MU121 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Elvis Costello, Pop Punk, Brian Eno
Document Summary
As late as the fall of 1977, most mainstream rock fans in america were largely unaware of either british or american punk. Sex pistols toured the us but only the south in 1978. Did this to provoke more headlines in conservative south. Costello"s appearance marked significant breakthough for punk into american mainstream. Punk had built reputation for being dangerous and potentially embarrassing within the music business. For much of commercial music business, relabeling punk as new wave was a solution to this problem. Term new wave made punk music more of an artsy aesthetic statement than that of nihilism or protest. Punks answer to frustration was to lash out. New waves was to reflect on urban alienation and write clever lyrics. Blondie became successful in us after achieving what many thought would be localized fame in uk. Blondie"s singles and albums had little resemblance to the american stereotypes of punk.
