With the current music scene going in the direction it is, many wonder if the punk scene ever existed. Fortunately, PUNK: Attitude captures the essence of a fading musical movement that influenced many artists performing today. This documentary exposes the uprising evolution that revolutionized the music scene forever.

Director Don Letts takes the audience for an amazing journey as he reveals that punk is much more than a haircut or style of clothing. Letts quickly identifies that punk originated before the arrival of the Ramones, the Clash and the Sex Pistols. Although each band played a pivotal role for the scene, he further focuses on the bands’ influences dating back to Elvis, the Who and the British invasion.

Moving on from the ’60s garage band and rockabilly scenes, the arrival of punk pollinates how the crucial elements during the mid-’70s structured the future. This history lesson captivates the viewer without turning into another tedious documentary.

Letts includes extensive coverage of the U.K. movement as well as New York, showcasing how a generation inspired the world around it with art, fashion and anti-establishment attitude. Having lived during the scene, he displays rare footage from early performance and exclusive interviews with musicians and filmmakers of the era. Pete Shelley from the Buzzcocks elaborately explains how the music exceeded the London city limits causing a global attitude phenomenon. Henry Rollins focuses on the expansion of Black Flag in the ’80s transcending into the grunge generation.

Although the Los Angeles scene was greatly overlooked and X was completely excluded, this documentary is one of the best punk genre films out there today. Don Letts delivers a well-crafted feature that is educational and informative. PUNK: Attitude is wonderfully fascinating and an elaborate lesson in punk rock history. A must-watch, and definitely a must-own, film.?

Grade: B+



PUNK: Attitude is currently available.