The Punks
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The Punks were an American
proto-punk Proto-punk (or protopunk) is rock music played mostly by garage bands from the 1960s to mid-1970s that foreshadowed the punk rock movement. The phrase is a retrospective label; the musicians involved were generally not originally associated wit ...
band from
Waterford "Waterford remains the untaken city" , mapsize = 220px , pushpin_map = Ireland#Europe , pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ireland##Location within Europe , pushpin_relief = 1 , coordinates ...
,
Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
near Detroit, who were active from 1973-1977. They specialized in a hard-driving, sometimes thrashing sound that anticipated much mid-to-late 1970s punk rock and 1980s
hardcore Hardcore, hard core or hard-core may refer to: Arts and media Film * ''Hardcore'' (1977 film), a British comedy film * ''Hardcore'' (1979 film), an American crime drama film starring George C Scott * ''Hardcore'' (2001 film), a British documen ...
. The group came out of the last vestiges of the Detroit rock scene that produced bands such as
MC5 MC5, also commonly called The MC5, is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan, in 1963. The original line-up consisted of Rob Tyner (vocals) Wayne Kramer (guitar), Fred "Sonic" Smith (guitar), Michael Davis (bass), and Dennis ...
,
Iggy and the Stooges The Stooges, originally billed as the Psychedelic Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, was an American rock band formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967 by singer Iggy Pop, guitarist Ron Asheton, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave ...
, and
Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
, and with these acts they formed a musical bridge between the
garage rock Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock and roll that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The sty ...
bands of the 1960s and the later
punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
movement that emerged in New York and London during the mid-1970s. In 1977 they changed their name to the End and moved to New York with hopes of making their mark in the burgeoning punk rock scene there, but were unsuccessful, and broke up shortly thereafter. Though relatively unknown outside of Detroit and New York in their day, they have more recently garnered the interest and accolades of underground rock enthusiasts who consider them to be pioneers in the early development of punk rock. Parts of their song "My Time's Comin'" were used in the soundtrack of two March 2016 episodes of the television series, ''
Vinyl Vinyl may refer to: Chemistry * Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a particular vinyl polymer * Vinyl cation, a type of carbocation * Vinyl group, a broad class of organic molecules in chemistry * Vinyl polymer, a group of polymers derived from vinyl m ...
'', co-created by the Rolling Stones’
Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...
and director
Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Scorsese emerged as one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominatio ...
.


History


Active years 1973-1977

The Punks formed in Waterford, Michigan, outside of Detroit in 1973. The band was fronted by the highly charismatic lead singer William "Frantic" Kuchon, who has sometimes been compared to
Iggy Pop James Newell Osterberg Jr. (born April 21, 1947), known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter and actor. Called the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Godfather of Punk", he was the vocalist and lyricist of ...
. The group came at the tail end of the Detroit rock scene that produced acts such as
MC5 MC5, also commonly called The MC5, is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan, in 1963. The original line-up consisted of Rob Tyner (vocals) Wayne Kramer (guitar), Fred "Sonic" Smith (guitar), Michael Davis (bass), and Dennis ...
and
Iggy and the Stooges The Stooges, originally billed as the Psychedelic Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, was an American rock band formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967 by singer Iggy Pop, guitarist Ron Asheton, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave ...
,
Alice Cooper Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier, February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer whose career spans over five decades. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusions, including pyrotechnics, guillot ...
and these groups were the Punks' primary influences, along with some of the earlier Detroit garage bands of the mid-1960s such as the Underdogs and
the Unrelated Segments The Unrelated Segments were an American garage rock band from Taylor, Michigan, that were active between 1966 and 1969. The group was a popular musical act in Michigan, achieving regional acclaim for their song, "Story of My Life". History The n ...
, as well as acts from elsewhere such as
the Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964. The original line-up consisted of singer/guitarist Lou Reed, multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Angus MacLise. MacLise w ...
and
Blue Cheer Blue Cheer was an American rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009. Based in San Francisco, Blue Cheer played in a psychedelic blues rock or acid rock style, and ...
. The rest of their lineup consisted of Alan Webber and Steve Rockey on guitars, Rod McMahon on bass, and Craig Webber (Alan's younger brother) on drums. The band was known for its volume and energy and exciting live show. The group made use of occasional costumes and theatrics customary of the
glam rock Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s and was performed by musicians who wore outrageous costumes, makeup, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter. Glam artists drew on diver ...
trends of the time. They played gigs when available in the Detroit metro area, and were even touted by influential writer
Lester Bangs Leslie Conway "Lester" Bangs (December 14, 1948 – April 30, 1982) was an American music journalist, critic, author, and musician. He wrote for ''Creem'' and ''Rolling Stone'' magazines, and was known for his leading influence in rock music c ...
in a piece for ''
Creem ''Creem'' (often stylized in all caps) is a monthly American music magazine, based in Detroit, whose main print run lasted from 1969 to 1989. It was first published in March 1969 by Barry Kramer and founding editor Tony Reay. Influential criti ...
'' magazine and in another piece that appeared in ''Creem'' in September 1976 Air-Wreck Genheimer said of the group: "The Punks played in such a gut grabbing manner that your ear bones feel like they're getting socked in the jaw and cunnilinguisized at the same time". According to Richard Blondy, their former manager and booking agent, "Their music was so intense and so strong, and their stage show was so exciting. It’s just like the guy said about (the Naughty Bits) on ‘Vinyl’--they smack you in the face and they get your attention". In 1974, the group recorded a series of demos in the basement of Alan and Craig Webber's family house in Waterford Township. Several of the tracks they recorded such as "My Time's Comin'", "Q1", and "Drop Dead" display a thrashing intensity indicative of future punk acts. By 1974 the once thriving Detroit rock scene had dissipated and most of its venues either folded or switched their focus to other musical styles. According to Alan Webber, "We were left going, 'OK, there’s nothing more for us here. Let’s make our own noise." Sensing the futility of trying to remain in Detroit, in early 1977, the band changed its name to the End, and re-located to New York in hopes of making it in the thriving punk rock scene there, but the band was unable to gain a sizable following or land a record deal and ended up out of money and disillusioned. They returned to Detroit and essentially became dormant, ceasing to play, except for occasional private get-togethers—in the words of Alan Webber "just to entertain ourselves...we never had an official, ‘Well, we’re done.’"


Later developments

The former members of the group moved on to other endeavors. Vocalist William Kuchon, spent time working in the film industry in California. Guitarist Alan Webber is retired and living in Pontiac. Bassist Rod McMahon is a heating and cooling contractor in Auburn Hills, and guitarist Steve Rockey is retired and living in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Webber’s younger brother Craig, the Punks’ original drummer, died in 2011, though another younger brother, Paul, also plays drums. At the turn of the millennium, a Detroit web site, MotorCityJams.com, chronicled the group's career and helped organize the 2003 release of a limited edition CD culled from some of the band's assorted demos and recordings entitled ''The Most Powerful Music on Earth.'' It was subsequently distributed by Italy's Rave Up Records on LP in 2005. Many of the tracks have made their way onto
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and other internet sites. The last time The Punks played together privately was in 2011 before drummer Craig Webber died. They reunited again in 2015 (with Craig's brother Paul Playing drums), at the Motor City Music Awards, where they were introduced by Violent J of The Insane Clown Posse as "Detroit Legends". Toronto filmmaker Bennett Phillips, in association with Chains of Madness Motion Pictures, has begun work on a documentary about the band to be titled ''My Time’s Coming: The Story of The Punks''. Their song "My Time's Comin'" was used in the soundtrack for the March 13th and 20th (2016) episodes of the television series, ''
Vinyl Vinyl may refer to: Chemistry * Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a particular vinyl polymer * Vinyl cation, a type of carbocation * Vinyl group, a broad class of organic molecules in chemistry * Vinyl polymer, a group of polymers derived from vinyl m ...
'', co-created by the Rolling Stones’
Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...
and director
Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Scorsese emerged as one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominatio ...
, in which the Nasty Bits, a fictitious band headed by a lead singer and front man played by Mick Jagger's son James Jagger, attempt to record parts of the song." The show's creators indicate that other songs by the punks may be used in future episodes." Alan Webber indicates that interest in the band could justify release of some of the other unreleased songs in their archive: "there were other recordings we did--I’ve got tons of material we did over the years...And the rest has been history--and possibly a future".


Membership

*William "Frantic" Kuchon (lead vocals) *Alan Webber (guitar) *Steve Rockey (guitar) *Rod McMahon (bass) *Craig Webber (drums)


Discography


Compilations

*''The Most Powerful Music on Earth'' (CD, Motor City Music, 2003) *''The Punks'' (LP, Rave Up Records, 2005)


See also

*
Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
- early-mid 1970s proto-punk band from Detroit


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Punks Hard rock musical groups from Michigan Musical groups established in 1973 Musical groups disestablished in 1977 Protopunk groups Punk rock groups from Michigan