Punk Project

Music&with&Technology&
Understanding&20th&and&21st&Century&Music&(National&5)&
Unit&code:&H245& 75&
Genres&and&Styles&Booklet&Number&1:&
‘Punk’&&
This%booklet%can%be%used%to%assist%in%the%completion%the%following%aspects%
of%the%unit%Outcomes%and%Assessment%Standards%
Outcome&1&
&
The$candidate$will:$
$
1&
Describe&how&technological&developments&relate&to&20th&and&&
&
21st&century&music&by:&
&
1.1$ Describing$a$range$of$genres$and$styles$ ✓
$
1.2$ Describing$the$main$technologies$used$by$a$range$of$genres$and$$
$
styles$$
$
$
$
$
$
✓$
$
1.3$ Explaining$in$simple$terms$the$need$to$protect$intellectual$$
$
property$ $
$
$
$
$
✗
$
Outcome&2&
&
2$
Use&listening&skills&in&the&context&of&20th&and&21st&century&&
&
music&by:&
&
2.1$ Identifying$examples$of$a$range$of$genres$and$their$main$
attributes$ $
$
$
$
$
✓$
$
2.2$ Identifying$examples$of$a$range$of$relevant$musical$concepts$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
✓$
This%booklet%cannot%on%its%own%be%used%to%gather%all%the%necessary%
evidence%to%generate%the%necessary%assessment%evidence%for%the%Outcomes%
and%Assessment%Standards%relating%to%this%Unit.%It%should%be%used%in%
conjunction%with%additional%resources.%%%%%
Punk&(also$known$as$‘punk$rock’)$is$a$rock$music$genre$that$developed$in$the$UK,$USA,$and$
Australia$between$1974$and$1976.$
$
Punk$music$can$be$described$as$being$‘hard$edged’.$$The$songs$were$usually$short,$had$a$fast$
tempo$and$used$basic$instrumentation,$usually$electric&guitar,$bass&guitar$and$drum&kit.$$
Sometimes$the$lyrics$of$punk$songs$would$make$a$strong$political$statement.$$$
$
Before$you$find$out$more$about$punk&music,$here$are$some$famous$punk$bands$you$have$
perhaps$heard$about.$$Your$teacher$might$be$able$to$play$you$audio$or$video$examples$of$these$
bands.$
Formed:$
$
London,$1975$
$
$
1. The$Sex$Pistols$
Members:$
Johnny$Rotten$(later$Lydon)$
$
Notable$Album$
$
$
$
Notable$Singles$
$
$
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Formed:$
$
Members:$
2. The$Ramones$
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$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Notable$Album$$
$
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3.$ The$Clash$
$
$
$
$
Notable Single
$
$
Formed:$
$
Members:$
$
$
$
$
$
$
(lead$vocals),$Steve$Jones$
(guitar),$Glen$Matlock$(bass$
guitar)$and$Paul$Cook$
(drums).$$(Matlock$replaced$
by$Sid$Vicious$in$1977)$
Manager$–$Malcolm$McLaren$
‘Never$Mind$the$B******S,$
Here’s$the$Sex$Pistols’$
‘God$Save$the$Queen’,$$
‘Anarchy$in$the$UK’$
New$York,$1974$
Founding$members$were$
Douglas$Colvin$(lead$vocals/$
bass$guitar),$John$Cummings$
(lead$guitar),$Jeffrey$Hyman$$
(drums);$however,$the$band$
members$later$used$made$up$
names$all$using$the$surname$
‘Ramone’.$
‘The$Ramones’$
‘Blitzkrieg$Bop’$
$
$
$
$
$
Notable$Albums$
&
Notable$Singles&
&
&
&
$
$
$
London,$1976$
Founding$members$were$Joe$$
Strummer$(lead$vocals/$
rhythm$guitar),$Mick$Jones$$
(lead$guitar/vocals),$Paul$
Simonon$(bass$guitar/$
vocals)$and$Nicky$‘Topper’$
Headon$(drums$–$joined$‘77)$
‘The$Clash’,$‘London$Calling’&&
‘London$Calling’,$‘Should$I$
Stay$or$Should$I$Go’$
$
4.$ The$Damned$
$
Formed:$
$
Members:$
$
$
$ 5.$ Siouxsie$and$the$Banshees$
$
$
$ 6.$ Generation$X$
$
$
$ 7.$$ The$Undertones$
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$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Notable$Album$$
&
Notable$Single& &
$
$
London,$1976$
Founding$members$were$
Dave$Vanian$(lead$vocals),$
Brian$James$(guitar),$Captain$$
Sensible$(bass$guitar),$Rat$
Scabies$(drums)$
‘Damned$Damned$Damned’&&
‘Neat$Neat$Neat’$
$
Formed:$
$
$
Members:$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Notable$Albums$
&
Notable$Single& &
$
$
London,$1976$
Formed:$
$
$
Members:$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Notable$Albums$
$
$
$
&
Notable$Single& &
$
$
Formed:$
$
$
Members:$
London,$1976$
Notable$Album$$
&
Notable$Single& &
$
$
Original$members$were$$
Siouxsie$Sioux$(lead$vocals),$
Steven$Severin$(bass$guitar),$$
Kenny$Morris$(drums),$John$
McKay$(guitar)$
‘Juju’,$‘The$Scream’&&
‘Happy$House’$
$
Bestfknown$linefup$was$
Billy$Idol$(lead$vocals),$
Tony$James$(bass$guitar),$$
Bob$Andrews$(guitar),$Mark$
Laff$(drums)$
‘Generation$X’,$‘Valley$of$the$$
Dolls’&&
‘Ready$Steady$Go’$
$
Londonderry,$1975$
Founding$members$were$
Feargal$Sharkey$(lead$
vocals),$John$O’Neil$(rhythm$
guitar/vocals),$Damian$
O’Neil$(lead$guitar/vocals),$$
Michael$Bradley$(bass$
guitar/vocals)$and$Billy$
Doherty$(drums)$
‘The$Undertones’$
‘Teenage$Kicks’$
$
$ 8.$ Buzzcocks$
$
$
$
$
$ 9.$ The$Jam$
$ $
$ $
$
$
$ 10.$ The$Stranglers$
$
Formed:$
$
$
Members:$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Notable$Album$$
&
Notable$Single& &
$
$
$
$
$
Bolton,$1976$
Formed:$
$
$
$
Members:$
$
$
Surrey,$1972$(Began$$
recording$in$1977)$
‘Singles$Going$Steady’$
‘Ever$Falling$In$Love$(With$
Someone$You$Shouldn’t’ve)$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Bestfknown$linefup$was$Paul$$
Weller$(Guitar/lead$vocals),$
Bruce$Foxton$(bass$
guitar/vocals),$Rick$Buckler$$
(drums)$
$
‘All$Mod$Cons’$
$
$
Notable$Albums$
&
Notable$Singles&
‘Going$Underground’,$‘Town$$
$
$
$
Called$Malice’$$
$
Note$–$The$Jam$stated$off$as$a$Punk$band,$but$later$$
developed$styles$of$music$known$as$‘new$wave’$$
and$‘mod$revival’.$$More$on$this$later.$
Formed:$
$
Members:$
$
$
$
$
Notable$Album$$
&
Notable$Singles$
$
$
Founding$members$were$$
Pete$Shelley$(vocals/guitar)$$
and$Howard$Devoto$(vocals)$
Surrey,$1974$$
Bestfknown$linefup$was$
Hugh$Cornwell$(guitar$lead$
and$backing$vocals),$$
JeanfJacques$Burnel$(bass$
guitar,$lead$and$backing$
vocals),$Dave$Greenfield$
(keyboards/backing$vocals),$$
Jett$Black$(drums)$
$
‘No$More$Heroes’$
‘No$More$Heroes’$
(The$band$also$had$notable$
hit$single$called$‘Golden$
Brown’,$but$this$song$was$
not$in$the$punk$style!)$
Formed:$
$
Members:$
$
$ 11.$ $The$Skids$
$
$
$
$
$
Dunfermline,$1977$$
Founding$members$were$$
Richard$Jobson$
(guitar/vocals),$Stuart$
Adamson$(guitar/vocals),$$
William$Simpson$(bass$
guitar/vocals),$Thomas$
Kellichan$(drums)$
$
‘Scared$to$Dance’$
$
Notable$Album$$
&
Notable$Single$
‘Into$the$Valley’$
$
Like$The$Jam,$The$Skids$were$by$some$considered$to$
be$a$‘new$wave’$band,$rather$than$‘punk’.$$$
$
Other$bands$worth$listening$to$who$were$influenced$by$punk$(especially$in$their$early$
albums)$include$Blondie,$The$Police,$Joy$Division,$The$Cure,$Public$Image$Ltd,$The$
Boomtown$Rats$and$Adam$and$the$Ants.$$Your$might$be$able$to$discover$more$bands$to$
add$to$this$list.$$Some$of$these$bands$were$considered$to$play$in$the$‘new$wave’$style.$
$
How&Punk&Started&P&Historical&and&Cultural&Context&of&Punk&
$
To$find$the$reasons$why$punk$music$(and$punk$culture$in$general)$started,$it$is$important$to$
recognise$the$various$problems$that$were$in$the$world$during$the$1970s.$$$
$
For$many$countries$(including$the$UK$and$the$USA),$economic$performance$in$the$1970s$was$
very$poor.$$It$was$a$time$of$high$inflation,$the$decline$of$large$industries$and$a$high$level$of$
workers’$strikes.$$$$As$a$result,$it$was$a$time$of$high$unemployment$with$many$teenagers$having$
little$chance$of$finding$a$job$when$they$left$school.$$In$addition,$there$was$something$called$the$
‘Cold$War’$between$the$USA$and$the$Soviet$Union$(Russia)$which$created$a$lot$of$tension$in$the$
world$as$it$seemed$that$a$devastating$nuclear$war$could$begin$at$any$moment.$$Young$people$
felt$that$those$in$power,$the$politicians,$were$not$listening$to$their$problems$and$doing$nothing$
to$improve$their$lives.$$They$felt$left$out$and$‘alienated’.$$
$
As$well$as$feeling$alienated$and$having$very$little$prospect$of$finding$a$job,$many$teenagers$in$
the$early$1970s$were$also$disillusioned$with$1970s$culture$in$general.$$The$music$charts,$for$
example,$contained$acts$that$they$either$couldn’t$relate$to$or$bands$that$just$seemed$to$be$out$
of$place$given$the$harsh$and$difficult$nature$of$dayftofday$life.$$$
$
These$included$‘easy$listening’$acts$such$as$The$Carpenters,$Barry$Manilow$and$Neil$Diamond;$
large$and$elaborate$‘prog$rock’$bands$such$as$Yes,$Genesis$and$Rush;$and,$sofcalled$‘cheesy$pop’$
acts$such$as$Abba,$The$Osmonds$and$David$Cassidy.$$In$fact,$even$the$famous$‘glam$rock’$stars$
of$the$day$(for$example$Elton$John,$Slade,$T.Rex,$The$Sweet,$Rocky$Music$and$David$Bowie’s$
‘Ziggy$Stardust’$character)$were$deemed$by$many$teenagers$to$be$alien$and$remote$in$
comparison$to$their$own$harsh$personal$situation.$$(Although$glam$rock$was$in$fact$to$play$a$
role$in$influencing$the$development$of$punk$music.)$$As$most$young$people$had$very$little$
money,$the$simply$couldn’t$afford$to$go$to$these$large$and$elaborate$concerts$and$the$musicians$
playing$the$music$seemed$to$have$nothing$in$common$with$their$own$teenage$lives.$$$
$
This$led$to$the$rise$in$popularity$of$small$bands$playing$small$venues,$where$young$people$
could$listen$to$live$music$for$free,$enjoying$themselves$with$their$friends.$$In$these$free$concerts$
(or$‘gigs’),$music$fans$could$get$close$to$those$playing$the$music$as$well$as$meet$the$performers$
after$the$gig.$$In$the$UK$(and$in$London$in$particular)$this$became$known$as$‘pub$rock’.$$London$
pubs$would$provide$a$venue$for$the$bands$to$play,$bringing$in$crowds$of$young$people$who$
would$spend$money$at$the$bar.$$These$pub$rock$bands$tended$to$play$music$that$was$relatively$
simple$to$play,$such$as$1950s$rock$‘n’$roll$and$1960s$rhythm$and$blues.$$In$addition,$bands$
would$use$‘back$to$basics’$instrumentation:$electric$guitar,$bass$guitar$and$drums,$all$played$
through$small$and$portable$amplifiers.$$The$music$was$played$with$a$high$level$of$energy,$with$
the$songs$played$at$a$faster$tempo$than$the$original$1950s/1960s$recording.$$Most$songs$
would,$therefore,$only$last$for$around$2$minutes$in$length.$
$
Eventually$bands$started$to$experiment,$writing$their$own$songs$with$lyrics$reflecting$their$
own$lives,$all$being$played$with$the$same$instruments$(guitars$and$drums)$and$at$the$same$
high$level$of$energy$and$fast$tempo.$$Consequently,$this$was$the$beginning$of$the$punk$musical$
style.$$In$the$USA$this$form$of$music$was$known$as$‘Garage$Rock’$as$bands$would$often$rehearse$
in$the$large$car$garages$that$existed$in$many$American$houses.$$$
$
In$addition$to$being$influenced$by$1950s$rock$‘n’$roll$and$1960$rhythm$and$blues,$punk$music$
was$also$influenced$by$‘glam$rock’$acts$such$as$T.$Rex,$Sweet,$Lou$Reed$(and$his$band$The$
Velvet$Underground),$Iggy$Pop$and$New$York$Dolls.$$In$fact,$although$they$were$part$of$the$
‘glam$rock’$scene,$The$New$York$Dolls$are$considered$by$many$to$be$one$of$the$first$bands$to$
play$music$in$the$punk$style.$$The$New$York$Dolls$were$highly$influential$in$the$development$of$
both$punk$music$and$rock$music$in$general.$$For$example,$there$would$probably$be$no$Guns$N’$
Roses$(or$many$other$great$rock$bands$for$that$matter)$if$it$weren’t$for$The$New$York$Dolls.$$$
$
As$well$as$the$development$of$punk$music,$punk$fashion$also$came$into$being$around$the$mid$
1970s.$$One$of$the$key$figures$in$the$development$of$punk$fashion$was$Malcolm$McLaren.$$
McLaren$was$a$musician,$a$visual$artists$and$clothes$designer$who$owned$a$London$fashion$
boutique$that$originally$sold$clothes$in$the$1950s$rock$‘n’$roll$style$(also$known$as$‘Teddy$Boy’$
clothes).$$However,$following$a$visit$to$New$York$(where$he$met$the$band$The$New$York$Dolls)$
McLaren$returned$to$London$and$completely$changed$the$theme$of$his$boutique.$$He$started$to$
sell$clothes$that$became$part$of$punk$fashion$culture,$including$the$famous$coloured$patent$
leather$costumes$which$he$cofdesigned$with$his$then$girlfriend$Vivienne$Westwood.$(Vivienne$
Westwood$eventually$became$a$famous$fashion$designer.)$$Punk$fashion$was$born.$$
$
$Key&Innovator&
$
Malcolm$McLaren$(1946$–$2010)$
$
As$well$as$developing$punk$fashion,$McLaren$was$
famous$for$being$the$manager$of$The$Sex$Pistols.$$
He$later$wrote$and$performed$his$own$music$in$a$
range$of$styles$including$hip&hop&and$world&
$
music.&
$
Some$examples$of$punk$fashion.$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$$
$
Punk$culture$also$influenced$visual$art.$$The$design$of$many$punk$album$covers,$concert$
posters$and$flyers$attempted$to$incorporate$the$‘shock’$characteristic$of$punk$culture.$$This$
eventually$led$to$punk$art$being$displayed$in$many$art$galleries$and$exhibition$spaces.$
$
This$is$a$famous$example$of$punk$art.$$
It$was$used$to$promote$the$song$‘God$
Save$the$Queen’$by$the$Sex$Pistols,$
appearing$on$the$front$cover$of$the$
single$and$on$other$promotional$
material.$$$&
$
$
$
Here$are$some$more$examples$of$punk$art:$
$
$
$
Features&of&Punk&Music&Including&Instruments&and&Significant&Technologies&
$
One$of$the$ideas$behind$the$punk$movement$was$that$anyone$could$form$or$join$a$band,$you$
didn’t$have$to$be$a$great$musician$(or$own$an$expensive$instrument)$to$be$part$of$the$punk$
music$scene.$$Punk$songs$were$short,$musically$simple$(most$songs$only$used$a$few$chords)$
and$not$that$hard$to$play.$$Consequently,$punk$bands$would$change$personnel$(their$‘linefup’)$
all$of$the$time,$with$players$moving$from$one$band$to$another$on$a$regular$basis.$$$
$
Therefore,$by$its$very$nature$punk$music$used$simple$‘back$to$basics’$instrumentation,$usually$
consisting$of$rhythm$and$lead$electric&guitar,$bass&guitar$and$drum&kit.$$Some$bands$(such$as$
The$Stranglers)$would$also$have$a$keyboard$player,$playing$keyboard$instruments$such$as$the$
Hammond$electric$organ,$Minimoog$synthesizer&and$early$polyphonic&synthesizers$such$as$
the$Oberheim$FVSf4.$$However,$for$most$punk$bands$it$was$simply$vocals,$guitars$and$drums.$$
$
Amplification$was$also$kept$simple.$$Many$punk$bands$would$play$small$venues,$travelling$up$
and$down$the$country$playing$many$gigs$during$the$course$of$a$week.$$All$musical$equipment$
had$to$fit$into$the$back$of$a$van$(usually$a$Ford$Transit!),$meaning$only$a$few$amplifiers$and$a$
basic$PA$system$would$be$used.$$However,$all$of$this$just$seemed$to$‘fit’$the$overall$philosophy$
of$punk$culture,$helping$to$shape$the$sound$and$character$of$the$music.$$$
$
The$simple$nature$of$punk$music$means$that$is$it$difficult$to$find$a$‘significant$technology’$that$
originated$in$the$development$of$this$musical$genre.$$$However,$one$development$was$the$use$
of$overfcompressed$distorted$guitar$on$many$punk$recordings.$$Distortion$had$of$course$been$
used$before$punk,$but$recording$engineers$started$to$experiment$with$the$effect$known$as$
compression,$using$more$compression$than$was$previously$deemed$to$be$acceptable$
especially$when$recording$instruments$such$as$the$electric$guitars.$$When$added$to$distortion,$
this$high$amount$of$compression$helped$to$create$the$harsh$‘in$your$face’$electric$guitar$punk$
sound.$$$$$
$
SubPgenres&of&Punk&
&
Like$most$musical$styles,$punk$eventually$led$to$a$number$of$related$movements$known$as$
‘subfgenres’.$$$Here$is$a$list$of$punk$‘subfgenres’$and$bands.$
$
Subfgenre$ $
$
Examples$of$Bands$$
$
New&Wave& &
&
Blondie,$Talking$Heads,$The$Jam$
$
2&Tone&&
&
&
&
(or&‘two&tone’&a&mixture&& The$Specials,$Madness,$The$Beat&
of&punk&and&‘ska’)&
&
Hardcore&Punk&
&
Black$Flag,$Minutemen,$Suicidal$Tendencies,$Wasted$Youth$
(usually&just&known&
as&‘hardcore’)&
$
PostPpunk&
The$Psychedelic$Furs,$Joy$Division,$The$Cure,$Echo$and$The$
Bunnymen,$Sonic$Youth$
$
$
$
Finally,$here$are$some$modern$bands$that$have$been$influence$by$punk.$$You$will$no$doubt$be$
able$to$add$more$to$this$list.$
$
Green$Day$
Blinkf182$
The$Offspring$
My$Chemical$Romance$
Rise$Against$
The$Strokes$
$
$
$
Now$that$you$have$learned$about$punk$music,$complete$the$tasks$on$the$following$pages.$$This$
can$then$be$used$as$assessment$evidence$for$you$to$fulfil$the$requirements$of$this$Unit.$$$
$
$
$
However,$before$that$it’s$time$to$do$something$a$bit$more$exciting$f$grab&a&
guitar,&get&together&with&your&mates,&write&some&2&minutes&killer&songs&and&
form&a&band!&&Call&&
$
Understanding+20th+and+21st+Century+Music+(National+5)+
Unit+assessment+task+1:+candidate’s+response+sheet++
Candidate’s&name&&
&
Genre&
&
Date&
&
&
Description$of$at&least&three&main&features$of$the$genre$you$have$chosen.$
&
Feature&
$
Typical&instrumentation&
used&
!
&
Historical&context&
(eg&decade,&earlier&genres&
which&influenced&this&one,&
influential&events&
happening&in&the&world)&
&
&
Cultural&context&(eg&
geographical&area,&ethnic&
groups,&other&related&
developments&in&the&arts)&
&
&&
Key&innovators&
&
&
SubPgenres&
&
&
A&significant&technology&
used&within&this&genre&
&
Description&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&List$here$any$examples$of$music$of$this$genre$that$you$have$listened$to$which$have$helped$you$
&to$develop$your$understanding:$
$&
Note$–$this$needs$to$be$done$for$at$least$another$two$
genres$in$order$to$fulfil$the$requirements$of$this$Unit$
Listen$to$some$example$of$punk$music.$$With$your$teacher,$discuss$the$various$musical$
concepts$that$are$present$in$the$music.$$$
Understanding+20th+and+21st+Century+Music+(National+5)+
Unit+assessment+task+4:+listening+log+—+identifying+concepts+
Candidate’s&name&&
&
$
Title&of&song/piece&
$
Genre/style&
$
Date&completed:&
$
In$this$piece,$I$have$identified$the$following$music$concepts:$
Melody/harmony&
$
Rhythm/tempo&
$
Texture/structure/form& $
Timbre/dynamics&
$
$
Title&of&song/piece&
$
Genre/style&
$
Date&completed:&
$
In$this$piece,$I$have$identified$the$following$music$concepts:$
$
Melody/harmony&
Rhythm/tempo&
Texture/structure/form&
Timbre/dynamics&
$
$
$
$
Title&of&song/piece&
$
Genre/style&
$
Date&completed:&
$
In$this$piece,$I$have$identified$the$following$music$concepts:$
Melody/harmony&
$
Rhythm/tempo&
$
Texture/structure/form& $
Timbre/dynamics&
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Note$–$to$fulfil$the$requirements$of$this$Unit$the$pupil$must$eventually$undertake$
an$assignment$where$they$can$identify$at$least$six$appropriate$genres$and$their$
relevant$musical$concepts.$$$$
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Attributes&I&hear&that&help&me&to&identify&the&punk&genre:&
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