The legendary punk festival Rebellion comes to London just a few days before Christmas.
After the sold out festival that was held in Blackpool during the summer, it is time for London to experience the raw and aggressive side of music.
On the 13th of December in Kentish Town the Damned, along with the Buzzcocks are going to lead the organization.
It is significant that despite the fact that the punk movement ceased to exist almost three decades ago, it still manages to attract a large number of followers, some of which were born many years after its initial outburst.
History Landmarked
One of the greatest music movements of the recent past that caused intense interest, as well as ambiguous responses is indisputably punk.
The urban myth detects the very first punk guitar riffs in Velvet Underground’s ‘I ‘m Waiting for the Man’.
Following, around the late ‘60s Iggy Pop along with the Stooges were the keystone for the creation of punk music. The‘title’ attributed to Iggy Pop until today is indicative of his contribution: the grandfather of punk.
In any case its outburst took place sometime during the mid 1970s and the most significant bands are the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Ramones.
Inflammable Material
Punk is not only a different approach to music but a subculture as well, since it expands on various aspects such as clothing, lifestyle etc. Safety-pins, torn clothes, short hair or eccentric haircuts were the dress code of punks of that period, though all those elements exist also nowadays.
Nevertheless the fundamental characteristic was its philosophy itself, the unconventional and rebellious disposition of its supporters.
It is said that punk is not just another music genre but also a mentality. An attitude that professes the freedom of the individual and vindicates our right to live without rules and prejudice.
Punk musicians voiced their beliefs about anarchy, the problems of urban life, the opposition to the dominant and conservative institutions that oppressed and undermined society.
Fast,often without rhythm,not more than two and a half minutes songs which via their lyrics and aggressiveness aimed at the awakening of the consciences and the liberation from the oblivion of conservatism.
Nihilism, non-conformism, sharp political allusions, indignation because of the social status and the government were the driving forces that led to the creation of records that left their mark on global music, instilling many generations of new artists.
Thousands of contemporary musicians, journalists, or music fans place “London Calling”, “Nevermind the Bollocks” etc. among the list of not only the best but also the most influential music of all times.
Road to Ruin
In spite of its intense success and because the rise is always followed by a fall, during the ‘80s punk was already at its last gasp. It eventually incorporated in the alternative rock of the ‘80s.
Many music genres like grunge, gothic, new wave, post-punk are considered as punk’s offspring and groups like Nirvana, Sonic Youth, the Pixies etc. continued to write their own history.
“The king is gone but he’s not forgotten…” sang Neil Young referring to Johnny Rotten and he was right. Maybe today punk’s dead and maybe there are only few remarkable groups from this field, but it is definitely not forgotten.
Joe Strummer, Sid Vicious, the Ramones and so many more, alive or dead, will always be an integral part of music history, since their songs are indelibly carved in the minds and ears of all music fans.
