Post punk is a very hazy category in music. It can be confusing to understand why one band can be considered post punk while another is not. The secret is to realise that most post punk bands follow the “punk ethos”

Steps

1) Listen to the original punk bands to see where the genre developed from and what the punk ethos are. Such bands that form this period from 1974 to 1978 include the Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones, Patti Smith and The Damned. These bands are often contributed with giving post-punk its start.

2) Listen to bands that former members of the original punk bands formed after they split eg. : John Lydon (Sex Pistols) with PiL and Howard Devoto (Buzzcocks) with Magazine.

3) Read up on a indie label called Factory Records

4) Buy a Joy Division record. They are a perfect example of post punk

5) Buy a Fall record for the same reason as above

6) Try to analyse the meaning of the songs

7) Much Post Punk is influenced by music such as Can and Captain Beef-heart And His Magic Band. These are earlier and obscure bands that are quite bizarre and not necessarily easy listens but if you find yourself enjoying post punk or want to get a feel of what post punk is like, then these two bands are highly recommended.

Tips

• Watch the movie 24 Hour Party People. This movie follows Manchester’s punk rock scene from the 70’s to the 90’s and discusses post-punk in depth.
• Read up on the Manchester music scene in the early 80’s.
• Listen to bands like Joy Division, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Gang Of Four, Magazine, Wire, Public Image Ltd., Au Pairs, The Slits, The Pogues And The Fall.

Kim Gordon walking over her bass during a Sonic Youth live performance in the Netherlands, 1991.

Warnings