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Aug 17, 2021 · The 30 Best Punk Bands of All Time Punk has continued to evolve over the past few decades (we also avoided pop-punk, for the most part, for this particular list), but the essence of a great punk song remains intact: fast-paced music, lyrics rooted in anti-establishment, and a welcome sense of danger.
If it looked like the all-time top 100 list, then it sounded like the playlist above (stream it on Spotify here), which collects these 100 best-ofs, or greats, or not so greats, or clearly misguided choices, or whatever. Enjoy it as you furiously correct it with your own picks.
- The Clash. 16,289 votes. Emerging from the British punk scene in the late 1970s, The Clash swiftly gained recognition for their fiery fusion of punk rock, reggae, and politically-charged lyrics.
- Ramones. 15,878 votes. Originating from New York City in the mid-1970s, the Ramones single-handedly defined the punk aesthetic with their blistering three-chord songs, leather jackets, and ripped jeans.
- Sex Pistols. 15,136 votes. Revolutionary and unapologetic, the Sex Pistols embodied the spirit of punk rock in its purest form. Bursting onto the scene with their inimitable single "Anarchy in the U.K.," they became the voice of a discontented generation.
- Dead Kennedys. 12,823 votes. Dead Kennedys were instrumental in the development of American punk, providing a crucial voice for the hardcore scene. With biting sarcasm and acerbic wit, they tackled political and social issues head-on, inciting a fervent following enamored with their incendiary style and unyielding principles.
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- 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.
- Black Flag
- Sex Pistols
- The Clash
- Ramones
- The Cramps
- Dead Kennedys
- Bad Brains
- Generation X
- The Exploited
- 7 Seconds
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. Next: The greatest punk songs ever recorded (our picks...
Often credited with creating the British punk movement, or at least the ones to term the coin “punk,” the Sex Pistols managed to create a cultural shift with their loud sound and brash, system-bashing lyrics. Next: Most iconic and best bands of all time
Headed by the legendary Joe Strummer, The Clash spent the better part of two decades creating undeniably great music. While many of their older standards never made it to the mainstream, they did enjoy chart successwith their 1983 release, “Combat Rock.” Next: Top 1980s rock bands list (our picks)
Three chords and a guitar were all the Ramones needed to revolutionize the NYC music scene. These CBGB regularsplayed fast and hard, with short songs and simple, catchy lyrics about the insanity of everyday life in America.
The Cramps created an entirely new sound, mixing genres from exotica to punk and rockabilly into a stew of dark tunes. Known for their hedonistic lifestyle, they toured for three decades before disbanding after the death of their singer, Lux Interior.
Dead Kennedys were one of the top US bands to come from the early punk movement and are known for their heavily political songs and singer Jello Biafra’s later career in spoken word. While the band’s legacy may not expand to chart-topping hits, their hard-hitting lyrics have left an indelible impression on the history of punk rock.
Bad Brains, originally known as Mind Power, were one of the first all-black punk rock bands to gain national fame in the late 70s. With undeniably loud music and compelling lyrics, they continue to influence the genre to this day, extending even beyond punk, as evidenced by their long-standing collaborative relationship with hip hop stars, Beastie ...
English punk rock mavericks, Generation X, are well known for launching frontman Billy Idol’s career. But they were a force in their own right, making it into the UK singles chart 6 times—an impressive feat for any band but particularly unusual in the earliest days of punk rock.
A truly grass-roots punk band, The Exploited made music that was fast, dirty, and hard. Their shows inspired both rabid fandom and multiple injuries, but they maintain a strong fanbase to this day.
Reno-born punk and hardcore band 7 Secondscame together in 1980 and has been going strong ever since. Originally formed by two sets of brothers, the band has undergone numerous personnel changes through the years, but two of the members remain.
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May 15, 2024 · 1. Ramones. 1,442 votes. The Ramones stand as the proverbial godfathers of punk rock, kickstarting the movement with their loud, fast, and stripped-down sound, paving the way for countless bands to follow.
Sep 23, 2016 · 1. Ramones. Forget excess, pageantry or even practice—the threadbare efficiency of the Ramones’ songwriting defined the punk spirit while they perfected a deftly ragged, inspirationally goofy and...
