by holbert gladleberry

Created on: January 13, 2007   Last Updated: April 01, 2007

In 1977 when punk music exploded onto the scene, the bands that had mainstream success were accused of being sell outs and were often kicked out of the punk community. Punk was about going against the establishment, pushing the boundaries, and being yourself. In essence all rock, since it's arrival in the 1950's, has been about pushing the boundaries that had been established. But is punk actually about remaining an underground cult orginaztion, or is there room for punk bands to have mainstream success? If punk is about individuality and living your life how you want, then how come all punk bands have similar sounds and looks. Now I will be the first to admit that it takes a great deal of creativity to come up with some of the hairstyles associated with the punk movement, but has the mohawk simply become a fashion statement?

The most recent band accused of being sell-outs is Greenday. Over their career the style of writing has changed, but that can be expected from any band that has been around for 15 years. Between International Superhits and their most recent, American Idiot, their sound changed as well. Was this just a brilliant marketing move to stay relevant as punk has once again faded, or was this simply the band progressing? If punk is about doing what you want, then the acoustic Good Ridance, is the perfect example of this punk idealogy. As punk has progressed it has become associated with other styles, reggae and ska being two of the most prevalent, but some of the original sounds that caused the explosion in 1977 have been lost. In the age of music television are music videos another way of selling out or are they another medium of making their music heard.
If punk is against making money for financial profit then to avoid these petty arguments over whose a sell out and who isn't, couldn't they donate extra money to a worthy charity instead? Some people have said punk is dead, I don't agree with them, punk is still alive in the underground, but i think the term punk music is outdated. Punk music often makes people think of unruly behaviour, and you know who is keeping that title alive? Not all the punk bands, but the establishment.

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