Trilogy Punk Renaissance

Lore & Background

The punk subculture is often associated with a do-it-yourself (DIY) ethic. During the subculture's infancy, many members were from a working-class background and expressed dissatisfaction with the affluence that was associated with popular rock music at the time. In response, some punks published their own music or sign with small independent labels, in hopes to combat what they saw as a dominant commercial music industry. Punk political ideologies are mostly concerned with individual freedom and anti-establishment views. Common punk viewpoints include anti-capitalism, individual liberty, anti-authoritarianism, a DIY ethic, non-conformity, anti-corporatism, anti-government, direct action, and not 'selling out.'

In Their Own Story

The air backstage hummed with the static of anticipation. Guitars were tuned to standard pitch, no detuning for effects this time. The lead singer checked his watch; the clock was ticking toward a moment where three distinct bodies of work would hit the world simultaneously. There was no single hero in this story, just the rhythm section locking in tight and the promise that tonight, they played it all.

Reader's Guide

The punk subculture is centered on a loud, aggressive genre of rock music called punk rock. In some bands, the musicians contribute backup vocals, which typically consist of shouted slogans, choruses, or football-style chants. While most punk rock uses distorted guitars and noisy drumming sounds derived from 1960s garage rock and 1970s pub rock, some punk bands incorporate elements from other subgenres, such as surf rock, rockabilly, or reggae. Most punk rock songs are short, have simple and somewhat basic arrangements using relatively few chords, and typically have lyrics that express punk ideologies and values, although some punk lyrics are about lighter topics such as partying or romantic relationships. Different punk subcultures often distinguish themselves by having a unique style of punk rock, although not every style of punk rock has its own associated subculture. The earliest form of music to be called 'punk rock' was 1960s garage rock, and the term was applied to the genre retroactively by influential rock critics in the early 1970s. In the late 1960s, music now referred to as protopunk originated as a garage rock revival in the northeastern United States. The first distinct music scene to claim the punk label appeared in New York City between 1974 and 1976. Around the same time or soon afterward, a punk scene developed in London. Los Angeles subsequently became home to the third major punk scene. In the 1980s, punk went through an internal conflict over which the direction the music would go, the authenticity of the genre, and the commercial compromise from the bands. Some scholars described this period as an 'identity crisis' where bands debated over what issues were truly essential to punk and how the music was meant to be played. Bands such as Hüsker Dü, 7 Seconds, Government Issue, and Dag Nasty played with a slower tempo and melody, drawing inspiration from jazz, classic rock, and more. Some fans viewed this change as necessary for the development of the genre while others said it was punk band changing for major record labels. This experimentation is what produced the sub-genres of punk such as pop-punk, alternative rock, and grunge.

Did You Know?

• The term 'punk rock' was first applied retroactively to 1960s garage rock by influential rock critics in the early 1970s.
• The first distinct music scene to claim the punk label appeared in New York City between 1974 and 1976.
• In the 1980s, punk went through an 'identity crisis' where bands debated over what issues were truly essential to punk and how the music was meant to be played.
• Experimentation in the 1980s produced the sub-genres of punk such as pop-punk, alternative rock, and grunge.
• The Velvet Underground's harsh and experimental yet often melodic sound in the mid to late-1960s is credited for influencing 1970s bands such as the New York Dolls, the Stooges, and the Ramones.