Background material
The United Kingdom was initially a country that thrived on traditional folk music. However, it became more influenced later by popular music trends and global music business. So, some of the trends would be adopted by the United Kingdom and subgenres developed to meet the needs of the performers and their audience. Music in the United Kingdom was greatly influenced by the development of rock and rolling in the United States during the 1940s. Many musicians came from all over the country to imitate American bands, and in the 1990s grunge became the most popular genre. British punk and grunge rock musicians attempted to imitate the American counterparts’ lyrical writing, music and performances. The development of music was successful in Britain, with new musicians being discovered and admirers. In the United Kingdom, punk and grunge music became very popular during the 1990s.
Punk music in the United Kingdom
Like many other subgenres in rock music, punk was popularized in the United Kingdom during the 1990s. UK punk rock was an evolution of pub and garage rock. This subgenre tried to deconstruct and forget the conventions involved in composing rock music and support punk culture. The late 1980s to early 1990s saw punk groups like Northern Ireland’s Ash begin writing music that was more free-flowing in terms of lyric composition and instrumentation. They also had a greater freedom for artists and their fans. These characteristics were distinct from those of conventional rock & roll, which stressed a slower pace, sophisticated instruments, deep subject themes, and expensive venues. Punk rock groups engaged in DIY productions, and performed wherever they felt appropriate. Angelic Upstarts was an example of a band that would have less sophisticated instruments, including a guitar and bass guitar. Voice productions using only a basic microphone would be also informal. The punk rock band would also pronounce every lyric slowly and clearly. The United Kingdom was home to many rock acts, including The Damned, who performed their music in bars.