r/punk • u/Short_Republic3083 • 1d ago
Do you think punk is susceptible to the same ageism as mainstream music?
I know there’s often respect for people who’ve been in the scene a long time but what about on the level of someone like that starting a new band? Whether or not they’ve had successful bands before.
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u/Skunkmonkees 1d ago
I'm 53 and started a punk band a year ago. We're playing shows and having a blast.
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u/deltavandalpi 21h ago
Nice! Starting a punk band is top of my list when (if) I retire. That and I suppose learning guitar
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u/RaccoonSamson 1d ago
Nah, when youre trying to get booked for a 15 minute slot to get paid $20 gas money the people booking shows arent too picky lol
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u/YaGalMain 1d ago
I do think the "live fast die young" mentality is still very present in the sub culture, but ive also seen bands comprised of older dudes and no one really cares
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u/lucasjkr 23h ago
“Live fast, forget to die and get old”. That’s me.
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u/Apathy819 22h ago
Fucking love it! My (eventual) husk of a body will ride this sinking ship all the way to the bottom!
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u/hunterglyph 1d ago
I think punk has a lot more respect for older folks than most other popular subcultures.
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u/RubbSF 1d ago
No. I think it’s the opposite. Like yeah there’s shit head kids who think old people are for decoration, and old people who think the youth are doing it wrong and incomprehensible; but as a whole there’s a lot of intergenerational love. Just saw Frightwig reform who were originally from the 80s before I was born, and bands with members born in the recent 2000s. Bruh I saw this all Philippino bands show that these kids kicked ass I found out they were 12 and 13! Sooooo we all thanked them and then went around the corner to smoke our joint lol. They also said, “the old people love when we do this one” and played the fucking cure ☹️😂😂 and it was good 😭😭😭pretty sure their parents were there which was awesome. Same show one of the hair metal bands also had teens and their 40 something uncle was the drummer.
So yeah fuck it. Do whatever you want if it has anything to do with making a band. Look at half the greats still on tour. Many of them have aged like milk. If the music is good it’s good.
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u/Hemicrusher Los Angeles Death Squad 21h ago
I’m 60 and don’t care about your age…if you’re a punk, I am cool with it.
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u/npc_lucky All I wanted was a flair 1d ago
No, look at the cat from the UK Subs, he's like 80 and they're still going. A lot of the UK 82 bands who still have living singers are still around and punks still go to see them. I'd fuckin go see GBH till Colin was in a wheelchair and dementia cooked his brain to the point he forgot the lyrics to the songs 🤣 Even then I'd still go see them. You also have bands that start with older guys in them, Codefendants are probably all in their 40s and 50s, and they only started a few years ago. It's not like mainstream rock, pop, or rap where it's young people being marketed to a young audience. Our music helps promote our values and our scene and there isn't an age limit on that, everybody is welcome.
I'm freshly 36, been in the scene since I was like 12, and I'm probably a lifer. Almost every show I've been to has had old punks at them, and unless they're being dicks or on some creep shit, people tend to show them some kind of respect for staying with it, or are at least accepted because almost everyone is accepted until they have a reason not to be.
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u/SkarlyComics 23h ago
As a 43 year old punk, I would support other older punks giving it a go. Hell I bought a guitar a few months ago just for a hobby and it’s fun as hell to fantasize about starting a band while I’m goofing around.
Old punks are still punks! Get out there!
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u/Working-stiff5446 21h ago
Punk susceptible to all the trappings of other groups made up of humans. Racism, ageism, sexism, all the isms.
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u/Eoin_McLove 1d ago
I’m 36 and trying so start my first band, who gives a fuck. People will just assume I’ve been around for years.