Post-punk is one of the most fascinating genres of music. For while some of the most beloved and well-known bands in the history of guitar music have adopted the tag, pinning down exactly what post-punk is is quite a task and one which continues to divide opinion/spark heated debates.
Punk was characterised by a distinctly DIY attitude - despite major label backing for The Stooges, Ramones, The Clash and more - and a love of rudimentary, stripped-down rock'n'roll. The same was true of the post-punk movement, only instead of wanting to musically ape The Stooges or 60s garage rock, the bands were inspired more by the experimental, oblique sounds of The Velvet Underground and krautrock. This has led to the creation of a genre responsible for countless essential and influential releases.
Here is the story of that genre, via five classic albums.
