When the dreams and promises you’ve placed your hopes in end up being a mirage, its only human to feel angry.  In the mid 1970’s, a lot of teens and young adults found themselves in this camp.  The nation’s shift toward a decidedly more cynical era could be heard in anti-war statements such as "War is not healthy for children and other living things"  On the equal rights agenda, the demand for black civil rights encouraged a louder beating of the drum as seen in the rise of feminism.  At the same time, both movements continued receiving backlash from the country’s conservatives, especially The "Silent Majority" campaign, responding to the ‘liberal excesses’ of the counterculture.

Running through everything, there was a feeling that the social changes that the ‘60s had promised were as far away as ever.  America’s kids were caught in the cross-hairs.  America was experiencing an epidemic of frustration, anxiety and anger.

With nothing to do, and a sense that the walls were closing in, teens living in places like New York, Detroit and Los Angeles, swam in an ocean of boredom and alienation that needed venting.  Punk’s rawness and DIY attitude made it easy for anyone who had the need to hit back, or at least spit into the audience, to become an anti-hero.

In this first of two episodes on the origins of American Punk, we draw a through line from early New York proto-punk bands like the Velvet Underground, the MC5 and the New York Dolls through to California bands like X, Black Flag and the Dead Kennedy's.  You'll come away understanding how the idealism of the 1960's gave way to the cynicism and anger of the 1970's punk movement.  And yet, through it all, America's kids were still demanding change and even in the cynicism, holding out for something better.

In This Episode

• John Lennon - Give Me Some Truth
• Scene from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
• the Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
• TV News – End of Vietnam War
• Scene from “Network”
• Scene from the Godfather
• The Clash – Police on My Back
• Pink Floyd – Have a Cigar
• The MC5 – Kick Out the Jams
• The Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog
• Iggy Pop – Interview
• The Velvet Underground – Venus in Furs
• The New York Dolls – Jet Boy
• David Bowie – Suffragette
• David Bowie – Interview
• Davie Bowie – Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
• David Bowie – Rock and Roll Suicide
• The Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop
• The Ramones - Interview

Links to related show content from prior episodes
This episode refers back to a few topics covered in prior episodes.
We invite you to learn more about these ideas!
Use the links, below.

Minimalism
https://americansong.buzzsprout.com/1622638/9672982-the-celestial-pulse-of-minimalism

The Blues
https://americansong.buzzsprout.com/1622638/8276409-the-duality-of-the-blues-episode-7-of-american-song

Call and Response
https://americansong.buzzsprout.com/1622638/8532047-the-rising-of-gospel-music-and-how-it-inspired-the-world