What it Looked Like to Be a Rebel Up and Down the '70s
The 1970s saw the rise of a lot of new music that changed the world forever. Most people remember the disco era with flashing outfits and unique hairstyles, but under all that people dancing their souls off, there was another movement full of rebels without a cause.
Punk rock gave people underwhelmed by the times an unbreakable community that knew how to dress to impress. Leather jackets were everywhere from Los Angeles to London and beyond, and new ways of thinking and making art were blowing people's minds. And even if you didn't dress the part, you could still rebel alongside people tired of the system. The social, economic, and political contexts were perfect for a rebellion of that magnitude, and you were either in or out, but couldn't stay in between.
So, here is what it looked like to be a rebel up and down the '70s, with some more extreme examples and other mild ones.
Rebels on the Street
The streets belonged to the rebels, and there was nothing you could do about it.
Hanging Out
There was no way to dress badly in the '70s, but rebels needed to stand out, so the bad attitude was key.
Punk Scene
Punk was rising, and people were losing their minds.
Punk Rocking
The hair was very important for punk rockers.
Punk Makeup
The earliest punk rockers also wore very unique makeup, but that art was lost in time.
Rebel Man
He might not look like a rebel, but he's about to be escorted out by the police.
Leather Everywhere
It wasn't comfortable being a rebel in '70s London.
Lithuanian Rebels
Who said Eastern Europeans couldn't be rebels?
Rebel Basements
After spending the day on the streets, rebels would party all night in the dirtiest basements you could think of.
Rebel Kids
There was no age to be a rebel. The younger, the better.
Rebel Girls
Feminism was thriving in the '70s, so seeing women roadtripping on their own was a sign of rebellion.
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Many bands that formed in the '70s were role models to rebels all around the world.
Striking Contrast
In a time when flashy colors were taking over fashion, being a rebel meant leaving all that behind.
C.U.N.T. Cheerleaders
Some said feminism was going too far, but we'll let you decide.
The Greases
On Reddit, someone said they are the most wholesome rebels to ever exist.
Bad Guys
You don't want to mess with these guys.
No Rules
There were no rules for fashion or what to do as a rebel, as long as you didn't like the mainstream.
High School Rebels
If your parents told you not to do something and you did it anyway, you were a certified rebel.
Biker Gang
Having a cool bike was a sign of a true rebel.
Rebel Face
If you didn't have the looks, you could look like a rebel anyway.
