What's the difference between punk rock and alternative rock?

[Lucretia]

I know that alternative rock incorporated several elements from old-fashioned punk rock but other than that I still don't see the difference between the two genres that much. Help clarify it for me, please.

 

[METALPRIEST]

 

[Phil B.]

 

[KingHeadache]

Alternative rock, got talent.

 

[TheFeldster]

Alternative rock musicians know more than 3 chords?

Sorry, below the belt. But alternative is less "stripped down" than punk rock. At least to me. But I'm not the best at distinguishing genres

 

[METALPRIEST]

Hey Hey Hey now....................

 

[LivingDead]

Punk rock has social and political elements.

 

[LG]

Punk rock was a wild rebellious style of music designed to express displeasure with the Status Quo, both in music and the world in general.

Alternative Rock...going to get in trouble for this but I think it is simply a "Tag" invented by smart record label executives to "Brand" a new form of music for a new generation to call their own. Seriously I see no earthshaking differences between Alternative Rock and the rock I have grown up with since the 60's. It's all about marketing to me.

 

[Nololob]

Punk rock is basically off-key genre. Just to play loud, aggressive and at least month on an instrument.

 

[LG]

^^There were some good bands, The Clash, Tom Robinson Band, The Buzzcocks for instance that not only were among the best punk rock bands of their time, but solid musicians as well. But there were some pretty bad musicians who got together and just "punked out" too.