The Punk Scene and the National Music Press in France (1976–1978): ‘Dangerous Liaisons’?

Abstract

In the years 1976–1978, in France as well as in Britain and the United States, a number of bands emerged that called themselves ‘punk’, with disruptive and violent ideas against the Establishment, hippies and the musical codes of the time. It is from the press, in particular those periodicals specializing in music (Best and Rock&Folk), that the importance can be estimated of this ‘punk explosion’ that deeply called into question the society of the time: hence the press participated in the mainstreamization of this musical movement. The purpose of this chapter is to analyse the ‘dangerous liaisons’ the media had with the punk scene during these two pivotal years.

We would like to thank Dr. Michel Barrucand for the translation and the reading of this chapter.