Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

What does punk rock mean to you?

(58 Posts)
Chestnut Mon 13-Jan-20 17:49:22

I was in my 20s when punk rock came along. Didn't understand it and thought it was just the most awful thing I'd ever seen! There was a programme on recently with Chris Packham, a serious punk rocker, explaining what it meant to him and why it was so significant. I watched this in an attempt to understand what it was all about and thought it was interesting. He spoke about his experiences and interviewed other old punks, all now middle aged and often wealthy. Was anyone here a punk, if so what did it mean to you? Or like me did you just loathe it?

SalsaQueen Tue 14-Jan-20 14:46:39

Chestnut... it didn't mean anything to me other than it was quite a different type of music I'd ever heard. I wasn't angry - in fact, it was one of the best times of my life, as I was young, slim, earning a good wage, no ties, a great social life, etc.

Chestnut Tue 14-Jan-20 16:50:26

Well, I suppose some people felt some kind of deeper meaning (as per the TV programme) but for others it was just crazy fun.

oldgimmer1 Tue 14-Jan-20 17:07:35

@chestnut: I liked punk but I don't think it meant anything to me as such.

I wasn't angry particularly but it DID set off my inner rebel. I picked up the "meaning" later on, as a student, through Patti Smith, Ruts, Stranglers etc. It represented a change in the established order and the feeling that you could challenge things, such as the Queen.

Chestnut Tue 14-Jan-20 17:17:16

But the established order had already been well and truly challenged 10 years earlier with hippies and free love. A different generation challenging in a different way. It was the 1960s that saw the downfall of the established order, and maybe the punk movement was a response to the chaos that resulted from that.

oldgimmer1 Tue 14-Jan-20 17:31:22

To be fair, Chestnut, hippies and free love would not have reached my neck of the woods! grin.

And I think one sees things from one's own experience - had I been younger, or older, it would not have touched me, probably. And it was a very short-lived movement but lived on through Blondie and other such acts that became mainstream.

And I'd NEVER heard a challenge to the Queen before, or the "F" word on telly. shock

MissAdventure Tue 14-Jan-20 18:18:26

We weren't even allowed to say "flipping" in our house, so using the F word was extraordinary!
It was the ultimate 2 finger salute to authority.

phoenix Tue 14-Jan-20 20:05:36

MiniMoon pretty sure the Stones "Little Red Rooster" was a euphemism blush