Punk Pathetique
| Punk pathetique | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Late 1970s, England |
| Typical instruments | |
| Regional scenes | |
| East End of London | |
| Other topics | |
| Garry Bushell - Sounds magazine - working class | |
Punk pathetique is a subgenre of British punk rock (principally active circa 1980–1982) that involved humour and working class cultural themes.
The name of the genre was coined by then-Sounds journalist Garry Bushell, who actively championed many of its exponents. Punk pathetique was initially an attempt to characterize a group of London bands that embodied Cockney culture with a Dickensian working class attitude. Musically it was related to (and had crossover with) the Oi! subgenre. The cover of the 1980 Bushell/Sounds compilation album Oi the Album described the record as featuring "ruck 'n' rollers and punk pathetiques". In contrast to harder-edged Oi! bands with more serious lyrics, punk pathetique bands focused on the naughty, silly and trivial. Max Splodge of Splodgenessabounds said: "The pathetique bands are the other side of Oi! We're working class too, only whereas some bands sing about prison and the dole, we sing about pilchards and bums. The audience is the same."
Some punk pathetique bands had notable success in the UK charts. Toy Dolls got to #4 in December 1984 with "Nellie the Elephant." Splodgenessabounds reached #7 in 1980 with "Simon Templar," and #26 with "Two Little Boys" later that year. According to Bushell:
Peter and the Test Tube Babies were first featured in Sounds in July 1980, and made their vinyl debut on Oi! The Album later that year. They favoured absurd lyrics and strange titles, such as "The Queen Gives Good Blow Jobs" and "Elvis Is Dead (He Was 42 and a Fat Cunt"). Toy Dolls, based in Sunderland, shared the punk pathetique approach to nonsensical entertainment. Toy Dolls singer Michael "Olga" Algar told Sounds in March 1980: "We're a new wave group, but we're not serious. All our songs are pretty childish and infantile, but they're all based on things and people 'round here."
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