UK punk and politics 1975 – 1984
Wolfgang Boettcher
INTRODUCTION
For some, punk rock is associated with recklessness, disorder, violence and often, mistakenly, racism. The Mirror newspaper referred to p unk in a headline as ‘ filth and f ury’ . 1 Others argued that punk rock was the epitome of a unique working-class ethos and creativity – a movement built on DIY ethics, eliminating inequality, anti-racism and the hope for a better world. This dissertation seeks to evaluate the political ideology of punk by examining scenes, subgenres and, above all, the music giving rise to the ideology. Primary and secondary sources will be examined and critiqued, revealing punk as a far more considered and sophisticated ideology than tabloid headlines might otherwise suggest. In 1975, the Sex Pistols formed, bringing together ideas of lare 1960s and early 1970s American garage bands, forming a new aggressive breed of rock‘n’roll – punk Rock. While the influencp of the Sex Pistols is often debated, the band is regarded by many as the spark that ignited the London Punk explosion in 1976. Inspired by their success, many groups incorporated their own controversial themes into music adopting an increasingly abrasive, angry tone, which is a trademark of the genre. Understandably, punk gained wide recognition as a violent and disorderly movement. In this essay, I argue that punk is a thoroughly misunderstood genre, inherently revolutionary and overtly anti-establishment. In order to do this, I intend to investigate specific examples and expressions of the punk movement, especially ‘London ‘77’and ‘Anarcho - Punk’ that blossomed from the original unk explosion.
SECTION 1 – UNITED KINGDOM, 1975-79
‘I don’t even know what tomorrow will bring But let me tell you, having no future is a terrible thing Standing around just waiting for a career I don’t take drugs and I don’t drink beer But this I say We have the right to work’
‘Right t o Work’, Chelsea, 1977
1 Miller, Russell. ‘ Who Are These Punks? ’ Daily Mirror , December 2 1976, p9.
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