Punk?

It's just a label. It encompasses ideals of left-wing politics and sex, and it describes an independent lifestyle. To see Tim Armstrong define "punk" so broadly was a perfect example of what punk is supposed to be about: doing your own thing. The true definition of "punk" to me means being yourself, and thinking freely. When applied to the music and lifestyle, "punk" is just a description of a style of music and dress, which seems to contradict the meaning of punk in the first place. If it's so important to go against the grain to be a punk, why concern yourself with wearing liberty spikes, leather, and combat boots? Dressing that way may be different than mainstream society, but holding tightly to punk ideals of dress is conforming to a different section of society. To me, the music is probably the most vital piece of the punk puzzle. The lyrics address issues that listeners can relate to, and the fast, chaotic instrumentation speaks to the lifestyle that punk followers live. So I think Armstrong summed it up pretty well when he said that if you feel like a punk, you are a punk. It doesn't matter how you dress, or if your friends are punks. It's about your personal lifestyle.