An Interpretation of Punk
written by Tim Krysko

It's time for me to add two cents to a debate that won't go away. I'm talking about the question of the punk. What is it? What does it mean? What is not punk and who has the right to determine that? Well, I formed my opinion through a process of elimination. By realizing what punk isn't, I found real punk right under my nose.

Probably the first conception of punk most people have is that it's a style of music. With so many bands making up the "punk" genre, it seems almost obvious. I think "punk" can be loosely used to describe a sound, but not entirely. The punk sound is in fact a fallacy. Look at a band like Sum 41, or even the infamous Blink 182. Both these bands have a sound that resembles other bands in the punk scene. However they have also, for the most part, been forsaken by the punk world. At the same time, though, "pop punk" bands who have very similar styles are openly considered punk. Who else is considered part of the punk realm? Hardcore bands, emo bands, ska bands, even various crossover rock, metal, and hip hop artists. Many of such bands are active parts of punk. How can that be so if punk is a sound?

Soon after discovering the punk rock sound, for many people the next step is a certain punk fashion. Some assemble wardrobes that consist of leather jackets, tattered pants, and lots of metal accessories. Of course this style does not define punk, and one is bound to find more punk people who do not match that style than punks who do. Same can be said for extreme sport fashion, the grunge look, or any other style you might see on stage at a local punk show. So style is out of the definition of punk. How a person wears his hair or what kind of car he drives, it doesn't matter.

Next up, there's the punk rock attitude, most often associated with rebellion. Historically, punk has been a part of a struggle for that always-unattainable utopia. Fighting capitalism and fighting oppression are two of the more common punk causes. But it has to be said that not everyone is a born fighter. Also not everyone is born into a position where they are faced with the need for a struggle. Some people are comfortable and secure with their position in society and see no need to rebel just because that's been the historically "punk" thing to do. And in my opinion, blind rebellion is just as bad as blind conformity. If you look at the spectrum of punk music, you will notice that not a majority of bands are fighting for any causes. For a large number of people, punk is just a way to have a good time.

Finally, there exists a conception of a punk rock lifestyle, maybe too closely related to the punk rock attitude, but slightly different nevertheless. Here lies the idea of punk as a working class and underground culture. This conception is the one that makes wealthy punks seem as a contradiction, or makes punks who sell records in high quantities into sellouts. Well, I deem it unfair to bar a person from punk just because he has worked hard to earn a comfortable living. It's even more so unfair to apply regulations to the punk community, instructing them not to aspire to the limits of their potential. Expecting people to adhere to a past-established (obsolete?) punk lifestyle is indeed demanding conformity in itself.

So if punk is none of the above, then what option remains? After living several years as one of the above-described unorthodox punks, I came to see what unites us all in the term we call punk. It's our scene. That's all. Through music and beyond, we are the punk scene. For me, that includes a love for independent thought and independent music. That includes not accepting what is spoon-fed to me by any source of media, whether its mainstream or underground. All bands who are part of this punk scene have that one thing in common. A band such as SR-71 or American Hi-Fi who have somewhat of a punk sound are completely ignored by punks because they have no involvement in the independent music scene. But on the other hand, a band like the Offspring who are highly mainstream operate a punk label (Nitro Records) and support the punk scene in additional ways such as touring with smaller punk bands. Supporting the scene is above all the most punk rock thing to do. The style of music doesn't matter since independent idea is such a vital part of it. The only thing that comes with just as much importance in my eyes is support for necessary causes, even if just moral support, and certain degree of social awareness.

Every individual puts a new twist on the punk scene. That is not something to be condemned; that is something to be celebrated. That is what keeps punk alive.

The Downfall of Punk Rock
written by Tim Krysko

I've never liked to consider myself "punk". I admit, I might be too young to fully understand all the implications of that word, and maybe my own definition of it has mutated from what the standard may be. Nevertheless, I've never enjoyed putting any kind of stereotype on myself. But I got into this "punk" scene and lifestyle as a young teenager, and it didn't take me long to realize what the problem was.

As a confused preteen, there was two things about me that helped define who I am today. I always hated the expectations that culture and society put on me. I hated fashion and pop culture; I did what I wanted and tried not care otherwise. Also, I loved music that rocked. I embraced punk for those two reasons: I was free to be myself, and, the music kicked some serious ass. No more blue jeans and mainstream alternative rock for me, I was a new person. I have since grown, and realized that one key aspect of punk is being taken from me.

No, the music never stopped rocking. But, all of a sudden, I felt that freedom to be myself was being taken away. Sure, pop culture conformity was the furthest from my mind, but a new type of conformity took its place. I'll call it the punk rock conformity. I felt pressure to dress the punk style. That style may differ from one region to another, but in my area, it was dyed hair, piercing, military pants, band shirts, and combat boots. I was a little insulted that when I decided to change my style a little, I was accused of being "not punk enough", or the dreaded "sellout". I stopped dying my hair, I took my piercing out, I started trying different styles of clothes, but because I wanted to. I thought it would be okay to explore my different tastes, but I guess I was wrong.

The worst of it came when I tried listening to different styles of music. Heaven forbid I diversify my musical tastes! But the criticism flowed like wine. "You like the Goo Goo Dolls? They're not punk!" "You're not punk if you like Rage Against the Machine!" "You like Green Day? They're sellouts!" hmmm ... I guess when I started listening to music that I liked because it rocked, I was biting off more than I can chew. I wonder if I'm allowed to like Cypress Hill? Is that okay, or might I offend the "punker-than-thou" kids who set the standards?

Oh, and I mustn't forget the dreaded "punk rock attitude". It seems just being myself and doing what I want isn't good enough anymore. I have to hate everybody too! I have to hate the government, of course! What do you mean they haven't done any harm to me? I'll hate'em anyway! I have to hate the police! Why? Who knows! Maybe there's some bad police officers out there, so I'll hate them all! Oh, and I better not forget to hate my parents! It doesn't matter if they raised me and supported me my whole life, I'll hate them too! Teachers? Who needs intelligence; it's more fun to hate them!

Seriously for a minute, life is too short to be hating everyone. I'm having much more fun being myself and enjoying the ride. And of course, rocking out to the music. The music is what it's all about. Expressing yourself in different ways. I hate to see a band labeled as "not punk" because are "too soft", playing emo or acoustic, or they're "too heavy" playing metal. Punks aren't allowed to rap? Sorry, I must have missed that one in the punk rock rulebook too.

The way I see it, if there's a reason to be angry, a reason to rebel, by all means go ahead. But anger and rebellion for no reason is futile. I think the punk world (and the entire world in general) needs a little more tolerance and less hatred going around. The downfall of punk rock is the clique that it has become. We can't fight stereotypes until we stop stereotyping ourselves. We can't fight intolerance until we start tolerating others ourselves. If punk isn't about being yourself and enjoying cool music, then I don't need to be punk anyway. I'd rather be myself than a label any day.

Re. The Downfall of Punk Rock
written by Nathan Guideau

This response to the article, "The Downfall of Punk Rock" (July 2000), was submitted by Nate Guideau from the Punk Rock Award website. The subject of the email was "I Couldn't Agree with You More".

Hey. I recently read your article about "The Downfall of Punk Rock". I love it. I've been thinking about all this stuff lately. I don't know if you've ever seen the movie, "SLC Punk", but it talks about similar topics, sort of anyways.

To me, the number one main problem with "punks" today is that they try to define "punk". They're mostly trendy punks, that either do it because of fashion or because of a friend. Too many "punks" are trendy. They are the people that dominate the punk scene. They think that you have to skate to be punk. They think you have to hate everything to be punk. These are the people that are ruining the scene. You can't define punk. Punk has too much to it to be defined. Sure, you know punk music when you hear it, but the culture is hard to define. If I had to define "punk", I would say that being punk is being yourself, whether it conforms with society or not.

As for the "fashion" thing, I fully understand that. Where I live, everybody wears this yuppie brand of clothes called "Abercrombie & Fitch". I don't like that company. They're way overpriced, and their clothes are uncomfortable and low quality. This made a problem for me. About a year-and-a-half ago people started to leave me out because I didn't wear the right clothes. This was when I started getting into the punk scene and music. So my family moved about a year ago, and I started going to a new school. I had been listening to punk more and more, and finally started to learn punk is more that music. This was when I ran into the problem you had. Whenever I would try to make friends with people, they wouldn't talk to me since I didn't wear Abercrombie. Then when I tried to make friends with the punk kids, they wouldn't talk to me because I didn't dress punk. I dress in the middle. Some days I wear punk shirts and other days I wear Gap shirts. That got me criticism. This is the biggest problem with "punks" today. They talk about unity, and they talk about not conforming, but the fact is, they aren't for unity, and they do conform. I guess I just don't think that anyone can honestly tell me they're comfortable wearing chains and having holes in their body. It's major hypocricy. Most of the "punks" that do this are the trendy "punks", so they have an excuse.

Well, the "punk attitude". Yes, I know about that. Naturally, I'm just a person who likes to have fun, and is laid back. But since I don't hate the world, I'm all of a sudden not punk. The thing I run into a lot with the attitude is with the trendy "punks". When they find out I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs, they insult me for being a wussy, and not being punk. If they were real punks, not just poseurs, they'd know that sXe is a major part of the punk scene. Another thing the trendy "punks" do to me is say I'm not punk since I don't skate. News flash people: PUNK ISN'T ABOUT SKATING -- IT'S ABOUT LIKING THE MUSIC, AND BEING YOURSELF, NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE THINK.

In the end, I'll admit, I have a quality that a lot of "punks" have. I don't like the government. However, this is my own opinion which I developed a year-and-a-half ago, before I was even punk. I won't talk about the government though, that's a whole new rant...

Anyways, thanks for reading (if you actually did). It's nice to find that there are other real punks that understand that it's not all about a look and a skateboard. Your article is awesome, and you should make sure every "punk" reads it. It is a true symbol of non-conformity. I appreciate that VERY much.