War of words: Punks versus rock's 'dinosaurs'

The British punk rock movement of the mid-’70s arose in reaction to the pomposity of prog rock bands and the emergence of pop music royalty that had become disconnected from fans. Sneering punks could be withering in their criticism of bloated old rockers. Conversely, the bloated old rockers could be haughty and dismissive toward the new generation of musicians that wanted to strip music down to its basics, and then sell the hubcaps on eBay.

While the tarty comments could fly, each camp also was capable of nuanced opinions of punk and what came before (though their verbal attacks and slams are far more interesting!). Below are 20 random quotes from musicians about punk rock, with annoying comments from me in italics. (If there’s no link included on a person’s name, I got the quote from the website A-Z Quotes.) And away we go…

“Punk rock isn't something you grow out of. Punk rock is an attitude, and the essence of that attitude is ‘give us some truth’” — Joe Strummer (The Clash)

Or at least some speed!

“My favourite band of that period was The Clash, definitely. They definitely had a dance sensibility, as well as a rock sensibility.” — Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)

If Mick can do the “rooster” to it, that’s all that matters.

“I don't think punk ever really dies, because punk rock attitude can never die.” — Billy Idol

I want to believe this means something, but I’m struggling to convince myself.

“Where there is young people and vitality, you're going to find punk rock.” — Henry Rollins (Black Flag)

OK, now Idol’s quote makes more sense. Thank you, Henry Rollins.

“I don’t think punk was inventing anything except negativity. The old rock & roll singers sang fantastically. They had great drummers, great sax players. As far as musicianship goes, the punk bands were just rubbish – no finesse in the drumming, just a lot of noise and nothing.” — George Harrison (The Beatles)

George was great, but he also was a curmudgeon.

“Punk rock is a word used by dilettantes and heartless manipulators about music that takes up the energies, the bodies, the hearts, the souls, the time and the minds of young men who give everything they have to it.” — Iggy Pop

Lighten up, Francis.

“Yeah, there was a certain spirit there. But I don’t think there was anything new musically, or even from the PR point of view, image-wise. There was too much image, and none of the bands were given enough chance to put their music together, if they had any. It seemed to be the least important thing. It was more important if you puked over somebody, you know?” — Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)

Keith from three-point land!

“I understood that it needed to happen. It was a great thing and something like [the Sex Pistols’] Pretty Vacant as a record, is really good. It was produced by Chris Thomas, who we knew — he was George Martin’s assistant and had worked on some Beatles stuff.” — Paul McCartney (The Beatles)

Cringeworthy note: As punk was ascending in Britain in 1976 and ‘77, Paul’s band Wings released three decidedly unpunk singles: Silly Love Songs, Mull of Kintyre, and With a Little Luck. Gobbers, report for duty.

“The punk thing worried me because it was a deliberate attempt to wipe out the past, the roots of music. It was a purely political move. It’s dangerous. And I think that’s why it was so exciting to people, the kind of revolution it symbolised. Thank God certain people carried on through it and ignored it. In a way, it was necessary, but it could’ve wiped out the origin of where we come from.” — Eric Clapton

Always worrying, Eric is! He also was freaked out by Hendrix (and, of course, Covid shots).

“Punk rock shouldn't be quality; it should be f**king mania. It should be gnarled, a glorious lo-fi live sound.” — David Vanian (The Damned)

And that’s what The Damned delivered.

“In fact, punk rock means exemplary manners to your fellow human beings.” — Joe Strummer

(No disrespect to The Clash front-man, but there is strong evidence suggesting this is not the case.)

“Punk was a statement of authenticity that couldn’t be adopted as the flavour of the month. Like the blues, punk was the people’s music, made for the people by the people. …Like jazz, punk was an expression of soul, one person’s sense of life to confirm another’s … Like all true poetry, punk plugged into to the rhythm of life, the heartbeat of desire transposed into the dreams of a generation. — Penny Rimbaud (Crass)

Few people in the U.S. know Penny, but he’s an intelligent guy and a great interview.

“What was actually happening at the time was the need for another tide wave. I suppose everybody wanted one band to do it and the Sex Pistols were obviously the most significant. I kind of welcomed and challenged it and wanted to happen it. Then I realised that the person they wanted to shoot was me.” — Pete Townshend (The Who)

Hope I die before I’m called old.

“The popularity of punk rock was, in effect, due to the fact that it made ugliness beautiful.” — Malcolm McLaren (manager, Sex Pistols)

I think it was more that punk prioritized feeling, honesty, and conviction over musical virtuosity. Maybe that’s what McLaren meant.

“When punk rock came along, the one thing you were not supposed to be was musical.” — Nick Lowe

The producer of the first British punk single was speaking slightly tongue-in-cheek, I suspect.

“Music is music; you can't change rock and say well this is punk rock and this is acid rock or rockabilly.” — Chuck Berry

That sort of explains the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which includes not only Chuck, but Dolly Parton, The Notorious B.I.G., and Harry Belafonte. It’s all music!

“Punk was rebellious — and justified in that response — but it had very little to do with music, and so it created a highly-charged but frighteningly floundering atmosphere that I found very, very disheartening. Musical quality for me has always been an important part of rock'n'roll-and winning recognition for that has long been an uphill battle all the way. Punk seemed like rock'n'roll utterly without the music.” — Steve Winwood (Traffic)

Frighteningly Floundering is a great band name just waiting to be used.

“There's not much music I'll listen to if it doesn't have pretty heavy swing. Rhythm is so important. Punk rock would have more power and feeling if it had swing.” — Greg Ginn (Black Flag)

But it wouldn’t be punk without that jackhammer beat!

“When punk began to be a genre, people were going to go out and try to mine it. Some of the better groups, like the Ramones and the Sex Pistols, were very artificial.” — Iggy Pop

Mom, Iggy’s hatin’ again!

“My theory is that punk really lived in the suburbs, the provinces. We believed the lie pedalled by Malcolm McLaren — that you could do it yourself — so it became real. We did do it ourselves and we made it happen. It became real because you believed the propaganda.” — Billy Childish

Like Penny Rimbaud, Childish is another British artist with a fascinating background and creative resume.