The Punk Movement has Always Been a Protest

Spiky hair, piercings, eyeliner and platforms. Is that what punk’s about? At its core, punk is more than an image. It’s a political protest movement, born from an era of corrupt government, joblessness and class division. It calls out injustices and uses its voice to ‘stick it to the man.’

Origins of unrest

Sources are conflicted on whether to credit New York City, United States of America (U.S.), or London, United Kingdom (UK), with the invention of punk. In the late 1960s, counterculture movements were beginning in both the U.S. and the UK.

In the U.S., young rebels were protesting their country’s involvement in the Vietnam War. They were involved in the Civil Rights movement, pushing to end segregation. They rejected the homogenous ‘American values’ that emerged in the 1950s and ‘60s. They wanted freedom: of expression and from oppression.

In the UK, a crisis of poverty and unemployment caused unrest among the population. London was filthy, the streets covered in garbage and urine. The police were corrupt. Free speech was limited. The working class felt unheard and unvalued, causing many union strikes.

From this unrest came the punk subculture. Youth of the era banded together, using their voices to fight the power and live freely. In the 1970s, punk was born.

American punks

Iggy and the Stooges. Iggy leaning back, his pelvis tilted toward the camera.Iggy's shirt is unbuttoned, revealing his bare torso.

Iggy and the Stooges. photo: iggyandthestoogesmusic.com

The American punk rock sound emerged from what is now referred to as proto-punk. It was the unkempt sounds of garage bands that called the hippie movement watered-down and the rock’n’roll industry commercial. Bands like The Stooges, Motor City Five and The Velvet Underground led the soundtrack of the anti-establishment American youth. With songs about celebrity culture, sexual liberation and White America, proto-punk led the way for punk rock bands that followed.

New York band Ramones are often credited as the first ever punk rock band. They had a similar sound to their predecessors, but also the style and attitude that now define the genre. Their 1976 self-titled debut album referenced war, corporal punishment, tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, teen unrest and more.

Blitzkrieg Bop
Ramones

London rebellion

Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols on stage, holding microphone out to the crowd, prompting them to sing.

Sex Pistols in Holland, 1977. photo: Peter Stone / Mirrorpix

In the UK, the punk movement picked up swiftly. The working class in London was destitute and youth felt no hope for their futures. The controlling rule of the conservative British government was the target of punk fury.

The British punk rock rebellion was led by The Sex Pistols. In 1976, the band burst onto the scene with their first single “Anarchy in the UK.” The song directly rejected the corruption in British society, openly declaring “I wanna be anarchy.” The band’s entire debut album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, criticized the “facist regime” of the British government.

The Clash followed closely behind, using their debut album to criticize class divisions, police brutality and the sheep-like mentality of British citizens.

White Riot
The Clash

More than the music

Cover of Buzzcocks EP, Spiral Scratch, with black and white photo of the band surrounded by white frame with band name and title

cover of buzzcocks ep, spiral scratch via spotify

Punk rock was more than just lyrical manifestos, it was a lifestyle. Bands embodied their rebellious values outside of their music.

Manchester band Buzzcocks rejected the mainstream music industry by becoming one of the first punk bands to have their own label. They took their values one step further by printing instructions on how to make music independently on the sleeve of their 1977 EP, Spiral Scratch.

Essex-based band Crass are largely considered a prime example of living the authentic punk lifestyle. Their shows were often fundraisers for progressive causes. Their music was sold with accompanying essays and contacts for rebellious political organisations. The band attended miner strikes and supported anti-war campaigns. They attached maps of British nuclear sites to copies of their single “Nagasaki Nightmare,” putting themselves at risk of government inquiry (Worley 73).

The enduring message of punk

In the 1980s, punk became a global phenomenon. As the style grew, it spawned many subgenres. Bands like Minor Threat and Dead Kennedys brought the more aggressive, fast-paced hardcore punk. Ska punk’s fusion style was popularized by bands like Goldfinger and Sublime. Bikini Kill pioneered the Riot Grrrl sounds, penning anti-patriarchy anthems that brought recognition to female punk. Pop-punk, probably the most popular subgenre today, brought the melodic messages of Blink-182 and Green Day.

In 2014, Against Me! put out their album Transgender Dysphoria Blues. The album spoke freely about lead singer Laura Jean Grace’s transition, cementing the band’s reputation for addressing socio-political issues. The Linda Lindas, a group of teenage punk queens, carry the feminist punk flag with songs such as “Racist, Sexist Boy” and “Resolution/Revolution.”

Though modern punk is more sonically diverse, it carries on the message the subculture has always championed: when the system is corrupt, use your voice to fight it.

Sources cited:

Worley, Matthew. “One Nation Under the Bomb: The Cold War and British Punk to 1984.” Journal for the Study of Radicalism, vol. 5, no. 2, 2011, pp. 65–83, https://doi.org/10.1353/jsr.2011.0015.


Author Anna Farinaccio

Anna Farinaccio is a Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Anna’s parents raised her on a wide range of music. They taught her about the significant role music plays in society and culture. She grew up pursuing many creative passions, such as dance and theatre. These passions led her to a career in writing. Musicians and their influence inspire Anna everyday. A long-time punk fan, the first song she added to her childhood MP3 player was The Clash’s “Train in Vain.” 

Bob Marley: Reggae’s Political Poster Child

Reggae is a unique genre of music. It is 60 years young and hails specifically from Jamaica. Within its up-tempo rhythms and signature four-beat pace live lyrics that “give voice to the oppressed.”  Reggae music has always had a political undertone; it is baked into the genre by design. So naturally their biggest star, Bob Marley, is reggae’s political poster child.

The humble beginnings

Growing up in Jamaica’s ghettos did not harden Marley. A shy and timid child, it’s hard to believe he would grow up to be a musical powerhouse, giving voice to those with none. In his early teens, Marley was exposed to Jamaica’s ska scene. He recorded “Judge Not” and “One Cup of Coffee:” simple, peppy songs. He created the second half of his moniker, the Wailers, shortly after. Their hit “Simmer Down” won a local contest, and from there, a portal was opened. It was clear to Jamaica that songs of liberation needed to be popularized. And so began Marley’s influence on the world.

Bob Marley on stage with Jamaica's Prime Minister and opposing party leader, hands held together by Bob Marley.

Bob Marley at his One Love Peace concert. Photo by Ebet roberts for getty images.

“One Love” peace concert and its politics

Marley was surrounded by political rife. Jamaica’s left- and right-wing parties were puppeteered by gangs. The affiliation caused unnecessary violence in Jamaica, even causing Marley to get shot. Because of the peaceful nature of the Rastafarian culture in Jamaica, both parties felt harmony was necessary. In 1978, the One Love Peace Concert was birthed by none other than Bob Marley. The concert was a bold move to make. It was an even bolder move when Marley grabbed both opposing party leaders’ hands together after his performance. A symbol of peace, it was an iconic moment in Jamaica’s history.

Marley’s discography

“One Love” is an iconic Bob Marley song. Singing woefully “There is one question I'd really love to ask: Is there a place for the hopeless sinner?” The song inspired change for Jamaica. But Marley has countless other songs in his discography that evoke his politics.

Bob Marley and The Wailer's album cover forSurvival. Pictured are 48 African flags.

Bob marley’s 11th studio album, survival.

His album Survival is an unembellished display of uniting Black people in the struggle against slavery, with songs like “Africa Unite” and “Zimbabwe.” Commanding lyrics like “How good and how pleasant it would be… To see the unification of all Africans” express his stance on slavery and human rights—Black people deserve liberation.

Marley’s song “I Shot the Sheriff” is a fantastic display of storytelling with a political twist. Marley is outrunning a cop and shoots him in self-defence. But clearly in the song, Marley is not guilty and the cop is against him for other reasons. “Sheriff John Brown always hated me, for what? I don’t know.” Unfortunately for Marley, we do know. Sheriff John Brown is discriminating against him for his race. This song accurately croons about police brutality. It is still relevant 50 years later.

Other songs express Marley’s politics around capitalism and what he coins “the rat race.” A song with that very title sings “political violence fill ya city… rasta don’t work for no C.I.A.” His haunting song “Concrete Jungle” exposes the lack of freedoms for Black people, even though formal slavery has ended. “No chains around my feet, but I’m not free, I know I am bound here in captivity.” These songs make clear the slavery found in modern life today. Marley was likely singing about the political violence that kept much of Jamaica hiding behind curfews and dodging bullets. Unfortunately, political violence is still a reality for many countries today, and the message of being chained by capitalism is also a sad reality of modern life.

Marley’s influence

Bob Marley and his seven other band members, The Wailers..

Bob marley and the wailers. photo by adrian boot for kensington hilton.

Marley’s global influence cannot be understated. As much as he brought reggae to a mainstream audience, he was also an influence on society as a whole. The rolling stone puts it perfectly: Marley lives on because he was a truth-teller. And a truth-teller is the pillar of political change, of protesting, of opening the eyes of the public. Marley never sugar-coated a single hardship. And yet, he sang of the possibility of peace and unity for the world. He sang it effortlessly, like he knew the future he sang of existed. Balancing peace and the truth is a hard line to walk. And when it’s done through a political lens, it can be even harder to embody. And yet, Marley has managed the impossible.

Marley forever changed the landscape of reggae and the possibility of songs inciting political change. A poster child no more, Marley has reached prophet status.


Lashanda Forsberg is a student of Professional Writing at Algonquin College. When she isn’t curled up with a book or going down a YouTube rabbit hole, she has music playing. From r&b to reggae to rap, music is an important part of Lashanda’s life. Coming from a musical family chock full of guitarists and songwriters helps Lashanda relate to and appreciate music. Find her other blog writings at lashandaforsberg.com or read her poetry on instagram @writingsfromsaturn.