Street Punk

An urban working class–based subgenre of punk rock, partly as a rebellion against the perceived artistic pretensions of the first wave of British punk. Street punks commonly sported multi-colored hair, mohawks, tattoos, heavily studded vests, and leather jackets.

The music is characterized by single-note guitar lines and short solos. Unlike similar genres, such as hardcore punk, street punk bands sometimes consisted of two guitarists, one of which played guitar melodies while not singing. Street punk also makes frequent use of communal vocals, gang vocals, and sing–along choruses. Street punk lyrics commonly address topics including fighting, drinking, partying, inner-city turmoil, or personal relationships. Bands sometimes expressed political viewpoints, typically of a left-wing variety, although some street punks eschewed politics altogether in favor of a more hedonistic, nihilistic outlook. 1980s–2000s.