The result of all this was a music that rigidly conformed to a set pattern of lyrics, look and sound. If you look at the punk record labels they seemed to slim down to about 3 in the early eighties from the previous explosion of 100's in mid 1977 as interest died.

Ironically in all this opting out punks evolved their own uniform that distinguished them from other tribes. Leathers adorned with bands names ,studs and badges and hair spiked as high as possible or done as a mohawk and Doc martins. Skinheads with boots and braces followed the oi music. After commercialism and in fighting had sucked punk dry of originality, the husk was left for rants and polemics, unintelligible without the aid of a lyric sheet. With diminishing record sales punk was preaching to the converted, right wing groups etc and noone really cared anymore. The threat was over.

I can't deny there have been great punk records since 1979 but they are all variations on a theme. nothing as life changing as God Save The Queen by The Sex Pistols. I tell a lie. The last great punk band had 3 scruffy Americans, were signed to a major label and replace the word punk with grunge. They had the success that the pistols wanted and that band people was Nirvana. Like it or not they were the last punk band of the millennium, the voice of an alienated and disaffected youth and the band that paved the way for groups like Green Day, Rancid and The Offspring and whatever you listen to now. Want another great punk single 'Song 2'  by Blur. Attitude and sound !! But shit they don't look like punks so I can't like them. Get a life !!