Punk / New Wave

Punk exploded in the mid-1970s as a furious rejection of bloated rock excess and social complacency. The Sex Pistols became the movement's most notorious provocateurs, their sneering anthems and chaotic performances scandalizing Britain while inspiring a generation to pick up guitars. The Clash elevated punk beyond nihilism, injecting political consciousness and musical ambition—from reggae to rockabilly—into their urgent, socially charged songs.

As punk's initial fury subsided, New Wave emerged as its art-school cousin. Talking Heads epitomized this evolution, channeling punk's DIY spirit into cerebral, rhythm-driven experiments that drew from funk, world music, and avant-garde performance.