A Punk For All Seasons
A Short History of Punk Rock
“Punk rock isn’t something you grow out of. Punk rock is an attitude, and the essence of that attitude is ‘give us some truth’” ~ Joe Strummer
When people hear the term “Punk” they think of mohawks, safety pins, spikes and leather. These are facets of the punk aesthetic and have remarkably little to do with punk music.
“Punk rock is just another word for freedom.” ~ Patti Smith
What is Punk?
So what is Punk? Merriam Webster defines it as rock music marked by extreme and often deliberately offensive expressions of alienation and social discontent. This is a surprisingly vague definition and merely discusses the punk attitude. Fast pace, high volume and stripped down sound is what defines punk music. It was an answer to overproduced arena rock of the 1970s and developed out of the late 1960s garage rock movement. It usually includes a political, antiracist, anti establishment message that closely aligns it to Ska music, notably in the U.K.
“Punk rock was the tsunami that threatened to drown us all in 1977.” ~ Pete Townshend
The History of Punk
Many fans agree that Punk got its start in the late 1970s-although I would argue its roots can extend back as early as…
