Punk Rock Revolution
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Despite the internal turmoil in the punk movement, punk rock made several things clear to international audiences. Punk Rock, in its subculture, managed to break down many barriers of expression and language. It made an indentation in the commercial music industry. It provided a fresh alternative to a boring, stagnant music scene. But most of all, punks legacy lies in its introduction of self employment and activism, most essential to Britain at the time. It illustrated that anyone can do it themselves, without reliance on the commercial media or the luxury of having financial abundance. Against the backdrop of mass consumer conformity, the punk rock movement made a statement of individuality that was heard worldwide. Through the words and reflections of those who not only lived through the movement but actually created it, will you gain first hand insight into the Punk Rock Revolution.
It ended right where it began, in America, however the journey turned into a cultural movement in Britain, by angry, rioting teenagers who, through a tragic economic depression, had no future; until the day Punk arrived, giving them a voice and new way of life. Punk was a total cultural revolt. It was a hardcore confrontation with the black side of history and culture, right-wing imagery, sexual taboos, a delving into it that had never been done before by any generation in such a thorough way. Punk bands, eschewing the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock, created short, fast, hard music, with stripped-down instrumentation and often political or nihilistic lyrics. The associated punk subculture expresses youthful rebellion, distinctive clothing styles, a variety of anti-authoritarian ideologies, and do it yourself attitude. Punk rock became a major phenomenon in the United Kingdom during the late 1970s; its popularity elsewhere was more limited. During the 1980s, forms of punk rock emerged in small scenes around the world, often rejecting commercial success and association with mainstream culture. By the turn of the century, punk rocks legacy had led to development of the alternative rock movement, and new punk bands popularized the genre decades after its first heyday. According to Punk magazine founder John Holmstrom, punk was “rock and roll by people who didnt have very much skills as musicians but still felt the need to express themselves through music”. Punk lyrics are typically frank and confrontational, and often comment on social and political issues. Trend-setting songs such as The Clashs “Career Opportunities” and Chelseas “Right to Work” deal with unemployment, boredom, and other grim realities of urban life. The Sex Pistols songs “God Save the Queen” and “Anarchy in the U.K.” openly disparaged the British political system. There is also a strain of anti-romantic depictions of relationships and sex, exemplified by the The Voidoids “Love Comes in Spurts”. Meanwhile, Patti Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, Ari Up, Jennifer Miro, Poly Styrene, and other punk vocalist-songwriters introduced a new brand of femininity to rock music: “They adopted a tough, unladylike pose that borrowed more from the macho swagger of sixties garage bands than from the calculated bad-girl image of bands like The Runaways. They went beyond the leather outfits to the bondage gear of Sioux and the straight-from-the-gutter androgyny of Smith. They articulated a female rage that surpassed the anger of the womens movement of the sixties.
The birth of Punk is said to be with the Rock icon, American, Iggy Pop, with his creation of The Stooges. Punk rock magazine founder, Legs McNeil, reflects that “he was authentic and that was the problem with rock and roll there werent any real authentic madmen in it, and he was so convincingly derangedД”. The new generation of teenagers, presiding the positive and love themed 60s to mid-70s music, were ready for a new voice, and just in time, Iggy Pop came to the scene, declaring that “I hated the american dream” and even admitting on a talk show that he “thinks he helped wipe out the 60sД”.
“I wanted to have my stuff presented in a much more shocking than
the next fellow because it was obvious to me that a person that could
create something really of their own that was the person that was gunna
have the key” -Iggy Pop, The Stooges
Like Punk Rock inspired music such as New Wave, Iggy began Punk Rock as he was inspired by virtually unknown bands (at the time) such as hardcore MC5 and, more importantly, Andy WarholД*s project, Velvet Underground. Whilst the Beetles were sining Yesterday, Velvet Underground was sining nihilistic and cynical songs, and would unknowingly later inspire a cultural phenomenon.
ДVelvet underground gave me hope because they had simple songs
with a singer who couldntand neither could IД” – Iggy Pop
Punk Music was born with Iggy Pop, but it began to evolved with the, now famous, New York music joint and bar CBGB. It was a breeding ground for black eyeД*s, drugs, and alcohol, where, American Punk bands like the Ramones, Heartbreakers, Blondie, Patti Smith, and The Talking Heads played and honed there skills; CBGB is described by BlondieД*s Debbie Harris as the”only place in the world where you mattered at all”. CBGB became a permanent hang out for newly formed and still unknown Punk bands, whom were constantly trying to outdo the other-which was the key to the genreД*s growth and evolvement.
Although a music revolution had began behind CBGBД*s doors, these, now famous punk bands, never hit mainstream America (mainly because a major theme of their music was anti-commercialism); however, their music would inspire, New York Dolls manager, Malcolm McLaren, and he would return to his hometown, London, with a new sense of music and style in mind; Thus, he would, accidentally, inspire BritainД*s youth in the evolvement and international movement of Punk Rock.
London was in decay, a waste land, in the late 60s and 70s. The people were enduring a great depression, with a failed economy providing mass unemployment and, therefore, no money; thus London teenagers were face with no future, no hope. Riots were the only way these angry teenagers had voiced their frustration; that is, until Punk hit the streets.