Talk:Cowpunk/Archive 1

What IS Cowpunk?
Seems we need to clarify. Easier to say what is not Cowpunk.

Rockabilly is not Cowpunk. Psychobilly is not Cowpunk. (anything)-abilly is not Cowpunk. Roots Rock is not Cowpunk. Americana is not Cowpunk. Alt Country is not Cowpunk. NeoFolk is not Cowpunk. No Depression is not Cowpunk. Country is not Cowpunk. Heavy Metal is not Cowpunk.

OK? - It doesn&#39;t stick. (talk) 00:12, 27 July 2008 (UTC)

Cowboy Mouth is not "Cowpunk". Their Wikipedia article doesn't even begin to suggest that they are. - It doesn&#39;t stick. (talk) 16:31, 3 August 2008 (UTC)

"Fast Southern Rock"
I'm removing the reference to this being referred to as "Cowpunk". If some reputable reference can be found citing it as such, then we can put it back. - It doesn&#39;t stick. (talk) 16:34, 3 August 2008 (UTC)

Social Distortion
Soc D may not have been identified w/ the scene that the editor(s) of this article consider the watershed time for Cowpunk, but let me quote the article's intro: "Cowpunk or Country punk is a subgenre of punk rock that began in Southern California in the 1980s, especially Los Angeles. It combines punk rock with country music, folk music, and blues in sound, subject matter, attitude, and style." Take out the 3 words "especially Los Angeles" (not that Orange County is far removed) and the single band that would generate a strong association with this exact desription among the largest amount of informed rock fans, I'm pretty sure, is Social Distortion. Their best known songs, including Prison Bound, Ball & Chain, Ring of Fire, This Time Darlin', Making Believe, Its the Law, Bad Luck, and Story of my Life, can be well described as a fusion of Johnny Cash (to name one very prominent influence; of course one of those songs listed IS a Cash song) and punk.

Mike Ness has described his sound as "the Ramones and Hank Williams get in a car crash". I can provide a YouTube link to one interview cira 1992 where he gave this description if anyone's interested. How about Mike Ness' "Under the Influences" cd? It featuers covers of Williams, Cash, Wanda Jackson, Marty Robbins, the Carter Family, and the like. His original material, whether Soc D or solo (his other solo record), is heavily indebted to the same root.

I'm back. Sorry to write a book, but It Doesn't Stick, you wanted significant or notable artists and you delete Social D... Consider these two quotes from Mike Ness' official MySpace: "As early as 1981, Social Distortion did their infamous version of the Rolling Stones' “Under My Thumb” and over the years paid homage to many of Mike's early influences like Johnny Cash, Elmore James, Hank Williams and many more."

"'I have a great affection for roots music. Old blues, country, folk, rockabilly, and primitive rock and roll in general. Without these roots, I wouldn't have perspective. I love the music and feel it is as relevant as 70's glitter and early punk.'" http://www.myspace.com/mikeness —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.164.147.147 (talk) 03:01, 6 October 2008 (UTC)


 * Hi, 24.164.147.147, thanks for your input; it is well-reasoned and contains several valid points. This article is still rather raw and needs much added to it as well as still needing some cutting. If you would really like to help out, please consider creating a Wikipedia account as it would more readily facilitate the sharing of suggestions and ideas for improving the mess that is the Cowpunk article. I'll come back with my thoughts on your points when I have a bit more time, but I'll say that SD (imho) merits neither automatic inclusion nor exclusion from this list based upon either their sound (punk/punkabilly/rockabilly) or their geographic origination (Fullerton, CA). I would think that they could easily be included in the secondary listing if only notated/referenced properly. --- It doesn&#39;t stick. (talk) 19:46, 10 October 2008 (UTC)

I see Social D were removed by somebody again from the "other notable musicians" section. So Soc D (who I made a case for above) get removed and Nashville Pussy stay? Whatever.

To say Cow punk music originated in southern California or Los Angeles is an inacuracy. In San Antonio,Texas in the early 80's it was happening.I was a musician doing it and had never heard of any of the California bands listed in this article. Allthough I heard of them later and liked they're music.Cow punk was happening in many places across the country.Not just California.I remember the Hickoids and the bad Livers to name a few that I remeber.Many might try and say those where Austin bands,but, being a musician in south Texas as soon as a band gets any attention no matter where they come from,suddenly they are an Austin band. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Macnasty1 (talk • contribs) 06:01, 19 December 2009 (UTC)

Um... these are ALL supposed to be "cowpunk"?
Seems like "cowpunk" is mostly a secondary genre for most of these bands, and their primary genres varies wildly from "pop/nu-wave" to "hardcore punk". Is this worth expanding on? Nine Pound Hammer's hardcore punk "cowpunk" sounds nothing like The Violent Femmes's brief experiment with using rural instruments and motifs, for example. This reminds me a lot of the music industry's insistence on calling Mumford and Sons a bluegrass band based on their outfits and instruments, despite the band's protestations that they don't consider themselves to be one. 45.47.168.184 (talk) 01:13, 12 April 2017 (UTC)

"Other Notable Cowpunk bands and musicians"
I'm removing The Vandals from the list "Other Notable Cowpunk or Roots musicians". A few jokey songs satirizing country music and its fans does not make them either Cowpunk or Roots-oriented musicians. Also... It seems a shame that there is not a base article for Tex & The Horseheads, being that they were (are?) generally considered vital to this particular scene sub-sub-genre. I may attempt at least putting together a stub. 71.206.216.251 (talk) 21:01, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

The key word here is "notable", folks. Not a good idea to just start listing everyone's favorite vaguely country-ish post-punk band. Really obscure bands tend to get deleted with extreme prejudice unless they can be cited as somehow notable or influential, so try not to waste your own time by just adding in any name you can think of. A good rule of thumb might be "Is there a Wikipedia article on this band?" If there is, and they fit the genre, it might be a good add (unless the list starts to get out of hand). If there's no other Wikipedia mention of the band you want to add, think of a reason they should be listed. Can't? Maybe start with submitting an article on the band itself.--- It doesn&#39;t stick. (talk) 23:16, 26 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Okay, I've deleted several bands and musicians that were either non-notable or don't really fall under the Cowpunk genre. Please, no one take it personally if I've deleted your favorite roots-rock/rockabilly/fast country band. I've tried to err on the side of caution, leaving some I was unsure of or couldn't verify. Anyone feel free to contribute, discuss, or disagree, but if you've got a Death-Metal act from Finland that does a vaguely rockabilly song I don't want to hear about it. Not here anyway. --- It doesn&#39;t stick. (talk) 00:41, 27 July 2008 (UTC)

would Cracker be considered cowpunk? They really are all over the map. 2600:8800:7981:7120:8555:4870:5344:BAD (talk) 04:20, 28 December 2018 (UTC)

I've re-deleted Social Distortion. They were not part of the Cowpunk scene; they did not play Cowpunk music. If they've drastically changed styles since their last album, I'm not aware of it. - It doesn&#39;t stick. (talk) 22:30, 28 July 2008 (UTC)

Deleted Paramore. No idea why they were on here to begin with. EpsilonJSTC (talk) 22:55, 31 May 2010 (UTC)

Me First and the Gimme Gimme's is not cowpunk. The author of the cited article is just plain wrong and certainly not knowledgeable about the genre. 68.104.74.88 (talk) 00:12, 30 July 2011 (UTC)

Re-deleted Me First and the Gimme Gimme's. An album of NOFX sounding punk covers of country songs certainly does not qualify as cowpunk. - Jaredtlord