British Punk

From The Pit...an old piece on British Punk, with some inaccuracies. I think I even pawned this off as a paper on a sociology class...

In the history of rock, no other incarnation has been so abrasive or made as much of an impact as punk rock. Though punk technically started in the United States in New York City with artists such as the Ramones, Television, Patti Smith, Blondie, and Talking Heads, punk caught on with much more force in England. Bands such as the Sex Pistols, Clash, Damned, Buzzcocks, and so on got inspiration from their American counterparts. The British punks were rebelling against the music of the seventies, the fashion, and the social, economic, and political climate of England at the time. The British punks expressed their frustration through their music, fashion (or lack of it), and through their attitudes.

British society is traditionally very conservative minded. The BBC (British Broadcasting Company) has instituted various forms of censorship throughout its reign over the British air and radio waves. In th 1970's the conservative Torie party took control of the British Parliament, under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, signaling a surge in conservatism that would last for years. In 1977 the Queen of England celebrated the 25th year of her reign in the Silver Jubilee celebration. The institution of the monarchy itself is perhaps one of the best indicators of an outdated, overly conservative political system. The social system in England is very stratified, emphasizing strict class differences. There has always been a strict separation of the classes in England, perhaps most strikingly illustrated by the cramped, almost slumlike neighborhoods of British class poor working class families. Traditionally a working class youth would finish school, only to become a part of the British welfare system, the Dole. This and the fact that working class youth seem to be doomed to lead similar lives to those of their parents seemed to indicate to many British youth that they were more or less condemned to failure.

Musically the seventies were a virtual wasteland. All the music sounded the same and there was little creativity and variation in style evident. The hard rock and disco scenes didn?t appeal to everybody, especially those looking for something fresh and new that could stir things up. Seventies rock and disco made no statements, had little raw power, and with few exceptions was overproduced and overrated. Not everybody wanted to hear about sex, drugs, and rock and roll all the time. The rock star mentality that developed in the seventies made many musicians inaccessible to their fans, in addition to the increases in popularity of huge arena shows in larger and larger venues. Older rockers like the Stones and the Who who were once rebel heroes were now seen by many as sell outs to the rock star mentality and lifestyle. Other popular seventies stars such as Led Zeppelin and Queen only seemed to perpetuate the rock star image. Then, in 1976 or so, British youths began to hear and go see American punk bands like the Ramones, Heartbreakers, and New York Dolls. The Ramones played a show in London on July 4, 1976. Present in the audience were many members of the British punk scene including individuals who would later form the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Damned, Generation X, and so on.

The main appeal in punk came in its? do it yourself attitude and emphasis on individuality and self expression. Punk was simple, powerful music that had energy and made a statement. Punk was easily accessible , as were the musicians and fans. Nearly anybody could easily learn how to play the music. All you needed were three chords and the truth and you could virtually start a band. It is well known that many of the musicians in the early punk bands didn?t know how to play their instruments when their bands started. Some never learned! Punk as a scene tried at its? barest to resist commercialism, and make recordings and shows affordable to fans.

Though it seems that the punks had little or no fashion sense, they were in a sense so anti-fashion that they made an even bigger statement. One of the main shops that specialized in punk fashion was Malcolm Mclaren?s shop Sex, were the Pistols started with Mclaren as their manager. Sex specialized in leather and bondage clothing and pre-mutilated or modified clothing that not all punks could afford. those that could ate it up though. The punk s were also fond of leather jackets, torn and ripped clothes, clothing that in no way matched, and accessories such as safety pins, swastikas, and communist symbols. Basically punk fashion emphasized individualism and embraced anything that stood out from the norm.

All in all, punk has been the most powerful anti-movement in rock. It brought a new form and attitude to music, a new type of rock anti-hero, and a new awareness to music. Though there has recently been a resurgence, punk is in no way the same movement it once was. Some of the attitude and energy and power are still there, but it is not the same movement it once was. Punk is now dominated by money, MTV, shopping malls and mall punks, and stereotypes. Punk has been corrupted by its? mainstream acceptance. Punk is not what you wear or even what you listen to. Punk is not whether you mosh or not or hang out in the coolest places or only listen to unsigned indie bands. Punk is an attitude, a method of expression and individuality. Oh, and pick each other up in the pit boneheads!!!