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Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Punk Rock


Punk rock is an anti-establishment rock music genre and movement that emerged in the mid-1970s. Preceded by a variety of protopunk music of the 1960s and early 1970s, punk rock developed between 1974 and 1977 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, where groups such as the Ramones, Sex Pistols, and The Clash were recognized as the vanguard of a new musical movement.
Punk bands, eschewing the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock, created short, fast, hard music, with stripped-down instrumentation and often political or nihilistic lyrics. The associated punk subculture expresses youthful rebellion, distinctive clothing styles, a variety of anti-authoritarian ideologies, and a DIY (do it yourself) attitude.
Punk rock became a major phenomenon in the United Kingdom during the late 1970s; its popularity elsewhere was more limited. During the 1980s, forms of punk rock emerged in small scenes around the world, often rejecting commercial success and association with mainstream culture. By the turn of the century, punk rock's legacy had led to the development of the alternative rock movement, and new punk bands popularized the genre decades after its first heyday. (Wilkipedia) Link

British Mainstreams : The Clash


The Clash were an English punk rock band who were active from 1976 to 1986, part of the original wave of UK punk rock in the late 1970s. The band went on to incorporate punk with reggae, rockabilly, dance, jazz, ska, and other styles.
The Clash's skilled musicianship and the passionate, left-wing political idealism of frontmen Joe Strummer and Mick Jones contrasted sharply with the nihilism of the Sex Pistols.
Although the Clash were a major success in the UK from the release of their first album in 1977, they did not become popular in the US until 1980. Their third album, the late 1979 release London Calling is an influential album in the history of rock music; it was released in the US in January 1980, and a decade later Rolling Stone magazine declared it the best album of the 1980s. Rolling Stone also placed it at #8 on their list in 2003 of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
The Clash's attitude and style, as much as their music, influenced many other bands from the 1980s. Epic Records A&R director dubbed them "The Only Band That Matters." In 2003 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by The Edge of U2. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked The Clash #30 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Link

The Sex Pistols


The Sex Pistols were an iconic and highly influential English punk rock band, formed in London in 1975. The band originally comprised vocalist Johnny Rotten, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock (later replaced by Sid Vicious). Although their initial career lasted only three years and produced only four singles and one studio album, the Sex Pistols have been described by the BBC as "the definitive English punk rock band." The Pistols are widely credited with initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and creating the first generation gap within rock and roll.
The Sex Pistols emerged as a response to what was perceived to be the "increasingly safe and bloated" progressive rock and manufactured pop music of the mid-1970s. The band created various controversies during their brief career which captivated Britain, but often eclipsed their music. Their shows and tours repeatedly faced difficulties from authorities, and public appearances often ended in disaster and riot. Their 1977 single, "God Save the Queen", was widely regarded as an attack on the British monarchy and British nationalism.
Lydon / Rotten left the band in 1978, amid a turbulent tour of the United States; the remaining trio carried on for the remainder of the year with vocals provided by Jones, Edward Tudor-Pole and Ronnie Biggs but disbanded in early 1979. With Lydon, they reunited in 1996 for the "Filthy Lucre" tour and have staged subsequent reunion tours in 2002 and 2003. On 24 February 2006, the Sex Pistols were officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but they refused to attend the induction. More, visit this Link

The Damned


The Damned are an English punk rock and later gothic rock band formed in London in 1976. They were the first punk band from England to release a single ("New Rose"), put out an album (Damned Damned Damned), and tour the United States. They are considered one of the founders of gothic rock.
The Damned have incorporated many different styles into their music and image; such as garage rock, psychedelic rock, cabaret and the theatrical rock of Screaming Lord Sutch and Alex Harvey. Vanian's vocal style has been described as similar to a crooner, which is unique for a punk rock vocalist. Throughout their history, The Damned have dissolved and reformed many times, with singer Dave Vanian as the sole constant member. However, the lineups have always included either guitarist Captain Sensible or drummer Rat Scabies (or both). The line-up currently includes original members Vanian and Sensible.( Wilkipedia) Link

American Mainstreams : The Stooges


The Stooges are an American rock band that was first active from around 1967 to 1974, and then reformed in 2003.
The Stooges sold rather few records in their original existence and often performed for indifferent or hostile audiences. Nevertheless, The Stooges are often regarded as hugely influential both on the nascent heavy metal and punk rock. Singer Iggy Pop and his wild onstage antics were often the main focus of attention. Link

The Voivoids


The Voidoids, also known as Richard Hell and The Voidoids, were a New York City punk rock band of the late 1970s, fronted by Richard Hell, a former member of Television. The group is best known for Hell's nihilistic world view, reflected in songs like, "Who Says It's Good to Be Alive?". Their song "Blank Generation" served as an anthem for the punk movement in New York. Link

Velvet Underground


The Velvet Underground (sometimes shortened to The Velvets or The VU) was an American rock band first active from 1965 to 1973. Its best-known alumni are Lou Reed and John Cale.
Although never commercially successful during their time, The Velvet Underground have been regarded as one of the most important and influential groups of their era. A famous remark, often attributed to Brian Eno, is that, while only a few thousand people bought a Velvet Underground record upon their initial release, almost every single one of them was inspired to start a band.[citation needed] The group was one of the first to experiment with rock structures,[citation needed] and their sound influenced many later punk, new wave, and gothic rock performers. Link

The Ramones


Ramones were an American band often regarded as the first punk rock group.
After forming in Forest Hills, Queens, New York in 1974, they performed 2,263 concerts, touring virtually nonstop for 22 years. In 1996, after a tour with the Lollapalooza music festival, the band went on a brief nightclub tour and then disbanded. Three of the band's four founding members—Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone—died within eight years after the breakup.
The Ramones never achieved much commercial success during their years of recording and performing. Their only album to reach certified gold status in the U.S. was their compilation album Ramones Mania. Appreciation of the band has grown since the 1980s, and they now regularly appear on "all-time greatest" lists, such as Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and Mojo's 100 Greatest Albums. In 2002, the Ramones were voted the second greatest rock and roll band ever in Spin Magazine, trailing only The Beatles. On March 2, 2002, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ( Wilkipedia) Link