound by mellowing out the hardcore/punk influences in their music with catchy melodies did not discourage the band from using their music to loudly express their personal political views — a classic characteristic of hardcore punk music.
The band used their unique sound to captivate audiences and eventually built a reputation for speaking their minds, which was infectious with Chicago college rock crowd.
With songs like:
“Wonder Beer” (1989)- lyrics
and “Soldier’s Requiem” (2006)- lyrics
The band addressed a broad spectrum of issues: anti-war/peace, government/poltics, mental health/depression, alcoholism, and many more.
The blunt outspoken “macho” attitude of the band separated itself apart from the classic mold of arty post-punk. However, the combination of raw emotion and deep political messages hidden in the simplistic lyrics juxtaposed the melodic tunes the band was known for; therefore, distinguishing Naked Raygun from other punk bands in the area.
Historical Impact on Chicago’s Music
Naked Raygun’s unique blend of pop melodies and meaty “metallic guitar sounds” lead upcoming Chicago bands (i.e. Fall Out Boy, Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, and Lucky Boys Confusion) to cite Naked Raygun as their main musical influence.
It is true that Naked Raygun was one of the first post-punk bands to form in the United States; however, the band refused to conform to any musical formula, making Naked Raygun a vital component of the unique pop-punk music to originate from the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois.
Connect with Naked Raygun
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NRpunk/about/?ref=page_internal
Official Website: http://nakedraygun.org/
Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KWOkrj19TKU1ik6tugH4y
Sources Used
Band Biography: Prato, Greg, and Steve Huey. “Naked Raygun Biography.” Naked Raygun , www.facebook.com/pg/NRpunk/about/?ref=page_internal.
