Defining characteristics of synthpunk (also known as synth-punk) bands include
- being founded at the same time (late 1970s) and place (California) as many US punk bands,
- performing with those same punk bands, in those same punk clubs, with records released on those same punk labels,
- preferring electronic instruments such as organs and synthesizers over guitars
- never becoming associated with industrial music or industrial culture.
No band called itself a synthpunk band at the time. Synthpunk as a descriptive term may have multiple points of origin, but one point of origin is the band Occupant.
The Screamers, with their Gary Panter logo, are the best-known synthpunk band. Others include Nervous Gender and The Units.
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