Posted on 02/02/2007 8:34:10 AM PST by qam1
2007 marks the 30th anniversary of the emergence of the punk music scene in the mainstream culture. It is strange for many to imagine their parents moshing as they might have 30 years ago during the very beginning of the movement. As the legendary and perhaps the most well-known punk group of the era, The Clash, put it best in their song, “1977”: There were “no Elvis, Beatles, or The Rolling Stones in 1977.” Author Roger Sabin declared 1977 as “year zero” in reference to the rise of punk. In memory of the 30th anniversary of this influential movement, here are ten groups definitely worth checking out (besides the big three of The Ramones, The Clash, and the Sex Pistols) that may pique your interest as much as the best of today’s prototypical pop punk oriented musicians:
- Wire: The release of their debut album, Pink Flag, was seen by many as perhaps one of the best examples of an entire album made up of short, hard hitting songs at or barely over a minute long. Wire re-released their first three albums this past year, while the band has been widely covered or paid homage to by their many followers. Although the group never achieved massive sales success and is often overlooked in favor of the aforementioned big three, the influence of Wire is certainly still prominent today.
- Blondie: Contrary to the belief of many, Blondie was not just another 80’s pop group led by a talentless yet outgoing front woman. The immediately recognizable Debbie Harry was quite the opposite; she and her group helped bring punk to the forefront of the American music scene in New York City during the late 70s. For better or for worse, Blondie fused punk with pop, reggae, and even hip hop with more success than almost any of their punk rock contemporaries.
- The Jam: Unlike many of the other punk bands that arose in 1977, the Jam were heavily influenced by classic rock and roll groups, particularly the Who, the Beatles, and even some early Motown staples. The Jam were unafraid to sing about the working class and their everyday lives, which helped make them a major precursor to the Britpop movement and other prominent punk bands like Green Day.
- Minor Threat: Similarly to Wire, Minor Threat produced short, incredibly rapid, loud music. They are often noted as the definitive hardcore punk band along with their contemporaries in Washington D.C., Black Flag and Bad Brains. Perhaps most interestingly, Minor Threat were leaders of the straight edge movement and took a stance against both alcohol and drugs in their songs. Also, lead singer Ian MacKaye went on to form the band Fugazi following the group’s break up.
- The Minutemen: Named after the colonial militia during the Revolutionary era, the Minutemen released what is considered by critics to be one of the best rock albums of the last thirty years, Double Nickels on the Dime. Featuring an epic 45 songs, the album mixes jazz, funk, and classic rock with punk to create an intelligent, full work.
- Generation X: Prior to Billy Idol’s appearance in The Wedding Singer and his up and down solo career, he actually fronted this often overlooked punk band. Both theatrical and brash, Generation X attempted to break many of the standards of the punk genre, whether it be covering a John Lennon track or releasing more experimental works in the latter stages of their career.
- The Misfits: The Misfits, who were named after a Marilyn Monroe film, based a lot of their lyrics on retro science fiction and horror, while they possessed a sound reminiscent of heavy metal. Possessing a signature hair style known as the “devilock” and known for their chaotic live shows, the Misfits are recognized as the best example of “horror punk” and have achieved a major cult following.
- Television: Another band based out of New York City in the 70s, Television used dueling guitars to create a more sophisticated sound than the typical punk band. They are also credited as playing a major role in a subsection of the genre now thought of as “art punk.” The group’s music was characterized by an unpredictable sound inspired by the Velvet Underground.
- The Slits: Known for having a snotty, avante-garde filled punk sound, The Slits followed other groups of their time by combining punk with reggae. This female punk band was more raw than Blondie and certainly had an impact on its successors like Sonic Youth, Le Tigre, No Doubt and Hole.
- Suicide: Unlike the other bands listed, Suicide used electronics as part of their act. The band’s 1977 self- titled debut was an early appearance for industrial music, the synthesizer and techno. Though only around for a brief period, the group has attracted many fans, among them being Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M.
Your youth?
I figure if The Jam and Blondie qualify, The Talking Heads do too.
As far as pop culture, it was really in 77 that most people started to hear of Punk, see it on TV, etc. One Top 100 single doesn't really put it in the radar of middle America.
Assuming that your brother purchased NMTB in America, the fact that he had a copy before it was released in the US in 1978 means that he probably owns one of the original 1,000 UK pressings from the first run via import.
I hope it's in good condition and that he still has it.
Shouldn't your tagline include "Plate of shrimp"?
Is you screen name from the Gang of Four song? And I'll have to look at the cd you recommend on Amazon. Thanks.
Heh. I wonder if Carnival's ad company knew or really cared about its real meaning.
Speaking of commercials, there's a Buzzcocks song in an AARP ad now.
Sigh.
Punk started when Iggy and the Stooges put out their first album back in 1968.
Oh yeah,
Don't know if I ever told you, but in college I worked as local crew and sometimes security for both small and large music venues.
I worked the Iggy Pop show in 1991 at the Rialto Theatre in Raleigh. (I I believe it was the Brick by Brick tour)
He was nice to all of us. I remember that because most of the performers we encountered could be quite rude.
And yes, he really IS that skinny! Wow.
Yup, that's the one! I thought it would be pretty funny to co-opt a song by a Marxist band for my FReeper name. Plus, if you sing some of their lyrics straight up, no sarcasm, they actually make sense from a conservative perspective, sometimes. LOL!
"No Thanks!" is a four-disc set of the catchiest damn tunes you will ever hear. I had heard of a lot of the bands on it, but never really been exposed to them before (quite a few of them are mentioned in this article). But since I got it, it's nearly been all I listen to for well over a year! A good representation of Punk from the arty (Wire, Suicide, Pere Ubu) to the rowdy (Black Flag, Fear), to the classics (Clash, Buzzcocks, Ramones). Anyway, it makes me HAPPY!
Hey! I have a "Kill a Commie For Mommy" t-shirt, it just has a different graphic. It is my all-time favorite, of course (especially since I'm about to become a Mommy myself! ;) )
Whenever I see your name, I automatically think "we'll get drunk on cheap wine". I'm gonna look for that CD set. The Buzzcocks are one of my favorite bands of all time (they are SO good in concert) and I must admit I've never heard Wire or Suicide. Thanks for the tip.
Actually, I think she IS 30 this year. Or maybe she'll be 31.
Heh heh, some other noteworthy random ad songs include a current M&M's ad featuring The The, a Starburst commercial that used Tones on Tails' "GO!", and probably the surrealest musical TV moment for me is probably the time someone used the Smiths' "How Soon is Now" during the opening of Monday Night Football!!!!
We still have it, but it's not mint or probably worth anything.
I do my BEST thinkin' on the bus...
I actually saw Gang o' Four about a year or so ago here in Atlanta, and I have to say it was one of the best shows I've seen in my life. They totally ROCKED OUT! Not the slightest hint of ungraceful-ageing, no nostalgia, no annoying leftist preaching to the audience (thank God, I have to deal with that with so many of the bands I love). They just had an amazing sound and terrific stage presence.
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