An alternative vision of punk

With bands like The Ramones, The Clash, and The Sex Pistols, Western punk has dominated the mainstream for decades. Most in the Global North wouldn’t be aware that there’s a burgeoning alternative movement across the Global Majority that’s been gradually developing over the years and influencing punk in ways often neglected. 

Throughout the Arab world, for example, punk has sustained small but vital pockets of life for over 50 years. Emerging in clandestine third spaces, at times shaped by societal and, in some cases, legislative constraints that pushed Arab punk bands underground, the scene, on the surface, remained unseen, yet it has never been lifeless. 

In 2003, the alternative music scene began to step out of these hidden spaces, underlined by the emergence of JadaL and Michael Muhammad Knight’s book, ‘The Taqwacores’, a novel envisioning a fictional community of muslim punks. The latter was originally published as a DIY zine, handed out for free, before Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys picked it up for his label, Alternative Tentacles. 

Things soon started to pick up, and now countless new artists are making their way to success, building a definitive Arab alternative scene. Alternative movements are created to fight back in times of uncertainty or danger, and the present day certainly fits the bill, making this growing scene all the more important. Here are a few, both old and new, that help flesh out an alternative past and future of punk beyond its usual confines. 

Alien Kulture

Alien Kulture are one of the first known Arab punk bands, formed in South London in 1979 by British-Pakistani youths Ausaf Abbas, Azhar Rana and Pervez Bilgrami, along with Huw Jones, the self-described “token white”. Frustrated by anti-Asian sentiment in the UK, and Margaret Thatcher’s fears that “this country might be rather swamped by people with a different culture”, they made Alien Kulture as an act of resistance. Unfortunately, they never made it big because, as students first and foremost, they passed up the invitation to play with The Specials at Coventry stadium as it coincided with their exam dates. They disbanded in 1981, leaving behind the legacy of being Britain’s first Pakistani punk band and creating a space for Asian youth in the white-dominated punk scene.

The Sound of Ruby

The Sound of Ruby was founded in 1996 in Dammam by Saudi artist Muhammad Al-Hajjaj. They were one of the first Arab rock bands to gain widespread public recognition, having their songs played on radio stations across the world, and were featured as one of the regional acts at Soundstorm 2025. 

JadaL

JadaL, meaning ‘Controversy’ in English, are a Jordanian rock band formed in 2003 by Mahmoud Radaideh. Their first single ‘Salma’ was a hit, and gained them a large number of followers, as well as the status of one of the best bands in the region.  

Seera

Seera are an all-female psychedelic rock band made up of Haya, Meesha, Nora and Thing who released their first album in 2024. They became popular in Saudi Arabia after their debut show in 2023, and have played in multiple European countries since then. 

Secret Trial 5

Secret Trial 5 are a punk band formed in 2006 in Canada by Sena Hussain. They’re known for their politically charged lyrics, having been censored on multiple occasions. They initially identified with Taqwacore, but later rejected it, writing the song “We are not Taqwacore.”

The Kominas

The Kominas are a punk band formed in 2005 in Massachusetts by Pakistani-American duo Basim Usmani and Shahjehan Khan. They blend 70s punk with reggae, disco, Punjabi folk and surf rock, and identify with the Taqwacore label, writing songs with controversial and provocative lyrics.