[urgeok]

Originally posted by knee jerk
I love the Pistols too but they were really little more than a punk version of a "boy band."

'a' punk version ? THE punk version.
despite their origions - they defined punk.
not sure what you mean by HUGE major record deal either ..
they never made money.
I know what you are saying re. the packaging and the manipulation - something they made fun of themselves.
But unlike 'boy bands' as we really know them .. the pistols became something brand new - and had one of the best albums of the century.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood were another example of a 'boy band' by your terms. They also hit with a great album, despite the fact that they were thrown together based on the look vs the ability to play music ... but they learned.

(to me a boy band is 4 or more pretty boys that do little more than synchronized dancing - i dont recall any of them actually playing instruments)

Again with the labelling...saying the Clash were "ska?"
Sure they combined elements of ska into their music but that doesn't make them a ska band.
And even if so, what's to say that a ska band can't have a punk ethic?

everything has a label - 'rock and roll' is a label.
Very few bands sound like nothing else. They (or their labels) try extremely hard to make them fit into sellable niches.
Lord it drives me insane when people decry the use of labels when the rest of the world is obviously to sound or look like a very established - clearly defined 'type'.
To deny this is insane !!!
You think the record stores devide rock by genre because it's fun for them ? They do it because it's how the public ask for their music.
Goth, Punk, Grunge, Hip-Hop, Electronica, Country, RnB, House, Metal (the 50 sub genres of metal), jazz, you honestly can tell me you dont believe that there is no way bands fit into any of these categories ? or should ?

sure there are some bands that fall between the cracks .. hybrids/fusion, whatever...

and yeah, the Clash combined heavy elements of ska into their music .. and eventually devolved into god knows what. Anyway - it became so bad it almost made me forget the good music they once made.

Curious to see how you define the 'punk ethic' by the way.
i'm not challenging - just curious.

Crap...you've dragged me into this.
Today I've been listening to The Plimsouls. And The Posies in the car.

I like those bands as well.