My theory is that if you want to make music in the same spirit as punk then you won't sound like a punk band.

Punk was a reaction to the stuff that came before it. The punk rock 'sound' is over 30 years old. If the Sex Pistols had came along & made music that sounded like it was 30 years old they'd sound like Glenn Miller.

Pop = Popular Music.

Rock = Popular Music.

Subgenres of Rock = Popular Music.

You could call the band Black Sabbath pop in the 1970s and be considered technically correct. As pop stands for popular music.

It's only in the last twenty years or so that "pop" and rock have become such mortal enemies, as with the rise of Dance Pop, Boy Bands and (increased) Bubblegum Pop, the punk scene of the early 90's (and late 80's), as well as Grunge and Alternative Music, seperated themselves from Hairmetal pop ballads and the above.

Thus, I don't really see punk rock as pop. But it has been at times considered "popular music".

But punk has closer ties to pop than metal or prog-rock. Metal after all is electrified blues, definitely not pop. Punk (at least late 70's UK punk) is energized pop (especially Sticky Fingers & Buzz****s). It's only the 1980's US's hardcore punk that combines the non-pop metal with punk.

No - punk isn't strictly 'pop' like Madonna or ABBA. But if you can sing along just like a pop song, it could be considered pop. Though clearly US hardcore punk isn't singable - so I should perhaps rephrase my defense, 1970's punk is pop, just not 1980's US Hardcore punk.

Very good point. Some genres cant really be surplanted from the historical context that inspired them and still remain relevant. I feel that today's punk, true DIY punk. is more about personal and communal empowerment, and while I really don't care for the music, I love the culture, and what it represents.

^ You sir have just gone up ten points on my favorite people list

I would say that there's such thing as protopunk. Bands that were playing punk type music before the genre was "born" ie the Stooges or New York Dolls

and yes, green day and such ilk is "pop punk"

No punk is punk and they aint punk. Punk is a historical concept now. Too many other influences now merge it and it isn't punk anymore as punk is an ethos that was taken up by rap.
Punk was a concept and is now no more.


Punk was the seventies. It is no more.
Those other bands are like early morning school holiday tv what is your favourite colour jelly kids.

Punk is a genre of music, all this punk is an ideal stuff is bullshit. If punk was an ideal we wouldn't be discussing it on a music forum. Even if were true, The Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Germs, Crass they were all more punk than the Ramones/Sex Pistols/Clash (all major label acts whom you hype.) So either way, you're wrong.

^ nice pwnage

I strongly disagree with you. I suppose you'd call Bad Religion and Pennywise pop-punk then? All of those bands are Pop-punk (and Sum even goes beyond that). This isn't the 70's anymore. Punk isn't all raw anymore. The standards have changed. Led Zeppelin wouldn't be considered Hard Rock today, but back in '69, they were the heaviest thing going. Same goes for punk.