quite simply, punk rock is a restoration of the original rebellious youth attitude and simple fundamentals of expession in [rocknroll] music that was first expressed in the 50s by the [giant]s like [Chuck Berry], [Elvis Presley], [Jerry Lee Lewis] (especially in his personal life), and others, as opposed to the clean cut image of some of the [pop star]s that were dominant at the time. In the mid-60s there was the [Velvet Underground] who influenced punk by their lyrical themes and feedback and more. Then came what are now considered to be the [protopunk] bands, who took the practice of [pushing the envelope] that [British] bands like the [Rolling Stones], the [Who] and the [Kinks] initiated to even greater lengths in terms of sound, image and rebellious attitude (the [Stooges], the [MC5], and many other bands). The term punk rock possibly was first used by rock critic Dave Marsh in a [rockmag] in the early 70s to describe the sound of [? and the Mysterians]. An independent movement in rock developed as a reaction because the music had become [corporate], pompous, bloated, pretentious, [artsy-fartsy], and along with Top 40 pop, just plain [cruddy] and stupid. Bands started playing their songs short, to the point, loud, and fast, often a three-chord arrangement in accordance with the idiom [KISS] (Keep It Simple, Stupid). The name punk rock was applied to this independent movement in rock, the movement was and still a rebellion against the prevailing fads and trends. It has greatly influenced popular music in the 80s decade and beyond, spawning nascent movements like [speed metal], [new wave], [postpunk], [grunge] and more in terms of style, sound, image, attitude and much more. Punk rock is anti-corporate, anti-establishment, anti-system and anti-conformity. Current bands like [Blink 182] and [Good Charlotte] are NOT punk rock because they dont really have the original rebellious rocknroll spirit, gist or attitude of individuality. Music has gotten so corporate now that we very badly need another rock revolution like punk and we need it fast, before rocks just part of the past. Cuz lately it just sounds the same to me... (all due respect to the Ramones).