Synthpunk

Defining characteristics of synthpunk (also known as synth-punk) bands include

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• being founded at the same time (late 1970s) and place (California) as many US punk bands,
• performing with those same punk bands, in those same punk clubs, with records released on those same punk labels,
• preferring electronic instruments such as organs and synthesizers over guitars
• never becoming associated with industrial music or industrial culture.

No band called itself a synthpunk band at the time. Synthpunk as a descriptive term may have multiple points of origin, but one point of origin is the band Occupant.

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The Screamers, with their Gary Panter logo, are the best-known synthpunk band. Others include Nervous Gender and The Units.

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Synthpunk: External link ►



 

The Screamers: The Screamers were among the most artistically ambitious acts to emerge in Los Angeles' first wave of punk rock in the 1970s. The label "techno-punk" was applied to the band by the Los Angeles Times in 1978, and they are widely cited as the pioneers of a genre now known as "synthpunk." The Screame...

Nervous Gender: Nervous Gender was a punk band founded in Los Angeles, California in 1978 by Gerardo Velazquez, Edward Stapleton, Phranc and Michael Ochoa....

The Units: The Units were an early punk rock/New Wave/Synthpunk band founded in San Francisco in 1978 and existing until 1984. Primary members were Scott Ryser and Rachel Webber, but other members included (in no particular order) Randy Dunagan, Tim Ennis, Jay Darrah, Lori Lorenzo, Ron Lantz, Amy Weiss, Richa...