# The one person John Waters believes “was punk before there was such a thing”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-one-person-john-waters-believes-was-punk-before-there-was-such-a-thing/
- Published: 2026-11-01T11:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T11:10:20+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-original-punk-according-to-john-waters/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- John Waters sees Divine as punk before the music scene emerged.
- Divine’s performances challenged conventions around drag and gender.
- *Pink Flamingos* pushed boundaries in 1972.

## Summary

John Waters argues that Divine was punk before punk became a recognised music subculture, because he challenged social conventions through an outrageous approach to drag. The claim highlights punk as an ethos of rebellion and boundary-breaking, rather than a style defined by clothing or music.

Divine, born Harris Glenn Milstead, starred in Waters’s low-budget, independent films, including *Pink Flamingos* (1972), which deliberately provoked conservative audiences. Waters said Divine changed drag by giving it an edge; his performances challenged expectations of femininity and gender norms, years before the Ramones began playing at CBGB.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.