Groupie-ism was a preview of the dismantling of prostitution and other independent means of earning a wage under advanced capitalism. Just as the groupies gave it away for free, so would the punk bands of the next generation insist on playing for nothing. Punk groups and their enthusiasts created a model of free labor—based on enthusiasm for a cause—that has become much copied by corporations in the modern age. These businesses convince interns and web types to pitch in labor unpaid for the “community” (e.g., Huffington Post) while their venal bosses rake in millions.
