10 Crucial Punk Rock Bands Currently Active
9. Ska Punk - The Interrupters
A genre that has always shared a common following with punk is ska. Originating from Jamaican reggae roots, ska has a special place in British history. Through the late 70s and early 80s, in a time where differing ethnicities didn't always see eye-to-eye with each other, people found common ground in dancehalls, moonstomping side-by-side to the rocksteady inspired beats of The Specials, Madness and The Selecter.
Mod culture bled seamlessly into the punk ethos, leading to an inevitable fusion genre, known as ska punk. Finding its way across the pond to America and the Californian punk scene in the early 90s, a new wave of ska rose up, one that became more upbeat and horn-heavy.
Fast-forward to current day, and American band The Interrupters are reviving the original sounds of a long forgot generation of punk, one that found itself at a standstill, reduced to comedy acts and nostalgic playlists, the message clear... Take back the power.
A family band, in a literal and figurative sense, The Interrupters have taken the scene by storm, with a strong helping hand from Rancid's Tim Armstrong, spreading positivity and delivering messages of unity worldwide.
Vocally reminiscent of The Distillers, and a visual style which would make any 2 tone fanatic blush with giddiness, The Interrupters have endeared themselves to the masses, cementing themselves as the biggest draw in ska right now. Anyone who can get a serious punk crowd busting out the running man to a Billie Eilish 'Bad Guy' cover demand your attention. Duh!