protopunk
Before punk emerged
Protopunk describes rock music from the late 1960s and early 1970s that anticipated punk's raw sound and aggressive attitude before punk existed as a recognized genre.
Bands like the Stooges, MC5, and the New York Dolls are considered protopunk: The Velvet Underground's influence on protopunk is undeniable.
The term is applied retrospectively—no one called themselves protopunk at the time.
Pioneering punk rock singer
- The Velvet Underground
- StoogesPawns or patsies
- Patti Smith
- DeathPermanent cessation of life
In original state
- abrasiveRough enough to erode
- grittyCoarse or courageous
- unpolishedLacking finish or refinement
- primitiveIn earliest form
raucous · lo-fi · stripped-down · crude · unrefined · distorted · feedback · fuzz
Resisting authority or control
- defiantOpenly resisting control
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- subversiveSeeking to undermine authority
- anarchicWithout governing structure
countercultural · provocative · anti-establishment · transgressive · iconoclastic · nihilistic · alienated · disillusioned
Free of complexity
- loudHigh in volume
- energeticHaving much vigor
- drivingControlling a vehicle
- distortionTwisting from original state
reverb · cheap · rehearsal · basement · club · CBGB · Fillmore · underground
First to explore territory
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
- seminalFoundational and influential
- formativeInfluencing development or growth
- influentialHaving considerable effect
precursor · antecedent · forerunner · trailblazing · foundational · transitional · bridge · catalyst
Iggy Pop
Pioneering punk rock singer
raw
In original state
- abrasiveRough enough to erode
- grittyCoarse or courageous
- unpolishedLacking finish or refinement
primitive · raucous · lo-fi · stripped-down · crude · unrefined · distorted · feedback · fuzz · noisy
rebellious
Resisting authority or control
- defiantOpenly resisting control
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- subversiveSeeking to undermine authority
anarchic · countercultural · provocative · anti-establishment · transgressive · iconoclastic · nihilistic · alienated · disillusioned · confrontational
simple
Free of complexity
distortion · reverb · cheap · rehearsal · basement · club · CBGB · Fillmore · underground · live
pioneering
First to explore territory
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
- seminalFoundational and influential
- formativeInfluencing development or growth
influential · precursor · antecedent · forerunner · trailblazing · foundational · transitional · bridge · catalyst · blueprint
protopunkpost-punk
Experimental rock after '77
hardcore punk · new wave · pop punk · emo · grunge
protopunkarena rock
Large-venue music genre
popular · mainstream · adult contemporary · soft rock · stadium rock
protopunkprogressive rock
Complex, extended rock music
art rock · symphonic rock · prog · glam rock · psychedelic rock