[Ads-l] Antedating of "Punk" (Performer or Fan of Punk Rock)

[Shapiro, Fred]

punk (OED, 5.b., 1976)

The genesis of the musical term "punk" meaning a performer or fan is quite complex.  The OED's first use (1976) seems to be much too late, and out of sync with their early-1970's citations for "punk rock" and "punk music."  The complexities are fully discussed in an online article by J. P. Robinson, titled "The Rotten Etymology of Punk":

https://jprobinson.medium.com/the-rotten-etymology-of-punk-86db2fcc16f8

I suggest, as the first-use citation for "punk" meaning a performer or fan, Lester Bangs's mention of "that Stooge punk" in reference to Iggy Pop.  This was published in the magazine Creem in December 1970.

Fred Shapiro



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