i guess what i'm getting at is that i never looked to punk rock as something that was fun, or nihilistic, or party-driven. i was attracted to it because it was "rock music for smart kids", and not because it was some kind of expression of rage or nihilism or angst.

it was nerd rock.

i got my angst from alternative rock, in the sense that it was an expansion of prog. that was the status quo. that was axl rose. i didn't like that; i wanted something different from punk rock...