"I think punk rock, especially for me, was a big middle finger to this whole talent thing"

Mike Watt's quote talks to the concept that punk rock was a method for him to turn down the concept of talent as a procedure of success. Hard rock was a way for him to express himself and his ideas without having to conform to the standards of the music industry. He had the ability to produce music that was true to himself and his beliefs, without having to fret about whether or not it was "skilled" enough. Punk rock was a way for him to turn down the concept that skill was the only method to be successful in the music industry. It was a way for him to reveal himself and his ideas without needing to worry about whether it was "sufficient" or "skilled adequate". Punk rock was a method for him to reveal that he could be effective without having to comply with the requirements of the music market. It was a way for him to reveal that he could be effective without needing to rely on skill alone.