Punk, Chaos & Rebellion: From Sex Pistols to black midi - Wildcards, Anarchy & the Evolution of Punk on Trial

Punk isn’t a genre, it’s a decision. A decision to be loud, political, chaotic, messy, and completely unmanageable.

In this episode of Tracks on Trial, Sam George, Amy Jo and Andy dive head-first into the world of punk rock and all the gloriously unhinged genres it spawned. From the political fire of Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” to the razor-sharp bite of Stiff Little Fingers, from early punk innovators like MC5 to the avant-garde meltdown of black midi, this episode explores the entire spectrum of rebellion - past, present, and beautifully unclassifiable.

The jury breaks down the raw power, political rage, distorted chaos, and surprisingly sharp musicianship that has defined punk across decades. They look at how punk evolved into hardcore, pop-punk, emo revival, art-punk, and experimental noise, and why the spirit of the movement still resonates in everything from Sugarcult to modern theatrical punk.

💬 In this episode:

• Why punk music remains one of the most rebellious forces in modern culture
• How “God Save the Queen” became a political grenade

• Stiff Little Fingers and punk’s storytelling backbone
• The chaotic brilliance and genre-breaking energy of black midi
• Punk’s evolution through Green Day, Gallows, Sugarcult and more
• Vocal identity, distortion, and the beauty of musical imperfection
• Why punk refuses to be defined by one sound, one era… or one generation
• The role of nostalgia in early 2000s punk and teen-movie culture
• How contemporary artists keep the punk mindset alive

It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s political. And it proves that punk is less a sound and more a spirit - one that still punches holes in the mainstream today.