punk funk
{{Short description|Music genre that combines elements of punk rock and funk}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox music genre
| name = Punk funk
| stylistic_origins = {{hlist|Punk rock|funk}}
| cultural_origins = Late 1970s
| derivatives = {{hlist|Avant-funk|dance-punk|funk metal}}
| regional_scenes = {{hlist|California|United Kingdom}}
| other_topics = {{hlist|Post-punk|electropunk|free jazz|no wave|funk rock|psychedelic funk}}
}}
Punk funk (also hyphenated as punk-funk) is a music fusion genre that typically combine punk rock and funk influences. It gave way to and is closely associated with dance-punk, avant-funk, and funk metal, all of which are also alternatively described as punk funk.{{cite news |last1=Reynolds |first1=Simon |title=Dancing on the Edge |work=Index |date=2001}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/angelo-moore-of-fishbone|title=Angelo Moore of Fishbone : Songwriter Interviews}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G4mP7u6mPdkC&q=%22funk+metal%22+%22punk%22&pg=PA217|title=101 Albums that Changed Popular Music|first=Chris|last=Smith|date=9 September 2009|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-537371-4 |via=Google Books}} The term punk funk has been used to describe Cansei de Ser Sexy by CSS,{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/cansei-de-ser-sexy-20061215-ge3ssa.html|title=Cansei De Ser Sexy|first=Chris|last=Johnston|date=15 December 2006|website=The Age}} Minutemen, whose nimble punk funk was compared to Gang of Four by music critic Simon Reynolds,{{cite book |last1=Reynolds |first1=Simon |title=Totally Wired Postpunk Interviews and Overviews |date=2010 |publisher=Soft Skull}} and "Precious" by the Jam, described by Uncut as "hypnotically, itchy, punk funk".{{Cite web|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/the-jam-the-gift-super-deluxe-edition-2140/|title=The Jam - The Gift: Super Deluxe Edition|date=19 November 2012}}
History
Punk funk emerged in the late 1970s, however, it was eclipsed in the 1980s by dance-punk, avant-funk, and funk metal later in the 1980s, all of which are also alternatively described as punk funk. Despite this, punk funk has been occasionally used in more recent years to describe bands such as CSS and their 2005 album Cansei de Ser Sexy.
=1970s=
Ian Dury and the Blockheads, formed in 1977, have been described as punk funk. The earliest punk funk band is probably Talking Heads,{{cite web | url=https://audiophix.com/posts/exploring-punk-funk-music-influential-artists-01hvxkz2jj3r | title=Exploring punk funk music and its most influential artists | date=24 April 2024 }} having formed in 1975. Their track "Psycho Killer" opens with a funky bassline,https://www.musicologia.musicattitude.it/migliori-album/talking-heads-talking-heads-77/ and following this, they brought in Bernie Worrell from Funkadelic into their live band.{{cite web | url=https://audiophix.com/posts/exploring-punk-funk-music-influential-artists-01hvxkz2jj3r | title=Exploring punk funk music and its most influential artists | date=24 April 2024 }}
=1980s=
Beginning in the 1980s, punk funk itself metamorphosised into dance-punk, avant-funk, and funk metal. Almost all punk funk bands were swept up into these new genres; Gang of Four has been described as dance-punk.{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/gang-of-four-entertainment/|title=Gang of Four Take Punk in New Direction on 'Entertainment!'|first=Michael|last=Gallucci|date=25 September 2019|website=Ultimate Classic Rock}} The Jam split up in 1982, and its member Paul Weller formed the Style Council a year later, which saw Weller take his music in a more soulful direction,{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/paul-weller-eventim-apollo-review/|title=Paul Weller, Eventim Apollo: 'the modfather remains a dynamic force'|first=Pete|last=Naughton|work=The Telegraph |date=5 December 2015|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}} which was only hinted at on later Jam releases. Following Minutemen's 1985 breakup, George Hurley and Mike Watt would take their music into a more experimental vein with Firehose, although hints of Minutemen's blend of punk, funk, and free jazz could be heard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/firehoses-ed-crawford-it-was-our-job-we-f-kin-showed-up-every-day-6604611|title=fIREHOSE's Ed Crawford: "It Was Our Job. We F**kin' Showed Up Every Day."|first=Glenn|last=BurnSilver|website=Phoenix New Times}} However, one group associated with punk funk which emerged in the UK during this period was the Higsons.{{cite web |last=Ranson |first=Gerry |date=4 October 2023 |title=Higsons' Alpine funk patrol! |url=https://vivelerock.net/blogs/news-1/higsons-alpine-funk-patrol |website=vivelerock.net |access-date=9 April 2025}}
In the 1980s, Rick James would break through with his biggest commercial success in "Super Freak". He has, over the years, branded himself as the "King of punk funk", and The New York Times and Bay State Banner have noted his punk funk sound.{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Robert |title=The Pop Life |work=The New York Times |date=26 Oct 1979 |page=C15}}{{cite news |last1=Wynn |first1=Ron |title=Shades of Blue |work=Bay State Banner |issue=2 |date=1 Nov 1979 |page=19}} uDiscover Music argues that the punk context was in his street attitude, and not in a musical one.{{Cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/rick-james-super-freak-life-story/|title=Super Freaky: The Unbelievable Life Of Punk-Funk Badass Rick James|last=McCann|first=Ian|date=February 1, 2023|publisher=uDiscover Music|accessdate=September 14, 2023}}
=2000s=
In 2005, CSS released Cansei de Ser Sexy, which has been described as punk funk by Australian newspaper The Age.{{cite web | url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/cansei-de-ser-sexy-20061215-ge3ssa.html | title=Cansei de Ser Sexy | date=15 December 2006 }}
=2020s=
Earth by EOB has been described as punk funk by Pitchfork.{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/eob-earth/ | title=EOB: Earth | website=Pitchfork }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Punk rock}}
{{Funk}}