rock ’n’ roll

A history of horror punk, from the Damned and Misfits to Alkaline Trio

I Put A Spell On You: Horror-punk roots Horror punk? Well, the cheapest, tackiest horror films have always been part of the cultural detritus that’s informed the punk aesthetic. Think of Ramones’ ode to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, “Chain Saw.” Remember the bloody, dripping creature feature font adorning Iggy And The Stooges’ Raw Power […]

The 10 best punk drummers of the '90s, from Dave Grohl to Tobi Vail

The ‘90s was the moment when the experiments wrestled control of the laboratory away from the scientists. Suddenly, punk rock — the ragged step-sibling of rock and pop — was squarely in the mainstream of culture, after years of ruling the underground. It spawned alternative music and the latter’s most successful subthread, grunge. Grunge was […]

How ska paved the way for punk... and took over the world along the way

“We’re the Interrupters! We’re from Los Angeles, California!” the young guitarist announces over a fanfare, as the camera pulls back and reveals a four-piece band, plus a singer, and a crush of throbbing humanity in a tiny space. “And this first song is a protest song, but it’s also a unity song. Because there’s no […]

These 10 bands showcase the Ramones’ undying influence on music

Boston, Massachusetts, Sept. 25, 2021: The 1965 Mosrite Ventures II electric guitar played by Johnny Ramone on every Ramones album from 1977 onward and at 1,985 of their live shows sold at auction for $937,500. Not bad, considering the punk guitar architect paid $200 for it, after his original one he bought for $50 in […]

10 times different artists collaborated to make inspiring music

September 1963: A young R&B combo called the Rolling Stones are rehearsing, preparing for a recording session. Their manager, former Beatles publicist Andrew Loog Oldham, was tearing his hair out. They were about to record their second single, a follow-up to their modestly successful remake of Chuck Berry’s “Come On.” But they had one problem: […]

These 10 bands prove that Cleveland was one of punk’s earliest capitals

Alternative Press’ native home of Cleveland, Ohio, stands alongside New York City and London as one of punk’s birthplaces. Yet, few outside of U.K. music journalist Jon Savage, in his crucial ‘70s punk history England’s Dreaming, acknowledge this. But how could Cleveland—a torched-and-trashed post-industrial landscape by the ‘70s, famed for the Cuyahoga River being so […]

These 10 vocalists were punk-rock standard-bearers during the ‘00s

Welcome to Alternative Press’ 10 best punk vocalists of the ‘00s. When we counted down that decade’s finest punk guitarists, we noted that the beginning of the new century was a turning point. The ‘90s began with Nirvana breaking down the door for punk-influenced alternative acts to become the mainstream music of the decade, peaked […]

These 15 albums from 1997 irrefutably proved that punk was far from dead

1997: All media is declaring the alternative–rock explosion—for which Nirvana lit the fuse—over. This means the commercial pop-punk wave Green Day touched off was over in their eyes, too. That selfsame media could not have been more wrong. Green Day had just issued their fifth album, Nimrod. The Offspring, the band who made the catchphrase […]

Amy Lee, Taylor Momsen, Maria Brink & Lzzy Hale discuss the state of rock

In part one of this round-table conversation, Amy Lee, Lzzy Hale, Taylor Momsen and Maria Brink flipped the script. “I was thinking women’s empowerment is if we didn’t talk about women’s empowerment at all and actually spent this hour talking about our music and what we do,” Lee suggested. So, they highlighted their new albums and discussed why people […]

10 glam-rock artists from the 1970s who heralded the coming age of punk

Rock ‘n’ roll had, for the most part, lost its “roll” by 1970. It became rock music—self-serious, dour, pompous, filled with pretensions to being “art.” It ceased being fabulous teenage noise, filled with Chuck Berry’s playful swagger and Elvis’ hypersexualized pelvic thrust and rebel sneer. Kids wanted something loud and flashy, full of energy, something […]

Jen Malone used music to bring "The Umbrella Academy" season 2 to life

Joining the crew on season 2 of The Umbrella Academy wasn’t only a dream come true for Jen Malone—it was a no-brainer. Riding success as the music supervisor for television dramas such as Atlanta and Euphoria, Malone was essentially made to sonically document the Hargreeves siblings’ endless grocery list of shortcomings. Whether in television or […]

Richard Hell hated his album ‘Destiny Street,’ so he did it three more times

When we left off in our expansive conversation with Richard Hell, we established his chicken-and-egg credentials in punk’s development. We spoke of his establishing the spiky haircut—which was to early punk as the ducktail was to ’50s rock ’n’ roll or the moptop was to the British Invasion—as well as what fashionistas now call “distressed” […]

DE'WAYNE sees a place for everyone in alternative music

Singer, rapper and a true-to-form poet, DE’WAYNE is changing the scope of rock ’n’ roll and punk as we know it. His aggressive and brilliant sound is exactly what new audiences didn’t know they needed after just one listen. This year began strong with the release of his high-energy solo track “I Know Something.” Now, […]

10 times alternative artists reimagined their own tracks for the better

Nothing beats the first time hearing one of your favorite songs. It’s a feeling we never fully appreciate at the moment but then nostalgically crave forever. Fortunately, alternative artists frequently grant us the opportunity to once again hear these tracks from new perspectives through reimagined versions. From acoustic renditions to orchestral backings and full-on genre […]

10 emerging punk rock bands who are bringing new life to the genre

If the sonic leanings of new alternative bands are any indication, pop punk isn’t dead and neither is punk rock. Be it through the continued influence of traditional groups or experimental infusions by genre-bending outfits, the punk sound is still ever-prevalent in the modern scene. While not all of the emerging bands harness the sound from […]

Micky James encourages us to take our country back on “Kings”

Even if you’ve never listened to a single song of his, you have certainly heard Micky James. He’s got the glam-slam confidence of Bowie. The attitude of the Rolling Stones. The danger of the Clash. A look that’s one part Jack White, one part Gerard Way. In a world of pop and hip-hop, James is […]

Matty Healy praises Pale Waves, defends guitar-driven music

The 1975 frontman Matty Healy has spoken about the state of guitar-based music in 2019. The band performed at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend and during an interview, Healy said that guitar music is still alive and well. Read more: ‘Black Mirror’ gets “outrageously out there and dark” in music industry plot However, on stage, […]

Slash says future of rock music relies on bands like Greta Van Fleet

Guns N’ Roses guitarist, Slash has come forward with a few hot takes about the future of rock music. The guitarist is having second thoughts after thinking rock music hit a dry spell. Thanks to bands such as the highly controversial Greta Van Fleet, Slash thinks the future of rock is getting brighter. Read more: Taking […]

The Dirty Nil unleash noisy new song, “Pain Of Infinity”—listen

A few years ago, more than one AP editor got caught up in the air-guitar rapture of “Fuckin’ Up Young,” the majestic loser-anthem from full-on rock ’n’ roll dudes the Dirty Nil. After witnessing the Ontario-based trio on their stint touring with Against Me!, the deal was sealed and it’s official: We now completely forgive […]