Expert: Caleb - 7/20/2007

Question
Hi,
I was wondering what the difference between pop punk and punk rock is. What exactly is punk? Thanks?
Ashley

Answer
This should tell you everything you need to know: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_rock

The term "punk" is a very loose one, it can be described as:
- Loud, fast, heavy, rebellious poppy, political rock music from the 70s (or at least fits most of the above criteria.  The ramones weren't political but they were definitely punk)
- A general attitude to music which is consistent with the above.

Because of the broad definition of punk, bands described as "punk" can be very different from each other.  And nobody can agree on what's punk and what isn't.

"Pop punk" is a strange term cos punk has always been poppy, but generally it refers to a new movement that came about in the 80s-90s that drew from punk but developed its own distinctive characteristics to become a much narrower style which is (arguably) within the punk spectrum.