Did Malcolm McLaren Invent Punk?

Rocknroll_Animal · 06-09-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

But in the words of Ian Dury: 'There ain't half been some clever bastards' and he recognised the potential of the scene , for good or bad.

Fans in the know do acknowledge the origins of Punk and attribute it to many American bands. Mc Claren bottled it, gave it a name and spawned a sub genre.

We could be pedantic and say that the British invasion in the 60's was a catalyst for the forerunners of Punk but then we would be going around in circles I guess.

Oh McLaren was pretty wily - I have respect for him as a businessman, just not a human being. And he's probably largely responsible for the London scene.

**Janszoon** · 06-09-2010, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

Fans in the know do acknowledge the origins of Punk and attribute it to many American bands. Mc Claren bottled it, gave it a name and spawned a sub genre.

I understand what you're getting at and agree to a certain extent but I wouldn't give McLaren credit for naming it.

jackhammer · 06-09-2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I understand what you're getting at and agree to a certain extent but I wouldn't give McLaren credit for naming it.

Not literally I guess. It was a general summary and hopefully you get what I was trying to say- in effect he was a businessman. I attribute the scene equally and won't say that the UK invented punk. That's presumptuous.

As an aside , I do think that U.K music benifitted from punk and the Post Punk genre produced some of the best U.K music in the early 80's.

I advise you all to watch Don Letts Punk documentary which is a superb account of the genre and not a bias piece that only regards the UK regarding Punk.

Rocknroll_Animal · 06-09-2010, 05:51 PM

Yeah I want to see that Letts film.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

in effect he was a businessman.

Too right - the Jubilee stunt was quite a bright idea.

**Janszoon** · 06-09-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

...the Post Punk genre produced some of the best U.K music in the early 80's.

Absolutely. Probably 90% of my favorite post-punk bands are from the UK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

I advise you all to watch Don Letts Punk documentary which is a superb account of the genre and not a bias piece that only regards the UK regarding Punk.

I don't think I've heard of that before I'll most certainly have to check it out. Thanks!

Neapolitan · 06-09-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

Fans in the know do acknowledge the origins of Punk and attribute it to many American bands. Mc Claren bottled it, gave it a name and spawned a sub genre.

Who's Mc Claren?

I don't know who came up with and decided on the term "Punk" but from what I heard Malcolm McLaren wanted the Sex Pistols to be known as "New Wave" as the term for their musical genre.

**Janszoon** · 06-09-2010, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

Who's Mc Claren?

I don't know who came up with and decided on the term "Punk" but from what I head Malcolm McLaren wanted the Sex Pistols to be known as "New Wave" as the term for their musical genre.

"from what I head"?

Engine · 06-09-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

"from what I head"?

I always knew that somebody must be the head of the "I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about" committee.

ElvisThunders · 02-19-2012, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

But in the words of Ian Dury: 'There ain't half been some clever bastards' and he recognised the potential of the scene , for good or bad.

Fans in the know do acknowledge the origins of Punk and attribute it to many American bands. Mc Claren bottled it, gave it a name and spawned a sub genre.

We could be pedantic and say that the British invasion in the 60's was a catalyst for the forerunners of Punk but then we would be going around in circles I guess.

Yes that is spot on. My favorite band is the New York Dolls so I despise Malcom with a passion but still Malcom is to punk rock what Alan Freed was to rock n roll. Rock-n-roll music existed before Freed and punk existed before McLaren (heck really before Freed!) but it was those men who really launched both revolutions (as much as I hate to say that about McLaren who made a bad situation for the Dolls much much worse)

Rock-n-roll wasn't rock-n-roll until Freed called it such over and over again and punk rock was just people who rejected boring hippy rock and preferred the old rock-n-roll until Malcom 'bottled it and gave it a name' as you said.

right-track · 06-09-2010, 05:16 PM

Two questions, same answer.
"Did Malcolm McLaren Invent Punk?"
"Would punk have happened (as we know it) had Mclaren not formed the Sex Pistols?"

06-09-2010, 05:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
right-track Atchin' Akai Join Date: May 2005 Location: Unamerica Posts: 8,769	Two questions, same answer. "Did Malcolm McLaren Invent Punk?" "Would punk have happened (as we know it) had Mclaren not formed the Sex Pistols?"