A punk house is a dwelling occupied by members of the punk subculture. Punk houses are similar to the hippie crash pads of the 1960s and the slan shacks of science fiction fandom. The Factory, an alternative living space founded by Andy Warhol as the home base of The Velvet Underground, is directly linked to the formation of punk rock in New York City. In the early 1980s, a few punk gangs developed around allegiance to certain punk houses.
Punk houses are often centered on certain political or personal ideologies. It is not uncommon for a punk house to be anarchist, strictly straight-edge, or vegan. A clique of punks may start a punk house by squatting an abandoned building, by renting, or by owning property. Punk houses are often communally inhabited in an attempt to minimize the individual expense of rent or property tax.
Punk houses serve as backdrops for local scenes; punk houses often provide overnight shelter to touring punk rock bands, and sometimes serve as a venue for shows. Bands or record labels sometimes form in a particular punk house. Many punk houses have associated punk zines that sometimes share the name of the house. Groups of anarcho-punks run their houses as communes. Inhabitants sometimes identify their houses with unique names and symbols so they can represent their residence with clothing, slogans, and graffiti.
Five fact friday living cheap in a punk house
Notable punk houses
-121 Chesterfield, Rd, Pittsburgh, Pa. Not really a "squat" but close enough, The punk house in Pittsburgh.
The Smacky Flats, located on Hindley Street, Adelaide, Australia, and initially inhabited by Nasty Marty and a bunch of friends that grew and grew, ending in 10 of the 12 flats being part of the punk commune.
The Ashtray, West Oakland, CA - A Late 80's punk house home to members of Operation Ivy, Isocracy and Filth. Mentioned in numerous fanzine articles and songs including those of Absolutely Zippo, Cometbus, Screeching Weasel, The Lookouts and Blatz.
Lost Cross, Carbondale, IL - A house serving as a practice space, venue, and hangout continuously since 1986.
Calgary Manor, Calgary Alberta - venue occupied by members of Calgary punk scene and featured in the film Another State of Mind.
The Phoenix House, Olympia, WA - House located on Phoenix Street in Olympia, Washington, famous for showcasing bands such as Nirvana and Bikini Kill, while also providing cheap living, as the house has many rooms. The house officially closed in May 2011, though an attempt at reviving the universally famous house is currently in the works.
Positive Force House Arlington, Virginia – former residence of Positive Force D.C.
Eddy Street Castle- Eau Claire, WI- Cullen Ryan lives there with his wife and two kids.
The BFG, Appleton, WI - venue occupied by members of Tenement, Wartorn, Technicolor Teeth, and The Parish.
The Burnt Ramen, Richmond, CA - A DIY punk venue infamous for their downstairs bathroom.
The Hellarity House, Oakland, CA - Venue, Home to many infamous faces, and best run traveler haven ever. Hellarity House closed on March 5, 2012.
The Black Hole, Fullerton, CA
Storey House, Santa Cruz, CA - A longtime venue for touring bands, couch for traveling punks, and home to about fourteen weirdos.
Fort Goof, Kensington Market, Toronto, Canada – Residence, boozecan and music venue; occupied by members of Bunchofuckingoofs and other punk bands.
Funky Towne - Huntington, West Virginia - punk house, music venue, vegan dinners, arts and crafts, lending library, movie showings and more. There is all ways something going on when traveling punks, college student from Marshall University and locals get in a room. Occupied by members of folk punk band The Disappearing Man. This space is no longer active according to their Facebook page.
Butcher Shoppe, Wacky Kastle and Gay Gardens - Boston, MA - 3 of the most prominent (but now defunct) punk and show houses in the Allston neighborhood.
The Elimination Chamber - Huntington, West Virginia - Punk house, music venus and the main office of a local DIY record label called "It's a Trap records". Occupied by members of a local punk band called Reptile Zoo.
The Jerk Store, Houston, Texas - Punk house in Houston that hosted shows and parties. Occupied by members in Abduktion, Red River, and Vivisect. (now defunct)
The Clit House, Los Angeles, California - Punk house in Los Angeles that housed members of Clit 45, Chihuahuas and hosted touring bands. (now defunct)
The Rat Palace, Vancouver, Canada - Legendary punk house on Broadway near Arbutus, active from late 70s to mid-80s.
The 309 House, Pensacola, Florida - Active since at least 1978.
Media representations
Notable punk rock songs that mention punk houses include: "Punkhouse" and "Ashtray" by Screeching Weasel, "Homeo-Apathy" by Leftöver Crack, "Party at 174" by The Bouncing Souls, "Kids of the Black Hole" by The Adolescents, "Toxic Toast" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and "Landlords" by Pinhead Gunpowder. Aaron Cometbus chronicled his experiences in a punk house called "Double Duce", in a novel of the same name. Photographer Abby Banks released Punkhouse: Interiors in Anarchy, a book of punk house photography that catalogs many such places in the United States. Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore edited the book. Punk houses have served as settings for a number of punk films, including Suburbia, "The Taqwacores (film)", and SLC Punk!.
