Punk Music Philosophy

Punk rock developed as an anti-establishment musical current and it was meant as a response to the early sentimentality of the 1970’s rock. The philosophy of punk rock music is best described by Ramones drummer Tommy Ramone who said that punk is pure, stripped down music and not anything like bullshit rock’n’roll.

Punk also gained immense popularity because it met the need of rock music fans that were tired to hear sentimental bands being labeled as rock. For them, pure rock music was wild and rebellious. Punk gave them an opportunity to musically reject flower-power and hippie idealism. Punk is also strongly against any form of political control, rejecting political idealism. Still, some voices label punk and hippie music as having the same source of inspiration in the desire to form an anti-establishment culture. Both currents were against governments, politicians, wars and political labels.

Another feature of the punk rock mentality and philosophy is the DIY sprit, meaning the Do It Yourself current. Punk was against ostentatious effects and technological demands that characterized all mainstream rock bands. They had a practical philosophy of making music from what they could, usually using a few instruments like guitars and drums. Punk was also made by people who were not very talented, but felt the need to musically express themselves.

Famous punk bands rejected rock’n’roll icons like the Rolling Stones or Elvis. They had a philosophy of not getting inspired from the broader culture of rock. The Clash and the Sex Pistols developed a nothing-to-lose, nihilistic view towards life, best described by the Sex Pistols’ slogan 'No Future'. Punk was seen as social freedom in a society where unemployment and social unrest were at their peak. Punk bands didn’t want to have any social contracts, any obligations towards society; they just wanted to do nothing. This desire is also known as the self-imposed alienation of punk.