Punk rock

Punk Rock is an anti-establishment music movement that began about 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified by The Damned, The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, and The Clash. The term is also used to describe subsequent music scenes that share key characteristics with those first-generation "punks". The term is sometimes also applied to the fashions or the irreverent "DIY" ("do it yourself") attitude associated with this musical movement.

The Emergence of Punk Rock

The first ongoing music scene that was assigned the "punk" label appeared in New York in 1974-1976, centered around bands that played regularly at the club CBGB's in New York's Bowery district, including The Ramones, Television, Blondie, Richard Hell and The Voidoids, Mink Deville, Suicide, and Talking Heads. The "punk" title was applied to these groups by early 1976, when Punk Magazine first appeared, featuring these bands alongside articles on some of the immediate role models for the new groups, such as Lou Reed, who was on the cover of the first issue of Punk, and Patti Smith, cover subject on the second issue.

Related Topics:
CBGB's - The Ramones - Television - Blondie - Richard Hell - The Voidoids - Mink Deville - Suicide - Talking Heads - Punk Magazine - Lou Reed - Patti Smith

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During this same period, bands that would later be recognized as "punk" were forming independently in other locations as well, such as The Saints in Brisbane, Australia, and The Stranglers and the Sex Pistols in London. These early bands usually operated within small "scenes" facilitated by enthusiastic impresarios who operated small nightclubs. The nightclubs provided a showcase and meeting place for the emerging musicians (the 100 Club in London, CBGB in New York, and The Masque in Hollywood are among the best known early punk clubs).

Related Topics:
The Saints - Brisbane, Australia - The Stranglers - Sex Pistols - Nightclub - 100 Club - CBGB - The Masque - Hollywood

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While the London bands may have played a relatively minor role in determining the early punk sound, the London punk scene would come to define and epitomize the rebellious punk culture. After a brief stint managing the New York Dolls at the end of their career in the US, Englishman Malcolm McLaren returned to London in May 1975. He started a clothing store called "Sex" that was instrumental in creating the radical punk clothing style. Inspired by the emerging New York scene, McLaren started looking to help create a similar movement in the UK. He soon organized several frequent customers of his shop into the Sex Pistols. The Sex Pistols soon created a strong cult following in London, centered on a clique known as the Bromley Contingent (named after the suburb where many of them had grown up), who followed them around the country.

Related Topics:
New York Dolls - Sex Pistols - Bromley Contingent

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An oft-cited moment in punk rock's history is a July 4, 1976 concert by the Ramones at the Roundhouse in London (The Stranglers were also on the bill). Many of the future leaders of the UK punk rock scene were inspired by this show, and almost immediately after it, the UK punk scene quickly got into full swing. By the end of 1976, many fans of the Sex Pistols had formed their own bands, including The Clash, Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Adverts, Generation X, The Slits and X-Ray Spex. Other UK bands to emerge in this milieu included The Damned (the first to release a single, the classic "New Rose"), The Jam and Buzzcocks. In November of 1976, the Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned and other bands united for the Anarchy Tour, a series of gigs throughout the U.K. Many of the gigs were cancelled by venue owners, after tabloid newspapers and other media seized on sensational stories regarding the antics of both the bands and their fans.

Related Topics:
July 4 - The Roundhouse - The Clash - Siouxsie & the Banshees - The Adverts - Generation X - The Slits - X-Ray Spex - The Damned - The Jam - Buzzcocks - Anarchy Tour

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The growing notoriety of punk rock in the UK was launched to greater heights by one particular media incident. After EMI signed the Sex Pistols for the release of their debut album, they made an appearance on a London TV show called Thames Today. Guitarist Steve Jones was goaded into a verbal altercation by the host, Bill Grundy, swearing profusely at him on live television.

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One of the first books about punk rock — The Boy Looked at Johnny by Julie Burchill and Tony Parsons (December 1977) — declared the punk moment to be already over: the subtitle was The Obituary of Rock and Roll. The title echoed a lyric from the title track of Patti Smith's 1975 album Horses.

Related Topics:
Julie Burchill - Tony Parsons

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During 1977, a second wave of bands emerged, influenced by those mentioned above. Some, such as The Misfits (from New Jersey), Black Flag (from Los Angeles) and Crass (from Essex) would go on to influence the subsequent sound and culture of punk rock.

Related Topics:
1977 - The Misfits - New Jersey - Black Flag - Crass - Essex

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In the UK, punk interacted with the Jamaican reggae and ska subcultures. The reggae influence is evident in the first releases by The Clash, for example. By the end of the 1970s punk had spawned the 2 Tone ska revival movement, including bands such as The Specials, Madness and The Selecter.

Related Topics:
Reggae - Ska - Subculture - 2 Tone - The Specials - Madness - The Selecter

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In the US, Los Angeles spawned many influential punk groups, some of which are documented in the film The Decline of Western Civilization (1981). Los Angeles bands active at this time included The Germs, The Screamers, X, Circle Jerks, and Fear.

Related Topics:
The Decline of Western Civilization - 1981 - The Germs - The Screamers - X - Circle Jerks - Fear

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