Punk rock in the 70’s Essay Example

their violent tendencies, sexually explicit music, drug use, and overall presentation. Despite their lack of experience in music, punks had a DIY attitude that encouraged young people to form bands even without prior musical knowledge.

According to Johansen, D., many band members began playing their instruments just a few months prior to starting and he believes that "anybody can do this."

The citation "(Please Kill Me, n.d. p.118)" can be found within a

tag.

Punk rock revitalized rock 'n' roll by simplifying it to four chords played at an extremely fast pace, resulting in a chainsaw-like buzz that induced head nodding in both the audience and performers, sometimes up to 240 times per minute. Concerts were typically associated with drug use and were characterized by loud and chaotic performances. The majority of punk songs conveyed the political views and emotions of young people in society.

To truly understand the origins of punk, it is necessary to delve into two styles of rock that were prevalent from the late 1960s to early 1970s: Art/Progressive Rock and Glam Rock. Unfortunately, many lyrics during this time were hard to decipher and lacked substance. Referencing the following table can provide a concise overview of these two genres:

Progressive rock and Art rock are both album-based genres, with distinct differences in style. Progressive rock focuses on traditional melody and classical instrumental techniques, while Art rock incorporates experimental and avant-garde elements to elevate the sound beyond symphonic ambitions.

Both genres often feature concept albums that tell a unified story or explore a particular theme.

The emergence of synthesizers and electronic textures in a rock ensemble marked the birth of progressive rock, which was initially a British phenomenon in the early 70s. This genre combined simple, "crunchy" guitar rock with catchy melodies derived from bubblegum pop and rhythms from early rock. However, this music's seemingly simplistic components obscured its complex delivery.

Glam rock emphasized spectacle and sexuality, with performers intentionally donning flamboyant, gender-bending outfits and striking makeup. In contrast to progressive/art rock, glam rock placed a higher value on stage presence than on musical ability. The origins of progressive/art rock can be linked to the lyrical influence of Bob Dylan as well as the experimental albums produced by groups such as The Mothers of Invention and The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Progressive Rock emerged from the British psychedelic scene in 1967, introducing a new style of classical/symphonic rock that was considered an art form. The genre was popularized by bands such as The Nice, Procol Harum, Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues. In 1969, King Crimson's debut album In the Court of the Crimson King established a distinct sound for progressive rock - one that was both loud and harsh, yet also beautiful and poetic. Examples of this style can be heard in King Crimson's Red and Exiles albums and Pink Floyd's The Thin Ice Selection.

Glam rock gained massive popularity in the early 70s as a primarily British phenomenon. In the United States, glam rock was dominated by influential bands like The New York Dolls and Kiss. One of the main objectives of

glam rock was to subvert the gravity of the progressive/art rock scene. During their inaugural tour of England in late 1972, The New York Dolls played their self-destructive brand of rock and roll, which eventually influenced a generation that went on to form punk. (Nolan, J.)

) The speaker couldn't comprehend why their peers were getting so much recognition, as they were not particularly skilled musicians. However, when they expressed this, someone else informed them that the value of the band was in their ability to evoke the spirit of the 1950s. (Please Kill Me, n.d.)

According to pp117 and 118, glam rock was advanced by various bands, including T. Rex, Gary Glitter, Sweet, David Bowie, and Roxy Music. The fashion sense of glam rock was pioneered by these bands with Marc Bolan from T. Rex being the leader. Their music was characterized as fun, silly, and sexy, or essentially authentic. Singers such as Gary Glitter and Sweet also followed in the footsteps of T. Rex.

The glitter sub style of rock music was developed by Rex, a very British style characterized by vividly colored hair, outrageous costumes, and heavy make-up. Meanwhile, David Bowie and Roxy Music focused on the arty side of glam, creating music that was splendidly dramatic and ambitious both musically and lyrically. Examples of glam rock songs include Trash, Heaven, and Suffragette City, performed by The New York Dolls, Sweet and David Bowie respectively. Punk rock, on the other hand, was basically created by The New York Dolls before it was even called punk rock.

The aesthetic and atmosphere that ultimately became labeled as 'punk' were established by The Ramones and their influence on

the New York and London generations led to the creation of the terms Punk and Punk Rock. The Ramones, the first band of this musical genre from New York, introduced the musical concepts of 'punk' by accelerating the tempo substantially and deconstructing rock ; roll into its fundamental structure of four chords, captivatingly simple melodies, and enticingly inane lyrics.

The Sex Pistols were the pioneering and most impactful punk band in Britain. Their emergence in 1976 directly influenced nearly all subsequent punk groups. The Sex Pistols established the foundation for British punk through the utilization of bare-bones guitar riffs. Their confrontational, playful, and hyperbolic conduct provoked physical assaults and earned them a demonic reputation in the media. The Clash, who incorporated aspects of early rock and reggae, stood out as the most musically diverse and ideologically-driven band in punk.

(Refer to attachments; Anarchy in the UK ; Rock the Casbah, for examples from The Sex Pistols and The Clash). In the early days of the punk scene, diversity was evident and other bands such as The Buzzcocks, The Jam, The Damned, and X-Ray Spex had varying musical approaches and lyrical subjects. However, most British punk artists shared a common intense energy and a dislike for progressive/art rock's excessive self-indulgence. The primary goal of punk was to bring rock & roll back to its fundamental form.

Punk rock fostered an inclusive I-can-do-it mentality where anyone, regardless of skill level, could play an instrument, express themselves, and create distinctive sounds on stage. This movement led to a decline in progressive and art rock, leaving only the most popular bands standing.

Some notable bands are The Moody Blues and Pink

Floyd, to mention a few.