Colin Stock LIB 150 February 17, 2008

Punk Rock History

Topic and Thesis Statement This is the history of punk rock, starting in the mid to late sixties and continuing on until today. Introduction Rock and roll music has always been on the rebellious side of music, but as far as rebellion goes, punk takes the cake. Punk was a name given to the bands of an era, where personality and attitude outweighed musical ability. What started in the mid sixties with bands like MC5, Velvet Underground, and Iggy and the Stooges, laid the groundwork for what we now call “pre punk”. By the early seventies these bands and others like The New York Dolls and Television helped shape the style behind punk. It wasn’t until the mid seventies, that what we now call punk came about. This is when an explosion of talented and memorable bands such as the Ramones, Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Deadboys, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Misfits, or Dead Kennedys came about, to put a twist on rock. Until this time, the music was very similar but the I don’t give a F*** attitude segregated the sub-genre. Now punk rockers had their own attitude and musical force to stand behind. Although punk is considered more than just a form of music, Patti Smith is considered one of the originators in the punk scene, proving that attitude was the main driving point behind the movement. Topic Analysis Keywords Punk – pre punk, post punk, new wave, no wave, grunge, hardcore, and ska Rock – alternative, metal, classic, indie, and pop History – movement, story, past, beginning, and steps Proquest Topics Punk rock Punk rock music Rock music and Punk rock

LC Subject Headings Punk rock music Punk rock music – History and crisicism Punk culture – History Web Sources

Leopold, Todd. “The Revolution That Saved Rock.” CNN Entertainment Mon, 17 Nov. 2003 <http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/13/punk.box/index.html>.

I found this site using a google search of punk + movement. This is a quality source for my bibliography but on the down side, it is lacking a lot of information. Todd Leopold does a good job summarizing an entire movement into a short two page article. This will make a good secondary source, it backs up a lot of information I have acquired elsewhere.

Periodical Articles Lentini, Pete. "Punk's Origins: Anglo-American syncretism." Journal of Intercultural

Studies 24.2 (Aug. 2003): 153-174. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. North Seattle Community College. 1 February 2008. <http://search.ebscohost.com/>

Using the Academic Search Premier databaseI was able to find this great article. I used an academic journal search with the keywords punk and history. This would make for a great primary source. Author Pete Lentini has done a lot of investigating, using many different (very well cited) sources. It is full of easy to read and locate facts.

Reed, Alexander S. "Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984. " Rev. of: Popular

Music and Society 30.2 (2007): 281-283. Arts Module. ProQuest. North Seattle Community College. 18 Feb. <2008 http://www.proquest.com.ez.sccd.ctc.edu:3048/>

Using a full text, scholarly journal, and citation and abstract search with the topic being punk, I was able to find this article. Author Alexander Reed does a good job of giving useful information in this short article. However no sources are listed, thus making this a weaker source with good information.

Books McNeil, Legs, and Gillian McCain. Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History Of

Punk. 2nd ed. New York: Grove Press, 1997. I found this book in UW’s library catalog using the keyword search terms Punk and History. This is a perfect resource for my bibliography. Authors Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain have done all the necessary research and provide all the history that I will need to write a great report. Not only were the authors in the punk scene when the punk scene didn’t have a name but they have personally interviewed every band, groupie, and industry person that their book talks about. Legs McNeil is also co founder of Punk Magazine. This book will be my main source; my other online sources and other books will back the book Please Kill Me up.

Extra Credit Interview with Iggy Pop “Growsky Interviews Iggy Pop.” CBC Archives. 11 March 1977. Canadian Broadcasting

Corporation. 18 Feb. 2008 < http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-68-102-761/arts_entertainment/punk/clip1>.

Self-Evaluation Prior to this class I used Yahoo to search for everything. With the information I have obtained, I will be able to find quality information that I can depend on for future classes. At the moment my goals are to take a few courses before fall quarter when I plan to join the Watch Technology program. I’m sure that the research process I have learned throughout this class will help me over come any difficulties finding proper information. Citing sources is a completely different matter, just joking.