The DIY spirit of Punk Festivals has been a fundamental foundation of punk rebellion through the years. Discussions and arguments over which was the “first” punk song, band, club, and festival continue to be the subject of heated debate.

In 1974, the music rebellion exploded at CBGB OMFUG (an acronym by the owner that meant Country, Blue Grass, Blues, and Other Music For Uplifting Gormandizers) on the Lower Eastside of NYC. Bands featured on the now-hallowed stage space featured The Ramones, New York Dolls, and through the years Patti Smith, Blondie, Television and a who’s who of the punk scene. These performers proudly referred to themselves, their music, and their fans, as PUNK.

Everyday a Punk Festival

In 1976 what was billed as the “First European Punk Rock Festival” was held in France. The Sex Pistols and The Clash were scheduled to play at the festival held in Mont de Marsan but bowed out in a dispute with organizers.

This First European Punk Rock Festival featured Eddie and the Hot Rods, a London Pub band. The Damned were the only recognizable punk band of the original guard to appear, the rest of the “punk” bands were local DIY bands who shunned corporate rock. The festival proved that the spirit of rebellion was alive and growing.

Although the title was technically correct because it was the first punk festival presented in Europe, it was not the first for PUNK. That honor belongs to CBGB which held a month-long festival in the summer of 1975. The CBGB Punk Festival featured 40 DIY bands that represented the rebellious spirit of rock and captured the attention of the Village Voice (The Voice), at that time it was an underground free newspaper, not the corporate behemoth that it became in later years.

The CBGB Punk Festival and The Voice article put New York Punk on everyone’s lips. The bands that played at the festival along with regular players in CBGB anointed the punk scene into the realm of serious art.

Punked for a Cause

The rebellious driving chaotic rhythms and existential lyrics of punk music were in direct conflict with the deep pockets of corporate rock promoters and record labels. Punk staked its place in the music festival scene with a series of free festivals called the Deeply Vale Festivals in England, 1976-1979.

Festivals that were free and dedicated to political causes and changing society fit in with the ideology of PUNK. Rock against Racism festivals were held from 1976 -1982, while Rock Against Sexism began in 1978, both are examples of Punk Festivals that capture the spirit of rebellion.

Among the festivals to feature punk or morph into punk-centric showcases is the longest-running festival, Warped Tour. It earned a reputation as the longest-traveling rock festival running from 1995 through 2019 with venues across North America and Australia.

Cheers to Punk

Rebellion Festival, held since 1996 in England, is a testament to the punk rock that emerged from the clubs in Boston, NYC, and London. It is a living epitaph to the punk that Jello Biafra, lead singer of the Dead Kennedys acknowledged when he said, “Punk Rock will never die until something more dangerous replaces it.”

Michael Grecco was an ever-present artistic photographer who documented the growth of punk. He captured the New York to Boston club scene as well as timeless candid portraits of the rebellious spirit of punk. He has curated a special collection of his photographs in the Days of Punk, an essential punk tome. Selected works by Michael Grecco are available as high-quality prints in discerning galleries around the world.

The stages of punk emitted adrenaline-fueled turbulence of creative electricity. The sonic energy of punk in photography is captured in the symphony in stillness. Celestial juices crossed with existential surges shaped the grit, sound, lifestyle, look, vocabulary, and edge, along with the heart and soul of the punk movement. Described as anti-establishment by the establishment, punk was not that at all. It was a rebirth of a symphony in motion fueled by music, the lifestyle of a new brand, and emerging culture.

Punk Lives

The sound of punk was raw, It was fast-paced songs that were the soundtrack of a culture. Punk was a new wave of music that spawned a lifestyle. It was spitting in the eye of the glamour and glitz of disco while laughing in the face of the sellout counterculture of corporate arena rock.

Punk music was the embodiment of rage against the status quo. It was the reincarnation of individual expression. Marky Ramone put it this way, “Punk rock is being honest, believing in yourself, and doing what you gotta do. That’s all.”

Punk is a dynamic frantic energized expression of a new world order with the chords and beats of the primal music of mind, body, and soul. It gave voice to the alienated generation who scoffed at the psychedelic utopian illusion of the counterculture and laughed at the disco balls, mirrors, and shameless narcissism of Studio 54 and Faces.

Michael Grecco experimenting with new angles, apertures, lighting, and shadows created photos that captured the energy of punk. Punk lives in the stillness of the 35 mm photos of Michael Grecco. In these snapshots of energy, the blistering guitars, thunderous drums, and primal shouts of those escaping conformity can be heard.

Capturing the Sonic Energy of Punk in Photography

Michael Grecco lived on the Boston to New York Punk music shuttle that produced iconic legends. Fate and professional prowess put Mr. Grecco at the infamous stages of the birth of Punk at CBGBs in New York City, and The Rat in Boston. As a friend, fan, and professional music photographer, Mr. Grecco documented the 35 MM dreams of punk in living black and white and color photographs.

Today he undertakes the monumental task of curating the thousands of images of the unique history of Punk. Captured moments in time from the shutter of Michael Grecco include stage performances of sweat-drenched bodies reaching into the depths of their souls and visions of their minds as they create, perform, and live.

Mr. Grecco had unparalleled access to the mosh pit of the punk revolution. Considered an ally and friend by the punk elite including The Clash, The B52s, The Ramones, Dead Kennedys, Bow Wow Wow, The Motels, New Order, Billy Idol, David Bowie, Adam Ant, Joan Jett, and others, Michael framed and recorded the light and darkness of unique moments in their lives.

Days of Punk

The symphony of stillness that captures the sonic energy of punk in the photography of Michael Grecco is now available in HD prints through selected art galleries. Along with the art gallery quality prints, Michael Grecco has taken a deep dive into his treasure chests of photos that document the essence of music and its culture in the Days of Punk.

Each personally selected photo by Michael Grecco for the Days of Punk captures a symphony of stillness in a time of sonic energy in the world of Punk.

Michael Grecco mastered and continues to study and develop a unique photographic style where light and shadows are pivotal to capturing the essence of the subject. The Days of Punk documents a pivotal time in music and cultural history in stark black-and-white compositions that reflect the sonic energy of punk in solitary symphonies of silence.

Punk rock, with its raw sound and piercing vocals, was never just about music. It was a movement, a form of protest, and a way to challenge the status quo. The heart of this challenge often lay in the lyrics, a potent blend of socio-political commentary that highlighted the issues of the day and provided insight into the minds and concerns of those in the punk scene.

Poverty and Urban Decay:

The Clash’s “Lost in the Supermarket” encapsulates the feelings of alienation within modern consumer culture. Lyrics such as “I came in here for the special offer, a guaranteed personality” speak to the commodification of individuality and the societal pressures of conformity. Beyond that, there’s an underlying theme of growing up in post-war Britain, with its housing estates and economic challenges. The song touches on the deep-seated feeling of being just another product on a shelf, lost in the vast expanse of urban life.

Rebellion Against Societal Norms:
Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” was a direct affront to the British establishment. Released during Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, lines like “God save the queen, she ain’t no human being” were seen as a direct challenge to British nationalism and the monarchy. This song encapsulates punk’s penchant for irreverence, pushing back against accepted norms and challenging the reverence given to traditional institutions.

Political Dissent:

Dead Kennedys’ “Holiday in Cambodia” serves as a scathing critique of the Western world’s ignorance towards the atrocities in Cambodia under Pol Pot. Jello Biafra’s biting sarcasm—”Well, you’ll work harder with a gun in your back, for a bowl of rice a day”—highlighted the stark contrast between Western privilege and the realities of life under totalitarian regimes. Through sharp and incisive lyrics, punk bands like Dead Kennedys laid bare the hypocrisies and injustices of global politics.

Personal Expression and Identity:

The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” gives a candid look into the struggles of touring and the desire to escape the chaos of life on the road. While on the surface it might seem like a straightforward punk anthem, deeper analysis reveals an underlying sentiment of weariness and the search for solace. It’s a reflection of the broader punk ethos—a quest for authenticity amidst a world perceived as phony and oppressive.

The impact of these messages was profound. Punk lyrics didn’t simply reflect society; they interacted with it, challenging listeners to confront uncomfortable truths and question their place within the system. This lyrical activism cultivated a community of listeners who were politically aware, socially conscious, and unafraid to challenge authority.

Punk’s lyrical prowess was a testament to its depth. It was more than just three-chord songs played at breakneck speed. It was an articulation of disillusionment, a cry for change, and a clarion call for authenticity in an era marked by superficiality. Through their words, punk artists held up a mirror to society, and the reflection was often uncomfortable.

The resonance of punk rock lyrics remains undiminished today. They continue to inspire new generations to question, to rebel, and to seek truth in an ever-complex world. For in the gritty verses of punk songs lies a timeless reminder: always challenge, always resist, and never settle for the status quo.