plastic punk

the meaning has changed slightly over time:

1970s: an individual or band who took up punk too late after its mid-70s birth, and so simulated the general look of late punk but little of the original ethos. most ‘plastic punks’ were fashion-oriented, in it just because it meant they could finally start wearing something non-hippy. a minority had some of the original punk att-tude too – but it was directed as violence against other punks and against the teddy-boy revivalist of the time. often the latter ‘plastic punks’ caused a lot of the violence at gigs in ’78/’79.

1990s onwards: the term is still being used in the usa and uk, to deride “punk” bands who use the music style to spout mainstream liberal ‘politically-correct’ att-tudes.
1970s: “in the incident joe strummer, of the clash had smacked a member of the mob with his guitar, was arrested and released after it had been established that he wasn’t p-ssed. the band were, however, p-ssed off by this element at their gigs. yet again, the result of a plastic punk att-tude.”

1990s, usa: “…forget those impressions of the east bay as being a politically-correct plastic punk world. the bands featured here are the underground of the underground.”

1990s usa: “perhaps predicting, predating and being too iconoclastic for plastic punk chic, it’s unlikely they are going to be on the cover of the face quite yet.”

1990s, england: “goldsmiths tavern is only good for a stabbing or a puking plastic punk.”