Garage Rock and Punk Rock - Identical Twins or Kissin' Cousins?
Was Punk Rock of the '70s just an extension of '60s Garage Rock or was it something totally different? Although both genres were produced by bands who were very energetic but unpolished, and although many Punk bands were fans of 60s music, there were some major differences in these two musical styles. We'll explore the similarities as well as the differences in these closely related branches in Rock's family tree.
In the 1960s, two trends collided to produce Garage Rock. The Beatles came to America. In contrast to other groups of the early '60s, the Beatles played their own instruments and wrote their own songs. Their music was upbeat and uptempo. It was guitar based with a driving bass and drums backbeat. The infectious tunes and their manic delivery caught the attention of the youth of America. Young men watched as the Beatles became instant Pop Stars who sold millions of records and won the hearts of hoards of young women.
The other trend was the growing affluence of the American middle class which was created mainly as a result of GIs who came home from World War II and educated themselves and bought homes with the help of the government. Couples who got married after WWII were having kids in the late '40s who became teenagers in the early '60s. Many parents could afford to give their children music lessons and buy them instruments. Many teens with even the slightest musical ability took their instruments and banded together in garages and basements, learning simple songs. They played at high school parties and competed in local Battles of the Bands, hoping to hit the big time and become the next Beatles or Beach Boys.
By the mid 1970s, two trends influenced the birth of Punk Rock. Rock music had become stale and bloated. It had evolved into stadium bands and art rockers. Songs had become longer and more sophisticated. In the process, much of the energy and fun was gone. Rock had gone "corporate", it became mainstream.
America was mired in political and economic woes in the '70s. President Nixon had resigned after being entangled in a scandal, trust in our nation's leaders was at an all time low. Cities were going bankrupt, crime was up and gasoline supplies were down. It seemed like our best days were behind us. While some of the youth of the time became apathetic, others grabbed guitars and turned up the amps to cover up the lack of talent, playing short fast songs about decaying families and hard times.
Both Garage and Punk seemed to arise from nowhere. Both were created by bands who were young and energetic. Both were based on guitar and drums playing simple chord progressions repetitively in short songs. Each reached its peak and then burned out in its founding form within a few years.
Although both genres featured overdriven guitars and pounding drums, Garage bands often had keyboardists, most often playing Farfisa organs. Garagers worked on their harmonies as the Beatles did, Punkers perfected snarling vocals. Even though "Bad Girls" was a common theme in Garage, most songs were typical "boy meets girl" love songs. Punk songs were often about how bad the establishment was and described life in the rotting cities.
Even though both styles burned hot and fast and morphed into more palatable forms (Garage into pop, psychedelic and metal, Punk into danceable New Wave), each has made periodic comebacks in the ensuing years. Garage had a resurgence in the '80s with bands such as the Chesterfield Kings and the Pandoras. Punk resurfaced in the '90s with the likes of Green Day and Offspring. Both styles are represented by great bands in the present.
The radio has been playing "Garage" bands such as The Strokes, The Hives and The White Lines. But the greatest Garage band of our time, the band that is the most authentic with a sound that is straight out of 1966, is McFadden's Parachute. This band from Rochester NY uses '60s guitars and Farfisa organs behind genuine Garage vocals to make cover and original songs that are very true to the original '60s Garage bands. If you are a fan of '60s Garage Rock, you'll love McFadden's Parachute!
Punkers like Blink182 can be heard on the radio these days, but its the bands playing in smaller venues that best capture the energy and excitement of punk. Punk is alive and well in New York City, the home of CBGBs where the Ramones and the Dead Boys started the scene. A great new band is Here's Johnny. Check them out! They're playing small venues to eager fans in the NY area.
I'll conclude with a few words from Lyn, a fan of Here's Johnny. She writes about Garage and Punk and explains that Here's Johnny plays Punk but with Garage influences.....
"I consider myself lucky that my first encounter with Rock 'n' Roll was Garage. I was a little kid fast asleep when I heard a ruckus in the living room. My mother had told the baby-sitter NOT to bring friends, but this was a party! On the TV was probably American Bandstand. I look back at it as a celebration. A celebration of the best music on earth. We took a lot for granted. Good times....large candy bars......burgers and cokes and backyard barbecues and the best music on earth. Here's Johnny is an incredible band with a punk flavor but heavily influenced by Garage. Their love of Garage and their look, everything about them, reminds me of the good old days. Johnnie Fame (lead singer) is like comfort food - he makes you feel that you don't have to strain your brain to figure out lyrics - all you want to do is dance! Rock 'n' Roll is about dancing and good times. Here's Johnny is about American Bandstand, and bringing the fun back into Rock 'n' Roll. Visit their website at www.Heresjohnny.net."
