The five most outlandish punk songs
While revolution hundreds of years ago manifested in war and rebellion, in the ‘70s, it manifested in sonic oblivion. The introduction of punk gave a voice to those who previously couldn’t speak up for themselves as bands like Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, and The Clash wrote tracks that held a mirror up to a country that was growing immune to corruption.
Punk was more than just a style of music; it was a stress ball, one that artists could squeeze and create noise with, and one that the public kept with them and used as a release from the struggles of everyday life. In bedrooms, clubs and gigs, the music bounced off walls and settled in different pockets, slowly giving people a break that they needed and showing that music could act as a form of rebellion.
Punk was never a genre that gave in to rules or any kind of stigma. People who made punk persistently tried to offend and ruffle feathers; the angrier and more demented a song seemed, the better. The result is that while some songs merely hold up a middle finger to society, there are others that are truly outlandish, even by today’s standards.
Here, we will look at some of the angriest, most bizarre, and outlandish punk songs ever written. With these tracks, take steeper steps into collapsing minds in pursuit of a musical revolution.
The most outlandish punk songs ever written:
‘Chinese Rocks’ – Johnny Thunder and the Heartbreakers
The Ramones were one of the biggest punk bands in the world. Many call them one of the most influential bands to ever take to the stage, as their heavy music, image, and flamboyant stage shows set a new precedent for people in music. As such, when they reject a song, you know that it has to be a selection for one of the most outlandish punk songs ever.
It was written by Richard Hell, who originally wanted the Ramones to play it; however, because of the persistent references to heroin, the band weren’t interested. Instead, Hell took it to Johnny Thunder and the Heartbreakers, and it became a staple for the band throughout their career, even after Hell had left the outfit.
‘Last Caress’ – Misfits
Punk isn’t as black-and-white a genre as people think it is. It was responsible for pioneering a number of different genres and styles of music. Leading the charge on the versatility that comes with punk music is Glenn Danzig of Misfits, who was able to create a new genre called “Horror punk”.
His track ‘Last Caress’ is one of the biggest songs within the genre. The horrible lyrics that contain lines such as “I got something to say / I killed your baby today” are the epitome of the anger which is embedded in a number of different punk songs. On top of the words, the strange instrumentation is also very jarring. It’s a real stand-out when it comes to punk music.
‘TV Party’ – Black Flag
When Black Flag burst onto the scene with their debut album, it was a turning point for the genre. The thrash and hardcore style of playing ushered in a new type of punk that was laced with noise and borderline inaccessible for some. The album Damaged remains a staple in the world of punk, but one song stands out in particular.
‘TV Party’ might be one of the most disturbing tracks on the album. While some people may read that statement and query it, due to the goofy and silly nature of a song that exists between genre-defying thrashy punk, the joyous tone of the album feels almost sinister. While it might not sound like the band’s most aggressive or outlandish track, the way in which it’s presented to listeners makes it a particular head-turner.
‘If This Tour Doesn’t Kill You, I Will’ – PUP
There is something incredibly sinister about a song that threatens the life of a bandmate, which then has to be played by the bandmate that it threatens. It’s similar to when ABBA performed ‘The Winner Takes It All’ or Fleetwood Mac played ‘The Chain’, except rather than being made awkward by fraying relationships, they’re made uncomfortable by genuine death threats.
PUP had been touring relentlessly; playing 240 shows in a year would make even the tamest of minds angry. The song was written as a dig to one of the members of the band, who vented about the frustration of being on the road so relentlessly. “I don’t wish you were dead, I wish you’d never been born at all” are the devastating lyrics that pack such a punch with this track.
‘Search and Destroy’ – The Stooges
The Stooges are arguably one of the most influential bands in the development of punk. Their harsh sound was out of place in the early ‘70s, but it clearly resonated with people who took that tone and expanded upon it when creating punk as a genre.
On ‘Search and Destroy’, you hear those early punk influences protruding through the track. While it may not sound like the most outlandish piece of music now, at the time, it stood out as an experimental piece of work that would go on to influence one of the most prevalent genres in the world.
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