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Punk rock facts for kids

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Punk Rock
Stylistic origins Rock and roll, rockabilly, ska, surf rock, garage rock, glam rock, pub rock, protopunk
Cultural origins Mid-1970s, United States, United Kingdom, and Australia
Typical instruments Vocals • electric guitar • bass • drums • occasional use of other instruments
Derivative forms New Wave • post-punk • Gothic rock • alternative rock • grunge • emo
Subgenres
Anarcho-punk • art punk • Christian punk • crust punk • garage punk • glam punk • hardcore punk • oi! • Riot Grrrl • skate punk
Fusion genres
2 Tone • anti-folk • avant-punk • Celtic punk • Chicano punk • cowpunk • folk punk • Gaelic punk • Gypsy punk • pop punk • psychobilly • punk blues • punk jazz • ska punk

Punk rock (or "punk") is a music genre related to rock music. It is often described as harder, louder, and cruder than other rock music. Many punk rock songs have lyrics (words) which tell angry stories.

About punk rock

Punk rock is a style of music. Many musicians and punk rock music listeners ("punk rockers") want to protest or rebel against the norms or rules of society. Punks say that people should "Do It Yourself", which means that people should try to accomplish their goals using the materials in their own communities. Many punk bands make their own music recordings and distribute them without using a major record company.

Many punks have strong political beliefs. Punk rock musicians are often mad at the government, the police, and laws. Many punk rock songs protest injustice, lies, and unfairness in countries.

Many punk musicians put colored hair dye in their hair or put gel to make it stand up. They wear distinctive clothes as a form of protest or rebellion against the norms and rules of society.

Images for kids

  • The rock band The Clash performing onstage. Three members are shown. All three have short hair. Two of the members are playing electric guitars.

    The Clash, performing in 1980

  • The rock band The Kinks in a TV show performance. From left to right are a singer/electric guitarist, a drummer behind a small drumkit, and two guitarists.

    The Kinks onstage during a Dutch TV appearance in April 1967

  • A rock band is onstage. A drumkit is on the left. A singer, Iggy Pop, sings into a microphone. He is wearing jeans and has no shirt on.

    Iggy Pop, the "godfather of punk"

  • A female singer, Patti Smith, singing into a microphone at onstage performance. She holds the microphone with one hand; the other is raised up and in a closed hand.

    Patti Smith, performing in 1976

  • The front of the music club CBGB is shown. An awning has the letters CBGB painted on it. Below the name are the letters "OMFUG".

    Facade of legendary music club CBGB, New York

  • The band Flipper is performing at a club. From left to right are the singer, drummer and electric guitarist. The singer is seated on a stool, and he is holding a pair of crutches.

    Flipper, performing in 1984

  • Singer Debbie Harry is shown onstage at a concert. She is wearing jeans and a T-shirt.

    Debbie Harry performing in Toronto in 1977

  • Bad brains 1983

    Bad Brains at 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., 1983

  • A drummer, Dave Grohl, is playing drumkit. He is not wearing a shirt and his long hair is wet.

    Dave Grohl, future member of Seattle alternative rock band Nirvana, playing drums in 1989

  • Band performing onstage in front of fans

    Emo band My Chemical Romance

  • Two members of rock band Green Day shown onstage at a concert. From left to right, singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bass guitarist Mike Dirnt. Behind them are a row of large guitar speaker cabinets. Billie Joe gestures with both hands to the audience.

    Green Day singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, with bassist Mike Dirnt to the right.

  • Punk rock band performing music

    Rancid live in 2006

  • Sum 41 concert with members performing and blue lights shown

    Sum 41 playing live in March 2008

  • RiseAgainst2012

    Rise Against performing in Segrate, Italy in 2012

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Punk para niños

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