Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Collectively, the music (of various genres and backgrounds) that influenced the later punk movement in the 1970s.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

proto- +‎ punk

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Examples

  • An “electronic protopunk musical duo” (their words, not mine), they actually took their name from a Ghost Rider comic book.

    Five Best Songs About Superheroes | myFiveBest 2010

  • E.g., there is plenty that Arctic Monkeys sounds like that I really love — like a lot of protopunk — but I think Arctic Monkeys are deathly boring and shitty.

    Matthew Yglesias » Quicksilver 2007

  • My description of Clémenti as “the picture perfect protopunk” above is sincere.

    The U.S. Premiere of Les Idoles (1968) 2008

  • Clémenti is the picture perfect protopunk with the soul of a decadent 19th century French poet.

    Barbie has gone to The Birds 2008

  • Clémenti is the picture perfect protopunk with the soul of a decadent 19th century French poet.

    The U.S. Premiere of Les Idoles (1968) 2008

  • I dunno, I'm kind of into starting a new genre... protopunk, or maybe caveman punk.

    Posthuman Blues Mac 2007

  • John was/is also a protopunk when it comes to music.

    Boing Boing: November 3, 2002 - November 9, 2002 Archives 2002

  • Sounds very good: "a monthly club night in London playing indie pop, post-punk, C86, jangle pop, Sarah, Postcard, new wave and protopunk."

    Phil Gyford (everything) 2010

  • In Detroit in the late '60s, Franks had a friendly association with John Sinclair, leader of the revolutionary and anti-racist White Panther Party and manager of the protopunk band MC5.

    Baltimore City Paper 2010

  • Dwyer digs into old-timey sounds and AM radio pop while staying rooted in 60s protopunk, and no matter what influences he's kicking around from one song to the next, his melodies have a new strength that helps them hold up to the band's trashy energy.

    Chicago Reader 2010

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