The “dumb” genre David Crosby, Bon Scott, and Roger Waters hated the most
David Crosby, Roger Waters and Bon Scott all voiced dismissive views of punk, seeing it as musically limited, contrived or lacking a meaningful message. Their criticism reflected a clash between established rock musicians and a younger generation drawn to punk’s stripped-back sound.
Crosby called punk “pretty much all dumb stuff” and criticised its musical value and lyrics. Waters said the Sex Pistols were trying to make noise and pointed to their manager’s clothing shop, while AC/DC singer Bon Scott argued punk made a statement without meaning much. The article says punk’s simplicity was part of its appeal, with bands such as the Clash and the Ramones offering a new entry point into rock.
- Crosby, Waters and Scott criticised punk’s sound or message.
- Punk’s stripped-back style appealed to younger listeners.
- The article casts punk as a new chapter in rock.
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Punk emerged in the mid-1970s as a stripped-back style of rock, with short songs, simple arrangements and an emphasis on direct performance. The sound offered a contrast to the elaborate recordings and long instrumental passages common in some established rock music.
The Clash and the Ramones became prominent punk bands, and the style drew younger listeners who saw it as a fresh way into making and hearing rock. Established musicians including David Crosby, Roger Waters and Bon Scott criticised punk’s musical simplicity and questioned its substance, reflecting a wider divide between generations of rock artists.
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The case for
From the perspective of established musicians, punk’s stripped-down playing could sound musically limited, while its provocation risked substituting noise and attitude for craft or substance. Its links to fashion and image could also make it seem contrived rather than a meaningful artistic statement.
The case against
Punk’s simplicity was a deliberate strength: it lowered the barriers to making rock and offered younger musicians and listeners a fresh entry point. Its direct sound and confrontational attitude could express frustration and energy in their own right, even when the lyrics were not elaborate or the musicianship technically polished.