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Dec 19, 2023 · 1. Black Flag. Rise Above. One of the original punk bands to come out of the thriving hardcore scene, Black Flag, and seminal singer, Henry Rollins, spent years touring and producing ground-breaking music, with lyrics running the gamut from celebrations of pop-culture minutiae (“TV Party,” anyone?) to political protests.
- Sex Pistols (UK) The Sex Pistols are arguably the most iconic and influential punk band of all time. Their rebellious attitude, controversial lyrics, and raw energy helped ignite the punk movement in the UK.
- Ramones (USA) The Ramones from New York City laid the groundwork for the classic punk sound. Their fast, simple, and aggressive music became a blueprint for countless punk bands worldwide.
- The Clash (UK) Known for their social and political commentary, The Clash infused punk with elements of reggae, ska, and rockabilly, broadening the genre’s appeal and impact.
- The Damned (UK) As one of the first British punk bands to release a single (“New Rose”) and an album (“Damned Damned Damned”), The Damned played a crucial role in shaping the early punk scene.
Aug 18, 2021 · We're ranking the top 30 best punk bands of all time -- the ones who truly defined the genre. See the full list here.
- Jon Dolan
- Dead Kennedys, ‘Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables’ (1980) Dead Kennedys' debut LP is the ultimate hardcore comedy album, with singer Jello Biafra playing Johnny Rotten as goofball satirist on songs like "California Über Alles" and "Holiday in Cambodia."
- Devo, ‘Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!’ (1978) As much performance-art collective as punk band, Devo screeched their way out of Akron, Ohio, with a brilliantly warped New Wave vision.
- White Lung, ‘Deep Fantasy’ (2014) This Vancouver band comes on like Black Flag fronted by the bastard daughter of Patti Smith and Stevie Nicks, with each song going off like a nail bomb of desire.
- Blink-182, ‘Enema of the State’ (1999) Blink-182's third LP reimagined Green Day's Dookie as one big, undeniably catchy fart joke. This pop-punk smash stayed on the charts for 70 weeks.
- Reference
- The Clash. 298 votes. The Clash reigned supreme as the explosive pioneers of British punk rock and political activism, creating a unique sound that resonated deeply with disenchanted youth of the late 70s and 80s.
- Ramones. 279 votes. The Ramones burst onto the burgeoning New York punk scene in the mid-1970s, redefining the genre with their electrifying stage presence and blistering, two-minute tracks.
- Dead Kennedys. 205 votes. Hailing from the West Coast, the Dead Kennedys combined blistering hardcore punk with razor-sharp satirical lyrics to become one of the most iconic bands of the early '80s.
- Sex Pistols. 269 votes. The Sex Pistols' meteoric rise to infamy in the mid-1970s ignited a punk revolution that reverberated across the globe. Unapologetically brash and raw, their irreverent lyrics and anarchic stage presence thrust them into the limelight and forever altered the course of modern music.
Apr 1, 2024 · 726.8K votes. 40.1K voters. Punk rock, an enduring and influential subgenre, has given rise to some of the best punk bands in music history. This carefully curated list, brimming with top punk rock bands, invites fans to explore and celebrate the genre's rich legacy. From the rebellious underground punk music groups of the 70s and 80s to the ...
Mar 12, 2024 · 20 Of The Greatest And Most Famous Punk Bands Of All Time. Written by Dan Farrant. Last updated 12th March 2024. Since its origins in the 1970s, punk rock music has been an underground, gritty scene that eschewed mainstream music, capitalism, and materialism.
