Whenever I say that I'm tired of certain bands claiming to be punk I am not discrediting their talent. Obviously they must have talent otherwise they would not be where they are today. I just believe that people should know their music. And here's what I know:

 I just so happen to be writing a research paper in one of my classes over the subject of "Why punk is dead". I'll give you a few of my notes...sources and all.

-"The fight against complacency is punk rock". (Punk:Attitude)

-While many associate the beginnings of punk with the 70's and bands such as the Ramones and Sex Pistols, punk actually began in the 50's. The earliest punks were Marlon Brando, Elvis Presley, and other rockers who did new things, rebelling against what was acceptable.
 One band, though, was truly the inspiration of many a punk band. They were called the Velvet Underground. While many people did not buy their albums, many of those that did went on to form their own bands.
 The basis of the newly forming genre was that people were not happy with what was going on in the nation. These people got together forming bands, protesting the direction of the nation's leadership, screaming out that they could see what was truly going on.
 Punk truly began in NYC. Don't believe me? Most punk bands in the UK started with a New York Dolls album. While the dolls were more glam, they broke up...allowing the garage bands to take over. Why? People were tired of solos like "Freebird" and 20 minute keyboard solos.
 The garage bands were what were punk. No one had just suddenly said, "Hey, we're gonna play music, and it's gonna be called punk." Most bands didn't even want to be labeled punk. Punks were guys in jail that got fucked up the ass. Punks were useless kids. These people did not want to be that. Eventually, Leg McNeil started a magazine called "PUNK". He and a friend put up flyers all over NYC saying "PUNK IS COMING." The first interview they had was with Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground. Welcome to the beginning.
 Punk was never commercial. It was spread through flyers and word of mouth. Bands were truly in it for the feeling, not fame. Punk was selfish. If was about your own interest. It was not selling out. Punk was purely an obscence attitude. 
 Now kids today have got one thing right...even though they still aren't wearing it right. Punk did have a style. But the ripped jeans, leather jackets, and torn shirts were not always purposely done. First off..plain black t-shirts were cheap and if they were dirty you couldn't tell. Leather jackets lastes. The holes and rips were not fixable. If you were a musician, you lived the life of one...stuggling and little money.
 Soon the time was right. "We broke out together against the present circumstances with which were unhappy." said Siouxsie Sioux.
 Punk lived a short life...there were many bands in both the UK and the US. All took from eachother, all were inspired by the same leaders. But eventually other things came into the scene...like drugs and money. The media broke up punk.
 Media found that kids liked punk. They decided it would make money and they began changing things around...to be slightly more acceptable...and selling it. "Anyone weraing matching outfits, ties, and suit jackets were media acceptable. Punks were not." -Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys)
 In the US, media was destroying punk. Sex Pistols were coming on a tour, but the news frightened most people away talking about rape, drugs, killings, and other things that Sex Pistols supposedly did. The first half of the tour was canceled. And the Sex Pistols were warned by police that there would be no drugs, raping of women, or knife fights. 
 Eventually, punk would go underground, get angrier and in the 80's would come out again and blend with new wave and hip-hop, creating hardcore punk. Hardcore punk was mainly West Coast and music of the skaters and surfers. This music was more violent and faced issues head on. West coast also handeled things slower, more deliberately, unlike the fast-paced, loud east coast punk. Some of these bands were The Damned, Black Flag, and Dead Kennedys.
 Now remember, punk was not a style. Punk was music, punk was directing anger in a productive direction: at those in power. Punk was a go for it attitude. No one was going to do it for you, you had to do it yourself. So they did. If you want to proclaim yourself "punk" I first suggest you remember that before you beg your parents for money to buy a $20 t-shirt and then rip it up to wear as you listen to Simple Plan cds.

Sources:
"Punk:Attitude" movie by Don Letts on IFC
"Please Kill Me: Uncensored History of Punk" by Legs McNeil et al.
"CBGB & OMFUG" by Hilly Kristaf

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