I love punk rock and being into punk as a kid led me into other stuff - rock against racism, questioning authority, DIY fashion, even influencing what I will and won't buy from the shops these days.
I still go to punk gigs sometimes, but it seems a bit like a variety show for old-timers like me.
Does punk rock still have relevance and importance in 2006 or is it just cabaret?
2006-09-12 03:15:38 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
It definitely still has relevance in 2006. There are still hardcore punks around. People who DIY half of everything they do, people who don't buy from corporations, who go to protests not to be cool or trendy but who really care about the issues, people who really are fighting hunger and racism and poverty. These people still exist. I don't know if they would call themselves punk, but they exists.
Punk Rock IS still relevant too. I recently read the words to a Casualties song and it was dealing with the way ethnic people have been treated in this country. Although, I am familiar with those aspects of history, if I were 13 or 14 I would have learned more in that one song about racism and it's roots in this country than I would have in most high school history books. That's powerful and amazing. People are still learning things from punk rock. Sure, some of it's terrible and commercialized, but even commercialized punk can have relevance. Check Green Day's American Idiot album. If one person really listened to what they were saying and thought about it and changed something for the good then it has been relevant.
Punk is so afraid to go commercial. I understand why. Anytime you have dancing "punk" cookies in a commercial or dolls made up to look "punk" that's upsetting because it's a lifestyle not a look, but people forget that sometimes people's portal into the lifestyle is by the music being readily available. There's an album I want that's mostly afro-punkish but I can't get it outside of NYC. That presents a problem for me. It's great that it's all DIY, but it really is a hassle. I find it even more unbelievable that a kid who only listened to the radio would find it. But they will hear Green Day and maybe Anti-Flag and it may spark something in them that leads them to learn more about punk and what it really stands for.
2006-09-12 05:07:31 · answer #1 · answered by T 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think the ethos of punk is still relevant (DIY, independence, mistrust of the corporate machine)even if the influence of punk music is diminished (the influence and impact of popular music in general is less anyway). It seems curious that some of the younger generation wish they'd lived through a more radical music scene(witness Sandi Tom's recent "I wish I was a punk rocker"-) .The politics side is less of an influence as the original UK scene seemed to be tied up with the state of the country, standing up to the rise of the NF etc and politics here today is much less based on ideological lines anymore.
I have no objection to seeing old punks in concert (even old punks have gotta pay the rent) though, like you say, that's a bit of a trip down memory lane.
2006-09-12 03:56:05 · answer #2 · answered by emread2002 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am an 80's punk rock fan (O.G.) but I like Greenday. They have a good sound, and I like Billie's voice. That they are mainstream does not bother me (and Billie has always said they are mainstream, even in the earlier days after Dookie). Talented bands should be noticed. The Descendents and Big Drill Car (2 of my favorite bands) were also a little "poppy" back when there was no such thing as "pop punk". To me, Green Day is different from the lame pop punk acts so prevalent today (they don't have that generic pop-punk sellout sound, at least not all of their songs). I don't think they ruined punk. I think people mistakenly call certain things 'punk' that are not really punk (like blink 182, fallout boy, pansy division, etc). So it looks like it was ruined, but it's really just false advertising by the posers.
2016-03-26 21:47:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are punks of all ages everywhere. A lot of younger folk get in to the modern equivalent of punk then discover the real stuff, like the Dead Kennedy's and Crass etc. I know a lot of people who are punk to the core. I think it's just not as prominent because there are so many musical styles now that there is never one huge movement.
2006-09-12 04:29:54 · answer #4 · answered by highbriddrummunkey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the punks of 20-30 years ago decided to regurgitate the music of the 50s-60s, I guess today's punks would have nothing to listen to. I think you're all missing out on creating your own music. I'm glad I came along at a time when people my age were making our own (punk/hardcore).
So I guess my answer is it shouldn't be relevant, but the dead horse is still being beaten.
2006-09-12 04:38:19 · answer #5 · answered by Rossonero NorCal SFECU 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Punk rock will always be relevant, a kind of reblism, I think. I love the Ramones, The Misfits, MC5!
2006-09-12 03:24:02 · answer #6 · answered by GirlsRGamers2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son who's 11, is just starting to get into Punk and its great because we both like the same music and I can talk to him about bands I used to like. It's not rebellious anymore because it's not new but it can still raise awareness on politics and educate kids more than any other music.
2006-09-12 05:03:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, since punk rock sold itself out the first chance it got, I'd have to say no. The final nail in the coffin is when they decided to hop in the sack with MTV.
2006-09-12 03:54:08 · answer #8 · answered by Monkeyboy 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it how you look at it, thats all i also grew up with punk like the clash stranglers xray specs and SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS.
i still play them all the time ( c d form ) and its great watching my kids 12 & 9 singing along with me.
2006-09-13 05:40:22 · answer #9 · answered by manc red 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Looks like you missed the big bash at Blackpool last month, then...
2006-09-12 03:18:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋