Punk has always set out to be ungovernable, unruly and unapologetic. Kill your idols, destroy society, rip up the rulebook – of course. But that doesn't mean that every act of protest, musical expression or headline-grabbing incident has improved things for the punk scene without discrimination. Quite the opposite, in fact – so we've compiled a list of musical moments in the history of punk rock which—in our opinion—have set things back for everyone else. We'll begin with some history of the genre, then dive into the five songs we think set punk rock back.
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The term "Punk" essentially sent the genre plummeting in another direction (I have avoided using the term “one direction” as it should be abolished from the English dictionary).
Grandpa states when Punk began, there were no rules. Artistic and some not-so-artistic humanoids created music for the mere sake of creation in itself. They didn't have a formula, they came from all walks of life and generally supported each other while applauding each other that they were no Denizen, Fake and Palmhurt. If you wanted to wear a dress, or you wanted to wear no dress, or you wanted to wear a garbage bag or neon or chaps, or army fatigues, a tutu, etc... the sky was the limit. Reinvent yourself and scream at the world. Remember the old adage in Sniffin' Glue that here are three chords ...now go start a band!?
Once it became labeled (and the debate grows as to where this started – i.e. Holmstrom, David Peel, etc.) essentially it sucked the crimson from a vein. Wrong arm, right vain. Suddenly uniforms were created and it was determined what a Punk should look, dress and sound like. Spit, gob, one middle finger, two rigid digits, Fuck Religion, Fuck Politics, Fuck your Parents, Fuck Authority and Fuck Fucking Fucker.
Now am I saying this produced bad music…hell no! But it did take an exit stage left and unfortunately some took the right. Where I really think Punk had a final nail driven in the old wooden coffin was ‘90s punk – essentially watered-down punk for the masses. Music fans had to dig a bit deeper and listen to New Bomb Turks, The Humpers, Devil Dogs, etc. if they wanted high-energy rock and roll without the spoon-fed industry pablum. Perhaps this is the story of Rock ‘n’ Roll. We await the torch to be passed and those three chords to come ripping out of the stratosphere electrifying another generation into debauchery, sin excess, and revolution. Kick Out The Jams, motherfucker!
– Christopher D
1
The Sex Pistols – Anarchy In The U.K.
A fellow SPB writer and I recently had a discussion about the Sex Pistols. He'd steered clear over the years and just dove into the legendary group last year. Why? I might remember it wrong but I assume it's because they're held up as almost a cartoon these days. Punk's first wave was heavy on imagery and Sex Pistols were no exception, but their nihilism wasn't just a look. Whether you're watching an '80s action movie, a club scene in The Lego Movie, or meeting a 14 year-old who just discovered the genre, they likely think this song is the pinnacle.
Of course, music transcends those stupid images and stereotypes. It is a great song. You want to know what punk is about? Here's a lesson plan: Don't just listen to "Anarchy in the UK." Listen to the Sex Pistols' version, then any of the numerous covers by the likes of Megadeth and Motley Crue. The differences between original and covers will tell you all you need to know.
– Loren
2
The Offspring – "Self Esteem"
A long, long time ago, a time we now know as "the past", I'm talking the mid nineties, I was in my teens. I was really a metalhead back then. It was a bad time to be a metalhead. Metal had it's peak a couple years before, now was a good time for grunge and indie bands. And then all of a sudden pop punk was becoming the next big thing. I was attracted to it too. There were a couple of gateway bands for me. Green Day and The Offspring especially and to a lesser extent Bad Religion, Pennywise and NOFX. Now, you have to understand (and perhaps you do) that the music I listened to defined a big part of who I was (or wanted to be?).
So even though these were my gateway bands into punk it always struck a wrong chord with me that when I said I liked punk, people would immediately sing "la la lalala" to me. Like that The Offspring song was my whole universe. Yeah, I liked that song, it was one of those songs that showed me there was more music I could like than the thrash - and death metal I listened to until then. But, there was so much more to punk than that one line. Especially considering that on the surface it sounds like fun and that was what most people heard. Listening only slightly closer you would hear a whole different sentiment, one that struck a chord with me. Anyway, always referring to that one song made it an almost impossible tune for me to listen to. Even though it's a defining moment for the development of my musical taste.
I still own that album. Perhaps I should give it another try.
– Dennis
3
Blink 182 – "What's My Age Again" / Sum 41 – "Fat Lip"
I would have liked to surmise that any band that had letters and numerical figures would be a contender until I realized there were great bands with that formula. i.e. MC5/ Asteroid B-162.
I thought maybe I could go down the route of saying that they boiled down the punk formula to a piece of juvenile crack rock bathroom diarrhea dribble until I cunningly calculated…so did Meatmen, Dayglo Abortions, and even Zappa, Fugs etc. followed the farting formula.
Hmmm maybe the Kardashian love connection or the Canadian cough cough Punk Lavigne misstep…
Damn it, I am warming up to these numerical/ABC bands. Think I might go spin some NOFX!
– Christopher D
4
Avril Lavigne – "Sk8er Boi"
2002 was a great year for Punk. Dillinger Four were on a roll and released their third album, Situationist Comedy. The Process of Belief ushered in a new era for Bad Religion. Against Me! were probably getting their tires slashed for releasing their first full-length album instead of another 7=inch or tape. 2002 was also the year that the masses were introduced to "punk Princess," Avril Lavigne. When you think of Avril Lavigne, you probably think of 2 things: the song "Sk8er Boi" and loose-fitting neckties. Something about neckties became a big thing with how mainstream media tried to sell "punk" to the casual music listener, and would be a look that Green Day's, Billie Joe Armstrong, would go on to perfect 2 years later along with the rise of Hot Topic. "Sk8er Boi" was one of those rare songs that not only tarnished Punk, but skateboarding too.
– Aaron
5
NOFX – "Creeping Out Sara"
NOFX have never really courted controversy: instead they've consistently preferred to lead with it, making it their unique selling point in a scene full of bands claiming to be similarly edgy but never quite committing to it. For years their refusal to talk to the mainstream media, political campaigning and satirical take on the alternative music scene was alternately refreshing and challenging. But when 2009's "Coaster" was released, things took a nosedive.
The album has some starkly confessional moments ("I Am An Alcoholic", with a refrain of "I'm a drug-abusing alcoholic") but the song "Creeping Out Sara" (about Canadian indie rock artist Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara fame) really took the biscuit. It features lines like:
"That's when I creeped out Sara
Or maybe I just pissed her off
When I asked her if her sister
And her had ever had a threesome
Where they both ganged up on one girl"
Fat Mike later clarified—edgily—that "yes, there is offensiveness and disrespect in the song, but it’s all directed at me". Maybe it's supposed to be ironic, maybe it's supposed to be self-deprecating, pointing out what a dick Fat Mike knows himself to be. But coming as it did just a few months before the notorious Cokie The Clown incident, this wasn't the sound of a band with something urgent or important to say. It was the sound of someone self-sabotaging, punching down, enabling bigots and embarrassing themselves. I haven't been able to work up the enthusiasm to listen to a new NOFX record since.
– Matt
