What do you consider 'punk music'?
 

Okay okay, so maybe Good Charlotte isn't punk. But for all you punk people out there, what defines punk music? The image I draw in my mind is either a unruly kid from the 80's with more metal on him than a hardware store, or more so an English 'punk' along the same lines. Would Blink 182 be classified as punk?

Most hardcore punks hate blink, and don't consider them near punk. The general poublic does tho.
To me punk music is fast, loud, and maybe offensive. ;) Listen to a band like NOFX, Anti-flag, or something to that extent.

oh, and a lot of it carries a serious message, often politically oriented.
The punk bands are usually totally saying what they want, and aren't afraid of what people wil think. Its not about being popular to them, or selling records/making money.

Isn't that what most bands do now a'days no matter the genre to get out there and become famous?

Not all of them. a lot of bands sing about parties, love, girls, growing up, that kinda stuff...and then there's rap...(or, i should say the "sweet" mainstream rap)
Its like: Yo I got my bling an' ma bitchez an' ma hoez...chillin', illin' fo' shizzle ma nizzle in ma caddie. Check it. Im out. Smoke weed.

I agree, quite a bit of mainstream rap is just some rhymes with some sort of banging going on in the background.

What are some popular punk bands that you would recommend?

I don't know a ton of punk bands, but my favourite would have to be NOFX.

NOFX is a little poppier than most bands that fit under the 'punk' label. If you want to get a feel for what Punk is, I recommend Crass, the Cruci****s, the Dead Kennedys (you probably know them, though), the Circle Jerks, GG Allin, and Bikini Kill (creators of the riot grrrl scene). I also second Anti-Flag.

Xarius explained it pretty good. Here are some bands I like and consider punk Sex Pistols, Ramones, Misfits, Anti-Flag, Crass, G.G. Allin, Social Distortion, Vandals, Varukers, Conflict, Down By Law, Transplants, and there is like a billion more i know of. If i listed them all I might get in trouble for spam or something lol.. just kidding.

Yeah, I truly hate some punk bands that are just truly about "punking out" and figure if they get a mohawk and have some plugs that they are labeled punk. Little kids eat that stuff out. Thrice, rise against, nofx, anti-flag, are a couple i would check out. Ramones are more old school music but good none the less.

:( i still dont know exactly how to class bands as punk... i thot the offspring werre but i was put right :(