History
Punk funk emerged in the late 1970s, however, it was eclipsed in the 1980s by dance-punk, avant-funk, and funk metal later in the 1980s, all of which are also alternatively described as punk funk. Despite this, punk funk has been occasionally used in more recent years to describe bands such as CSS and their 2005 album Cansei de Ser Sexy.
1980s
Beginning in the 1980s, punk funk itself metamorphosised into dance-punk, avant-funk, and funk metal. Almost all punk funk bands were swept up into these new genres; Gang of Four has been described as dance-punk.[10] The Jam split up in 1982, and its member Paul Weller formed the Style Council a year later, which saw Weller take his music in a more soulful direction,[11] which was only hinted at on later Jam releases. Following Minutemen's 1985 breakup, George Hurley and Mike Watt would take their music into a more experimental vein with Firehose, although hints of Minutemen's blend of punk, funk, and free jazz could be heard.[12] However, one group associated with punk funk which emerged in the UK during this period was the Higsons.[13]
In the 1980s, Rick James would break through with his biggest commercial success in "Super Freak". He has, over the years, branded himself as the "King of punk funk", and The New York Times and Bay State Banner have noted his punk funk sound.[14][15] uDiscover Music argues that the punk context was in his street attitude, and not in a musical one.[16]
2020s
Earth by EOB has been described as punk funk by Pitchfork.[18]