Punk originated in the USA, most prominently in New York in the early 1970s where bands such as the New York Dolls, Television, Blondie, The Ramones and The Dead Boys gained an influence; shining a light on a new form of music that was raw aggressive and stripped down.
However, it never became the national phenomena that it did in the UK. It remained very much an underground scene, with the exception of Blondie that became international high sellers. In the UK it was huge and swept the whole nation. It shocked and inspired simultaneously as it encouraged people to get up and try doing things for themselves. This article will explain why.
Economic situation
Britain's economy was in a deprived state in the 1970s. The Prime Minister Harold Wilson was told in 1975 that Britain's economy faced 'possible wholesale domestic liquidation'; this was due to the steep rate that inflation was rising. The next Prime Minister James Callaghan had to seek help from the International Monetary Fund in 1976 in order to help him solve the rising rate of unemployment and inflation.
The unemployment was key factor in the popularity of punk as many people who went on to form bands or who became punks were unemployed and on the dole. This feeling of alienation and desolation meant that many could relate to similar themes portrayed in punk music.
Disdain for many popular music acts
The music in mid 1970s Britain left a lot to be desired for. Many of the punks despised the Prog Rock that was sweeping the nation, with its long-winded solos and compositions, over-the-top indulgence, ridiculous themes based around wizards and other mythical idioms.
Many felt isolated from this form of music that had little or nothing to relate to. Johnny Rotten of The Sex Pistols went as far as to wear an 'I hate Pink Floyd' T-shirt. Many also felt disdain for the hippy movement of the 1960s that preached peace and love but had ultimately failed to deliver any real change. In response to both these subcultures, punk music focused on short (generally 2-3 minute) songs, few chords, speed and aggression.
This countered both the prog rock style of music and the peaceful hippy ethos. The Clash even had a song entitled 'Hate and War' to counter the hippy peace and love idiom.
The Bill Grundy Incident
On December 1st 1976 the Sex Pistols appeared on the Today programme that was hosted by Bill Grundy. The band caused gargantuan controversy by swearing continually on the show, or though it can be argued that they were goaded by Grundy.
The controversy of the profanities meant that many outraged town councillors banned the group from performing adding to the bands infamy but the huge coverage generated by the tabloids gave the band coverage they could only have dreamt of. As Joe Strummer from The Clash pointed out in the Westway To The World documentary: 'it put punk on the map, every truck driver, builder, granny and uncle knew what punk rock was'.
Do it yourself ethos
One punk idiom that made it so tangible was the emphasis on people doing things for themselves. People who had not dreamed of picking up an instrument, brought a cheap guitar learned three chords and went on stage, some even released and produced records by themselves. The same can be said with clothes: there were no designer or expensive clothes, people took whatever clothes they had and customised them in their own spiky taste, they were also not restricted by a lack of money.
Another factor was the fanzines that covered the music and the energy. They were self funded and printed with a meagre amount of money. However, this was another example of people not letting a tight budget restrict them from creating their own work.
The Jubilee
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977, however a lot of people were not happy with the monarchy; the best example being The Sex Pistols single 'God Save The Queen'. The single caused such outrage when it was released that it caused a media storm that again gave the Pistols and punk a plethora of coverage. Inspiring even more people. The single was even barred from reaching the number one spot in the charts as it caused so much outrage.
Punk spread so quickly in Britain as many people were disillusioned and fed up with the economic and social climate of mid 1970s Britain. Many felt alienated socially and despised the current music scene which was self-indulgent and ostentatious. The media coverage of The Sex Pistols meant punk became a national phenomenon and inspired many people to try things for themselves even if it meant learning the simplest of songs. Many went on to have huge influence such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Jam and The Stranglers, others did not.
Rupert Waldron - I am a journalism graduate from Cardiff University. I have written for the University's magazine Quench and have also written for a few ...
