It was just a long overdue application of the reset button. There was plenty of great music around, but punk was an important reminder that music should sometimes be about anger and should certainly be a possibility for a bunch of lads meeting up in their dad's garage.
When I joined my first band only the guitarist knew how to play an instrument but that didn't stop us trying. Punk enabled that.
I saw Bryan Ferry live last summer (or the one before) in a field somewhere. Right in the middle of a set that had everyone jumping around he did five solemn Dylan covers in a row, totally alienating his audience for nearly half an hour.
I developed a genuine respect for the chap as a result. **** the fans, this is what I do. Just like Springsteen