I don’t want to get into a debate about current punk music. That’s another thread. This one’s about the “mainstreaming” of punk. I saw a teenybopper with PUNK scrawled across her shirt. I saw a preppy guy with PUNK on his fucking visor. A visor. Punk music and attitude are supposed to be underground, harsh and radical. Not something to sell clothing.
Another thing. Stop with the history of punk! http://www.theonion.com/onion3809/sociology_101.html is the latest example, although satire. It seems that people have to prove they are indie music historians by saying “oh yeah, the velvets had a lot of influence on the CBGBs crowd” and thinking they’re hot stuff. VH1 did a special on it. If someone wants to know the history of punk music, they will research it themselves. Although some corporate stuff is downright funny (look up chipmunk punk by alvin and the chipmunks), most of it is to make money and not say anything.
Listening to punk music does not make you a punk. The lifestyle is shaped by the attitude and message. The Boston Tea Party in the pre-revolution colonies was more punk than anything you’ll see on MTV today. The attitude is about non-conforming and rebellion. The message is to think for yourself and look at what’s really going on. The music is just a medium for the message.
If you’re a true punk, you’ll piss off everybody in the system. If you’re wearing something ablazoned with PUNK to seem counterculture, you’re stupid. Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken.