Ska punk is a
fusion music genre that combines
ska and
punk rock. Ska punk achieved its greatest popularity in the
United States in the late 1990s, although there has also been a following worldwide. Several ska punk bands achieved mainstream commercial success, which in some cases continued into the 2000s.
The characteristics of ska punk vary, due to the fusion of contrasting genres. The more punk- influenced style often features faster tempos, guitar distortion, onbeat punk-style interludes (usually the chorus), and nasal, gruff or shouted vocals. The more ska-influenced style of ska punk features a more developed instrumentation and a cleaner vocal and musical sound. The common instrumentation includes electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, brass instruments (such as trombones or trumpets), and sometimes an organ.
Between 1999 and 2001, many ska punk bands began to break up, while fans of the genre turned their attention to other music genres. Some bands that were originally part of the ska punk genre, such as The Aquabats, continued with less emphasis on horns and traditional ska rhythms, and have not achieved the same commercial success that they experienced earlier in their careers.
