Musical history isn’t a linear process, though it’s easy to think of it that way, imagining subcultures and cultural moments arriving one after another in a neat, orderly fashion. In reality, at any given time, multiple movements and tribes were thriving, each with its own distinct energy, often clashing with the spirit of its contemporaries. In the mid-1970s, this dynamic was especially clear as the raw, gritty punk scene coexisted with the polished, theatrical world of acts like Queen—two seemingly opposing forces sharing the same moment in time.
They stand at two ends of the spectrum. In one camp, there was Johnny Rotten and his gaggle, who looked like they needed long baths and a good meal. Their scene was powered by a DIY spirit where skill, and sometimes even talent, came second to attitude. With the attitude of the moment being total nonchalance, power in the punk scene came down to a competition of who cared the least, as if the effort was a sign of weakness.