What is the definition of "Punk" music?

[xXJust Jump ItXx]

Now what would define a punk rock band? Or what is punk rock really... For example, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains are grunge. Green Day, Stone Temple Pilots, Nine In Nails. But what would you say is punk? I know Black Flag, Sex Pistols, The Clash are punk.

[Hank Hill]

I don't think you can really define "punk." I feel that it means to do whatever you feel is right, whether that's how you dress or how you play. In a way (to me) it also means doing what you want to do with your music, and not always playing by the rules.

But it's different to everybody, I'm sure. It's a good question though!

[Mortal Coil]

To me, punk is the music that results from the punk subculture. It's a lifestyle before a genre. So, it's music that preferably has a DIY ethic, and is about expressing your frustrations. Musically speaking, it really wouldn't be considered punk if it wasn't fast, hard-edged and stripped down. I don't really consider Green Day and NIN to be punk.

[Magus]

To me, punk is the music that results from the punk subculture. It's a lifestyle before a genre. So, it's music that preferably has a DIY ethic, and is about expressing your frustrations. Musically speaking, it really wouldn't be considered punk if it wasn't fast, hard-edged and stripped down. I don't really consider Green Day and NIN to be punk.

This. And I think Punk is a little bit motivated by politics.

[abdheuuuchjc]

Bands that have that 3 chord use created by the kinks are usually considered punk. Punk music is usually rebellious, angry and loud

[chaosandanarchy]

Punk Rock is a genre of music, nothing more, nothing less. It does, however, come with certain ideals and ethics, but that's a personal thing. I like the underground scene here in the UK, friends of mine are always putting gigs on and keeping Punk DIY and independent, how it should be!

Also, Greenday aren't a Punk band, lol. Maybe their first couple of albums but not now.

I hate these "what punk means to me" arguments, so listen to some Leftöver Crack!
CdkTyLR6LYA

[OregonStateDude]

Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, The Plasmatics, Circle Jerks, now those are punk rock bands. Blink 182 and Simple Plan are pop punk, not real punk.

[All The Small Things]

Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, The Plasmatics, Circle Jerks, now those are punk rock bands. Blink 182 and Simple Plan are pop punk, not real punk.

how about Green Day

[Bath]

My friend who is in a band called "The Cheap Vendetta" posted this on his band's profile the other day, I think it fits well in this thread.

"A public response to being labelled a pop-punk band.

The reason, sir, that we call ourselves a Punk band is because we have no limits to what we play.
We aren't about a certain style of music, we are about the idea behind it.
You have heard 4 songs of ours and branded us with a genre. You are wrong. Our music contains elements of everything. Classic Rock, Grunge, Pop, Metal, etc.

The reason we are a Punk band is because Punk has become the MOST conservative genre there is.
This goes against everything that Punk stands for.
We are reclaiming Punk.
Re-writing what it has become and what it is capable of."

[Syvelocin]

When a genre is very specifically linked to the time period it was prevalent in, through history or culture or whatever, I tend to keep it to that time period unless another band's sound is the epitome of that genre/time, not a modern version of it. Green Day is pop punk. Compare them to Sex Pistols, just nope. There may be some true modern punk bands, but I don't personally know of any.

I have the same issue with bands that call themselves goth, and mostly people who call bands goth. Gets on my nerves maybe even more because I'm more into post-punk than I am punk.

[Mikedamaniak]

Punk is sort of in the middle of all rock, not quite classic, not alteritive, not light, not hard, and somewhere between completely electronic and completely acoustic.

[Kobra]

I'm pretty sure the Red Hot Chili Peppers were at one time considered Punk Rock.

[bigfoot]

punk, as defined by kurdt cobain himself, is playing and doing whatever the fuck you feel like.

[hercules7]

Punk is not fake!

[Apassionato]

Punk (usually Punk Rock) is a music genre that came from a subculture that has gone relatively extinct, while it never completely disappeared. The genre itself is still alive and well, but has mainly evolved with the times and is now found as influence in many more modern genres rather than in its original form. The "we are unique revolutionaries who will play whatever we want!!!" people exist in the genre, but are usually the least talented and are compensating for their lack of actual, interesting things to say with their art - giving the genre a bad name. Any self-respecting artist makes whatever he or she "feels the fuck like doing" - if you have to point it out about your work you are just self-obsessed.

For a general run-down, refer to the Wikipedia page. If I circled out a couple songs or bands I would be giving an unrealistic idea of the genre - the same would apply to any genre. A genre is just a tool to help generally classify a sound. Some of the typical elements of early (70s) Punk music are fast, simple, aggressive songs with low production values, often with political lyrics. Alternative Rock and Hardcore are some of the popular modern genres that evolved from it in the 80s and 90s.
Originally Punk was a counter movement to the sentimentality of 60s and 70s Rock, however, by the 80s, with Heavy Metal becoming big, the music business had changed to the point of not needing that counter movement anymore.

how about Green Day

Green Day are Poprock with Punk influences and visual aesthetics based on the Punk movement that have grown weaker over time. They started off as a Punk band, but quickly realized that there was more money to be made in a Poprock sound if you just make people believe you are Punk through your style - which is how they became such a hugely successful band. They capitalized on teenage trends in the mid-to-late 90s and early 00s.

[Emerald Dream]

Please do not post in threads with more than two months of inactivity. This is a few years old. :locked: