PUNKS!

The origin of the word PUNK

Literary and premodern origins

The word "punk" first appeared in English as early as the 16th century. Originally, it had a pejorative connotation and referred to marginalized people. It was notably used to refer to young thugs, worthless people, or even prostitutes. This demeaning connotation, of someone without great importance or value, remained associated with the term for a long time.

Use in literature and theater

The word is also present in Shakespeare 's works, notably in "Measure for measure" where it refers to a prostitute. During this time, punk therefore had nothing to do with music or rebellion, but referred to an image of social depravity or contempt (which is what punks of the 70s and after were treated as!) Editor's note

Adoption in Street Language

Over time, the term continued to evolve. For much of the 20th century, "punk" was a slang word for someone weak, often a juvenile delinquent or vulnerable prisoner. It was used to denote someone who was not taken seriously, someone who was insignificant.

Garage rock, the musical revolt of the 1960s

Garage rock is often considered the direct ancestor of punk. It left its mark on the following decades, with a DIY (Do it yourself) approach to both clothing and music creation from scratch and a resolutely nonconformist attitude. This musical genre emerged in the early 1960s in the United States, driven by young amateur bands who recorded their songs in garages (hence the name) and played concerts in small venues. It is a raw music, often poorly produced, but full of energy and spontaneity, which rejected the commercial standards of the music industry of the time. Garage rock is distinguished by its distorted guitars, abrasive solos and shrill vocals. A movement often less known but crucial to understanding the evolution of the punk sound. Bands like The Sonics Or The Kingsmen led the way with their raw sounds and provocative lyrics. Garage music was raw, unpolished, and expressed a rejection of well-produced rock. Bands like The Standells , with their hit "Dirty Water" (1965), and The Trashmen , famous for "Surfin' Bird" (1963), played simple but hard-hitting songs. It was this simplicity and wild spirit that would become the pillars of punk rock.

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Where does garage rock come from?

Garage rock emerged primarily in the American suburbia , where young people, frustrated by the conformity of post-World War II society, sought alternative means of expression. The first wave of garage rock was often influenced by the British Invasion (the Beatles and the Rolling Stones), but these young bands added a dose of insolence and crudeness to their music.

Interestingly , the term "garage rock" was not really used until later. At the time, these bands were often considered amateurish byproducts of pop soap. It was not until the 1970s, thanks to compilations like Lenny Kaye 's "Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era," that garage rock began to be recognized as a movement in its own right.

Leading Garage Rock Groups

The Kingsmen. Their song "Louie Louie" (1963) is one of the most famous of its kind. Recorded with a faulty microphone and incomprehensible pronunciation, it was considered subversive, so much so that the FBI investigated the lyrics for obscene content. "Louie Louie" became an anthem of rebellion for young people and remains a cornerstone of garage rock.

The Sonics. This band, hailing from Tacoma, Washington , is considered one of the most influential in the history of garage rock. Their extremely raw and distorted sound, as evidenced by tracks like "Strychnine" and "The Witch," inspired countless punk bands of the '70s and '80s. The Sonics played with pure energy, often on cheap, old-fashioned equipment, which added a layer of authenticity to their music.

The Standells. This Los Angeles -based band is known for their 1965 hit "Dirty Water," a song that mocked Boston but paradoxically became one of its sports anthems. Their sound perfectly captures the rebellious energy of California garage rock.

13th Floor Elevators. Hailing from Texas , this band is often credited as one of the pioneers of psychedelic garage rock. Their frontman, Roky Erickson , influenced not only punk, but also genres like indie and alternative. Their album "The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators" (1966) is an essential reference for understanding garage's evolution towards more experimental sounds.

Fun Fact : The term "punk rock" was first used by critic Dave Marsh in 1971, in an article discussing Question Mark & ​​the Mysterians , a garage band famous for their song "96 Tears" (1966). The band's minimalist sound and wild style were direct precursors to punk.

Proto-punk, transition between garage rock and the real punk musical movement

In the second half of the 1960s, garage rock evolved into proto-punk with bands like The (featuring the charismatic Iggy Pop ) , MC5 or The Velvet Underground (Lou Reed) . The transition from garage rock to punk is evident in the way these bands adopted an even more aggressive and provocative approach, both musically and on stage. Basically, music full of energy, often violent, that spoke directly to disillusioned youth.

The MC5 , with their revolutionary cry "Kick Out the Jams" (1969), went beyond music to embrace radical political ideologies.

Similarly, The Stooges , led by Iggy Pop, were famous for their destructive, provocative performances, giving birth to a sound that would become punk's signature a few years later.

Fun fact : Iggy Pop, often referred to as "the godfather of punk," was inspired by provocative theatrical performances, influenced by modern art and the anti-art of the Dada movement. At a legendary concert in 1970, he walked on stage covered in peanut butter, creating a iconic moment that would go down in punk history.

The Birth of Punk Rock: The 1977 Explosion

Punk officially began in the 1970s, with the emergence of iconic bands like The Ramones in New York and the Sex Pistols in London. 1977 is often cited as the key year when punk rock exploded across the world.

The Ramones : Pioneers of American Punk Rock

The Ramones are widely considered the first true punk band. With short, fast, aggressive songs like "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "I Wanna Be Sedated," they ushered in a musical revolution. Their minimalist style and rejection of rock norms inspired a generation of musicians in venues like New York's CBGB concert hall , which played a pivotal role in the punk explosion. The iconic club hosted pioneering bands like Television , The Ramones , and Patti Smith . It wasn't just the music that was revolutionary, but the DIY (Do It Yourself) philosophy that drove the artists. They produced their own albums, organized their own concerts, and created a visual aesthetic that rejected the traditional music industry.

The Sex Pistols, The Clash and the Spirit of British Punk

Meanwhile, in the UK, punk quickly became a cry of anger against the economic crisis and unemployment, the Sex Pistols shocked society with their music and provocative attitude. Their song "Anarchy in the UK" (1976) became an anthem for rebellious youth, while their single "God Save the Queen" caused an uproar at the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 1977. Under the controversial management of Malcolm McLaren , the band embodied a total rejection of the establishment and the monarchy. But it was The Clash who managed to give punk a political depth with albums like "London Calling" , mixing punk, reggae and rockabilly.

PUNK HARDCORE

In the 1980s, punk culture and skateboarding began to intersect, especially in California. Hardcore punk bands like Black Flag , Dead Kennedys and Suicidal Tendencies , Minor Threat , Bad Brains who advocated strict ethics and an even more brutal and direct sound provided the ideal soundtrack for skaters who defied the norms by exploiting urban landscapes as playgrounds. Thus, Thrasher magazine, founded in 1981, was one of the pioneers in establishing the link between punk music and skateboarding culture. The DIY spirit, both in music and in skateboarding, was amplified, creating a visual and musical aesthetic shared by both communities. The influence of punk fashion (with ripped clothes, safety pins, band t-shirts) quickly found its way into the skate scene.

Fun Fact : Thrasher magazine was one of the first to promote this crossover culture, with skaters and punk bands sharing the same pages. Today, professional skaters like Tony Hawk continue to embody this fusion by wearing punk clothing while influencing streetwear culture.

• “Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk” by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain — an essential book for understanding the genesis of punk in New York.
• “England's Dreaming” by Jon Savage — an in-depth look at the British punk scene of the 1970s.
• “American Hardcore: A Tribal History” by Steven Blush — for a perspective on the American hardcore movement of the 1980s.
• Thrasher Magazine Archives — explore back issues to understand how punk and skateboarding converged.