Punk Rockers Get Old: Embracing the Grey, Not the Cage
Punk Rockers Get Old: Embracing the Grey, Not the Cage
Since it’s inception Punk Rock has been synonymous with youthful rebellion. You may think of spiked hair and leather jackets, but it’s much more. You can’t forget the DIY ethos and the anti-establishment sentiment in the lyrics. It’s always been a genre fueled by the need of self-expression and the fervor of youth. Nobody thinks about what happens when punk rockers age. Are ideals left at yesterday’s doorstep, are guitars abandoned for khakis, or do punks find new ways to express themselves as they begrudgingly navigate the complexities of growing older?
The Balancing Act
Everything punk rock embodies defiance, unfiltered attitude, high energy, qualities always associated with youth. While the 70’s and 80’s gave rise to rule breakers like The Ramones, Sex Pistols, and The Clash nobody thought about what happens when the anger and myth of eternal youth gets redirected to jobs and mortgages. Everyone forced to confront the aging process in vastly different ways. With punk rock decades into its inception life forms a true dichotomy: how do we hold on to our spirit of rebellion while acknowledging the wisdom we find through age.
The Punk Aesthetic
First off, we need to acknowledge punk isn’t or shouldn’t be a phase; it’s a mindset encompassing not just music, but attitude, the idea of social revolution and political change. Punk takes the time to question norms, pushing boundaries and celebrating the authenticity of oneself. While The Ramones have faded into history, they inspired bands like Bad Religion, Black Flag, NOFX and Fugazi allowing their legacies to inspire. While those 90’s bands continued to maintain the core values of punk they have now become the inspiration for the modern days of Punk Rock, proving the music is ageless.
Like we talked about earlier Punk isn’t just music, but the idea of disruption for change. Consider a legend like Joe Strummer (The Clash) who until his death evolved musically and spiritually, continuing to maintain his Punk Rock roots until his death in 2002. He took time to reflect on his experiences, advocating for social change and justice, while promoting community engagement. He continued to demonstrate that punk can remain influential as we age through life. Pioneers like Rancid show the genre how punk rockers can age with themes of nostalgia while maturing without compromising their identity. Their music screams themes of the passing of time, calling out similar societal issues that sparked the Punk movement.
Becoming a Veteran
As we age, time presents challenges that are extremely difficult to reconcile with the punk ideology. While the punk movement was a young person’s game the modern realities of health, financial stability and responsibility contrasts with the carefree life romanticized by punk culture. Aging, well let’s call them veteran punks have taken to the temptation of “settling down” and choosing careers that offer stability but in contrast to the punk mindset that also brings predictability. This doesn’t mean they need to abandon their punk spirit, rather creates a difficult challenge to integrate their values into a differing framework.
Balancing the Punk Ethos
The often-fascinating thing about aging punk rockers is how many have successfully navigated the balancing act of maturing, responsibility and the punk mindset. They maintain families, jobs and responsibilities while finding ways to stay connected to the punk mantra. More and more mature punks are playing local shows and rallying for causes that align with their values and roots. One thing that hasn’t changed is that the punk community continues to thrive on collaboration. Older punks are eager to pass down memories and experiences while learning from a whole new generation.
The Modern Punk Aesthetic
As punk rockers age, the world has seen an evolution of the aesthetic. Some punks have tried to cling to the style of their youth, while others have adopted new looks that reflect the experiences they’ve gained over the years. Our tattoos may have faded a little and mohawks may have given way to a less flamboyant hairstyle, the punk attitude remains a vibrant call to action. Our defiance doesn’t have to manifest through our appearance so much as long as it shines through our words and commitments to living a life with authenticity.
Modern Day Punk
The contemporary punk scene is healthy and showing a resurgence among pop and indie music and is reinvigorating the genre. They have found ways to harness the inspiration of both the old and the new. Bands like IDLES and Turnstile are continuing the legacy of the bands that came before them. Punk is evolving while standing strong on its conviction and foundation. Older punks, there’s a home for you in this shift. You can still go to shows, support new bands and well as the legacy acts we all grew up loving and we can continue to revel in the power of music.
Where do we go next?
While our punk rock community continues through time, we can still fight the same fights, but with gained experience. We can use different tools to expand our minds, show inclusivity for the different, enact political activism and enjoy the music. We can teach, we can rebel, we can love and continue to create. At its essence punk rock is a passion for freedom, authenticity and social justice. Those values don’t expire with age, nor should we let them. While we move forward in a world that is increasingly homogenized, aging punk rockers show us that its perfectly acceptable to grow older, and even grayer, while embodying that spirit of rebellion. Punk is not a moment in time it’s a lifelong journey of questioning, self-expression and creating. Our journey is far from over.
