Originally Posted by mr coffee:
“Even if it was "manufactured" with the Sex Pistols, (which I think's debatable) what about the generations of kids it influenced to pick up instruments and do it themselves? Or start up a fanzine, or organise gigs?
The media tends to focus only on the 1977 era of punk and then skips to 1992 when Nirvana's Nevermind came out. The really interesting stuff happened in the years in between.
But, back on topic, Buzzcocks' "What Do I Get" was used about 25 years ago on an Arthur's cat food and. They're always at it😉”
Originally Posted by Residents Fan:
“Yeah, remember the first punk single wasn't by the "manufactured" Sex Pistols, but "New Rose" by the Damned. And there were a lot of good acts after that weren't punk
but were inspired by the movement, such as Elvis Costello, Kirsty MacColl and New Order.”
Of course it will have inspired and influenced children and teenagers, but you can say that about all music since the 1950's with the invention of the Teenager, Chuck Berry & Elvis.
The fact still remains that Punk is no more 'real' or 'manufactured' than Blues, Metal, Hard Rock, Pop, Jazz or any musical genre. Nearly everything popular is based off a hybrid of rhythm & blues and european classical music (particulary Pachabel's Canon in D minor).
Another problem with the term 'Punk' is that the term is used so loosely and frequently that it has no real meaning. I mean was nirvana really Punk (or Punk-Rock), same with Green Day? Both great bands but lets be honest they are rock bands, but get the Punk-Rock label because they are moody and/or a bit in-your-face. If these were the only requirements to be punk then why aren't Rammstein labelled 'Punk-Metal'.
Punk is just an off-set of rock music that didn't want to be like the 'old' rock guys of the 60's & early/mid 70's (ie the Who, Rolling Stones, Queen, Slade, Status Quo ect). So they call themselves something different, build a small but loyal following and then get exploited (or manufactured) as the new sound by the small & medium sized 'indy' labels.
The exact same thing happened in the 80's with the 'reggae' sound, and finally in the 90's with the world music sound.