itchy92

I've been fuming about something for a long time now, and I guess this is a good place to vent and get other people's perspectives.
What is with all these "punk" bands in the mainstream? How does that work? I thought the whole idea of punk was to be underground, counter-culture, blah blah blah? I'm not talking so much about the content of the songs (I like the newer, romanticist stuff as much as the old politipunk stuff), but as to what the bands are doing. I understand that when a band is good, they deserve to get big; I fully support that. But catering to the mainstream is an entirely different thing. The music they produce lacks the sincerity which originally drew me to punk music: it all seems like they're just doing it for money and fame, and I think it's killing the genre.
Bands like Good Charlotte, A New Found Glory, A Simple Plan, All-American Rejects, The Used -- there are so many nowadays that it's pointless to list-- are not punk! Granted, their music is catchy and sometimes good, but it doesn't convey the sincerity that it used to. I dread going to most shows now, because I know I'll be swarmed by little teenybopping 14-year-olds who think they're so hardcore, when in fact, they have no idea what the music is all about.
I don't know; there's so much I want to say on the subject that it's hard to get it all out, much less organize it. I'm not a mohawk-sporting, leather/spike wearing anarchist or anything, but I am a firm supporter of sincerity. And bands that are sincere and true to punk don't show up on MTV.
I commend the ever-dwindling number of bands that don't give in to selling out. I'm interested to see what you all think, whether it's that I'm right or I'm a complete idiot.

Itchy92