Punks are never complacent. Once they grow into complacency they cease to be punks. Hence, some of the best rock bands of all times turned into nothing more than shadows of their earlier selves in their later years. Examples would be Morrissey from The Smiths, REM, The Smashing Pumpkins, U2. It happened to them all.
Beatnics were the earliest incarnations of punks. Patti Smith, Jim Carroll(The Basketball Diaries), Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William Boroughs are probably the most recognizable names within this category. I feel as though soon will be the day that no remaining soul will know what they stood for. On the Road, the famous book by Kerouac written in the 50's, refers to an era of boundless freedom in the history of the US that will probably never be repeated.
Beatnics, in turn, were influenced by the ideals and philosophy of the Romantics. Romanticism was a revolutionary movement in art and music in Europe around 1800-1900, during which individualized emotion was cherished and complete personal expression was the highest goal. The musical pieces of that era were characterized by drama, creepiness, and highly sensual sounds, such as Beethoven's Symphony no.5, The Erlkonig by Schubert, and my favourite, Chopin's mesmerizing piano pieces.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuUJ3rhevNk