Did Malcolm McLaren Invent Punk?

Push · 02-29-2012, 05:16 AM

I'd say there was a basic problem with the premise of the original question in the sense that punk wasn't "invented" by anyone... As far as the 1976/77 UK punk scene is concerned, I think it's worth remembering that the "big three" first generation London punk bands – Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned – didn't sound anything like each other and didn't look anything like each other... They came from different parts of London and were initally involved in different scenes (although there was some crossover between The Clash and The Damned in the prototype band London SS)... Rat Scabies from The Damned (who's a mate of mine, sorry to be a namedropper) once told me that it was Bernie Rhodes (manager of The Clash) who first worked out that three bands meant a movement... So he encouraged the Pistols' little group of fans to go and see The Clash and The Damned... And he encouraged The Clash's little group of fans to go and see the Pistols and The Damned... And he encouraged The Damned's little group of fans to go and see the Pistols and The Clash... Within weeks, people started talking about these three bands in terms of a "movement"... So maybe it was Bernie who "invented" punk rather than Malcolm...???

VanDerGraaf · 04-17-2012, 08:30 PM

i always considered The Who as inventors of punk, and The Stooges the first punk band. but its all debatable and its just a title, i actively despise genres

Key · 04-17-2012, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanDerGraaf

i always considered The Who as inventors of punk, and The Stooges the first punk band. but its all debatable and its just a title, i actively despise genres

No reason to despise genres. Granted there are far too many sub genres that eventually run into each other (metalcore and deathcore for example) however it's still nice to have genres in order to have specification to what type of music you're listening to.

Unknown Soldier · 04-18-2012, 03:29 AM

Of course Malcolm McLaren invented punk, it started in London didn't it! We can forget Richard Hell and that Big Apple mob as well.

02-29-2012, 05:16 AM	#141 (permalink)
Push Groupie Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 11	I'd say there was a basic problem with the premise of the original question in the sense that punk wasn't "invented" by anyone... As far as the 1976/77 UK punk scene is concerned, I think it's worth remembering that the "big three" first generation London punk bands – Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned – didn't sound anything like each other and didn't look anything like each other... They came from different parts of London and were initally involved in different scenes (although there was some crossover between The Clash and The Damned in the prototype band London SS)... Rat Scabies from The Damned (who's a mate of mine, sorry to be a namedropper) once told me that it was Bernie Rhodes (manager of The Clash) who first worked out that three bands meant a movement... So he encouraged the Pistols' little group of fans to go and see The Clash and The Damned... And he encouraged The Clash's little group of fans to go and see the Pistols and The Damned... And he encouraged The Damned's little group of fans to go and see the Pistols and The Clash... Within weeks, people started talking about these three bands in terms of a "movement"... So maybe it was Bernie who "invented" punk rather than Malcolm...???

04-17-2012, 08:30 PM	#142 (permalink)
VanDerGraaf Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 54	i always considered The Who as inventors of punk, and The Stooges the first punk band. but its all debatable and its just a title, i actively despise genres