Punk Attitude is a rockumentary on the history of punk rock from its seeds in Detroit to New York and its germination in the UK. The film traces the different styles of punk from their roots in 60s garage and psychedelic bands to how they evolved and became a rage. It also looks at the people involved who made punk what it was, the fans and the music that is still loved even today.

The DVD traces the roots of punk and features Punk Rock legendary bands like The Ramones, The Velvet Underground, MC5, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Sonic Youth, The Slits, New York Dolls and The Stooges (who are credited for being the New wave and punk pioneers) and many more. There are also interviews with Punk magazine employees who speak on various bands. The one and half hour comprehensive film gives a well-rounded picture of the sound, and as the title indicates, the ‘Attitude’ that swept through the rock and roll world at the beginning and end of the 1970s. Though one cannot really define what the whole punk rock scene was all about for there was quite a differences between the New York and U.K. punks, this well documented video sheds light on most of the aspects of the punk revolution and punk rock as it came to be known.

The film also examines the wide-reaching cultural impact punk had on the music world with many British and American stars offering their opinion on the genre and how it became a cult. Going into the nitty gritty of Punk or Punk Rock we can say that this is not just a form of music, it’s the expression of the people who believed in their self and who could stand up and try to change the rules that society set for everybody. Punk Rock brought about a change, it influenced people’s minds.

There are some stunning footage of key performers such as the Ramones, the Sex Pistols and The Clash, with interviews, performances and studio shots of the bands in performance mode. It also shows the rise and fall of punk when the bands started using the drug Speed and then Smack which literally saw the downfall of the punk era. The rebellious nature of the bands is also one of the very important parts of the punk era.

The documentary not only goes into the music part of punk, but also its fashion. In those days the bands were everywhere and hippies were classified as the real punks. But strangely none of the bands wanted to be termed as punks. ‘Be a punk, wear a punk T shirt’ was the norm playing around with fans who loved their music.

Though there is no narrator all along, every second is charged with artist’s info and interviews to make up for the loss. But sadly most are short and precise, making the viewer wanting for more info and performances from 1973 favorites like The Stooges to Paul Simmon and Mick Jones (The Clash), the all girl punk band The Slits, female singer Siousex Sioux, Patty Smith, the Sex Pistols, The Kinks, Henry Rolins (Black Flag), Brendan Mullen (The Masque club owner), Chryssie Hynde (The Pretenders) to lesser known bands and personalities like the not very popular Teenaged Jesus. In one of the interviews, the Sex Pistols have reported that at a concert people used to throw food and beer cans on them on stage. In return they would open the beer cans, drink the beer and spit a little of it on stage. Some classified punk rockers as a very narrow minded set of people, while others loved their crazy styled hairdos, their face packs and wild lives which went on to make the punk scene known as hardcore punk.

The Fugazis are one band who on record here has mentioned that they once refused a Rolling Stone interview just because the magazine featured advertisements of liquor and tobacco.

The film slowly moves to the present day bands and how they have gained a substantial influence in their music from past bands. Sadly very little time is spent on the more recent bands like Rancid, Blink 182, Green Day, Limp Bizket and a few others. This then, is not a nostalgic look at punk, but rather a story on the movement, the cult. So what you get is the pre punk era and the post punk era of both worlds, the US and the UK. The media now recognizes Punk rock as they think they came in now, but what they don’t know is that it existed over 40 years or more back then. The Punk revolution existed and it can surely happen again. Period.

Rating: ***

-- Reviewed by Verus Ferreira