# A tribute to punk rock, from a latecomer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804 "2003-07-16T03:35:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/1 "2003-07-16T03:35:45Z")
I’ve always prided myself on having fairly diverse interests when it comes to music. I try not to reject anything out of hand, and over the past few years especially i’ve made a concerted effort to track down new stuff, and have “discovered” a lot of new stuff (well, new to me) in the process. One thing i had never really managed to get into, however, was punk rock. I had a short period in my early teens when i thought the Sex Pistols were pretty cool, and i also liked the Ramones, or at least the _idea_ of the Ramones. I’m also a big fan of the 1970s Australian band Radio Birdman, who are often characterised as proto-punk, and whose music contains some strong punk characteristics. But i only really got into Radio Birdman because i’m from Australia. I also appreciate the rebellious attitude that has characterised much of punk rock. In general, however, punk had passed me by. But not my girlfriend. She’s a few years older than me, and spent much of her late teens and early twenties in the early 1980s California punk scene. Over the past couple of years she’s introduced me to some of this music, and i’ve really taken to it. But i only really appreciated what it had to offer over the past month or so, when a couple of her favourite bands came to Baltimore and i got a chance to see them live. First, last month we went and saw the legendary LA punk band X. And then, this weekend, we went to see the British band The Buzzcocks. These guys (and girl, in the case of X’s Exene) are almost old enough to be my parents, but they still put on amazing shows after so many years. Having played together for so long, they are really musically tight, and they are still excellent performers on stage. My only regret is that i never saw them earlier. This is not much of a basis for a discussion, i know, but i felt like sharing, and i thought Cafe Society was the appropriate place for the thread. And thanks to my lovely GF. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Harli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Harli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harli)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/2 "2003-07-17T00:47:24Z")
Have you checked out Social Distortion? The Circle Jerks? Bad Religion? Just to name a few of the oldies but goodies. My SO opened up my scope of music too. Although I was into that kind of music, I just had never listened to a lot of it. Don’t know what I’d do without it now. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/3 "2003-07-17T00:53:03Z")
Don’t forget the Dead Kennedys! ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/4 "2003-07-17T03:58:10Z")
Wow, this could turn into a “name some of your favorite 80s punk bands” thread. That being so, I would recommend Bad Brains (from the early 80s Washington DC scene) and Hüsker Dü (from the early 80s Minneapolis scene). They were two great 80s punk bands that expanded beyond their genre while still drawing from it. Bad Brains’ _I Against I_ and Hüsker Dü’s _New Day Rising_ are excellent albums showing a couple of punk bands moving away from fast punk rock and toward other sounds while at the same time keeping the same punk energy. These are two great introductory albums for a newbie punk fan 🙂 Of course, I second the other bands already mentioned, and will refrain from naming any more so other punk fans can offer their two cents 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Foolonthehill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Foolonthehill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foolonthehill)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/5 "2003-07-17T05:51:29Z")
Fear Blasters Early Clash X, (as you said) Bad Religion Pansy Division Dwight Yokum, (yeah, I know he’s country, listen to the 1st album; “Guitars & Cadillacs”) ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/6 "2003-07-17T18:10:25Z")
Thanks for the suggestions, folks. I’ll try to find some stuff by the bands that i haven’t heard of, like Social Distortion, Bad Brains, Husker Du, and Fear. I’ll also ask my SO which ones she knows. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/7 "2003-07-17T22:53:28Z")
Really, you hadn’t heard of Social Distortion? Wow. They’re actually played on the radio, hence my surprise. At least they are here, on a couple different stations. They’re punk enough to get on the alternative station, and blues-rock enough to get on the classic rock station. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/8 "2003-07-17T23:04:36Z")
I’d be willing to bet that my girlfriend has heard of them. She’s out of town right now, but i’ll ask her when she gets back. I very rarely listen to the radio, because most of the stations here in Baltimore seem to suck. I also get sick of having to put up with 15-20 minutes of commercials every hour. I prefer to find music i like, buy it, and listen to it as much as i want. I did listen to radio quite a bit back in Australia, but punk was never a really big part of the playlist on the stations that i listened to. I know there’s a decent local punk scene in the big cities, but it’s never reached the level that it did in certain parts of the US. ---
**Author:** ![Brad\_Pittiful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@Brad\_Pittiful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brad_Pittiful)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/9 "2003-07-17T23:19:44Z")
heres some more to checkout The Minutemen Black Flag Jim Carroll Band Generation X Suicidal Tendencies Agnostic Front Sonic Youth ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/10 "2003-07-17T23:29:40Z")
Not `punk’, but still cool: Joy Division New Order Velvet Underground The White Stripes ('cause they alternate between Modern Pop and R&B) NOFX ('cause they don’t try to ram a bullshit cause down your throat) ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/11 "2003-07-17T23:29:59Z")
Some UK late seventies bands worth hearing: The Damned The Flys The Members 999 Swell Maps Alternative TV The Adverts Penetration The Drones Suburban Studs The Ruts UK Subs Stiff Little Fingers The Undertones Cockney Rejects X-Ray Spex The Mekons The Fall The Vibrators Menace Not forgetting The Ramones from the US… ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/12 "2003-07-17T23:36:00Z")
Welcome to the dark side. 🙂 Check out The Cynics and Turbonegro who both have new records out. Also check out Electric Frankenstein. Check out Exene’s (From X) side band, The Original Sinners. Really good stuff. Another classic band that is essential listening is The Avengers. You can sometimes find represses of their great self titled album online at Bomp records and Get Hip records. Its one of the best early american punk bands ever and the album features the Sex Pistols’ Cook and Jones on a few tracks. They did sort of a reunion thing a few years ago with most of the members recording old songs that never made it to vinyl. Thats easily available from Lookout records, but the first one is the best, well worth 15 bucks or so at ebay. Another great punk to seek out is the many incarnations of Billy Childish, including his bands The Mighty Caesers, and Thee Headcoats. If you like the White Stripes, you’ll love his stuff. If you HATE the White Stripes, like I do, you’ll like his stuff even more! Jon ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/13 "2003-07-17T23:43:31Z")
Oh shit…I gotta mention the Lazy Cowgirls too. The Ramones, Johnny Thunders and Hank Williams (the first) all rolled into one package. They’ve been America’s best kept secret for over 20 years. You GOTTA check out the Lazy Cowgirls. Ok…one more…The Dictators have a great new album out called DFFD. Almost 30 years on, and these guys are better than ever. I saw them live at the 31st Street Pub in Pittsburgh a year or so ago, and it was one of the best shows I EVER saw. You’re in Baltimore, I’m sure they’ll be playing somewhere near you sooner or later. Don’t miss 'em! Jon ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/14 "2003-07-18T00:02:08Z")
Ahh, the classics! Take your time Try not to forget We never will We’re just a **Minor Threat** They started a movement (even if that wasn’t the plan.) For something more modern, **Operation Ivy** is classic. ---
**Author:** ![punkkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@punkkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punkkid)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/15 "2003-07-18T02:01:39Z")
Punk rock, eh? Take a look at my screen name. To do a grand-nopsys (heh, coined a word) I’m going to head through all the pre-punk, punk, post-punk, hardcore, and punk revival bands I listen to Pre-Punk: Velvet Underground The Stooges - (It’s 1969 ok/war across the USA- that’s a freakin’ classic) New York Dolls Punk: Sh\*t, where do I start! Ramones, - I guess, but they were more pop-punk Sex Pistols - (I first heard these guys when I was 8- never gave up!) The Clash, oh, The Clash, listening to that self-titled album parallels sexual pleasure. Give 'Em was awesome too! Generation X. - Billy Idol was once cool too. Sham 69. - So stupid. So good. Stiff Little Fingers. - Ireland’s first band. The Angelic Upstarts! - Oi! Oi! Oi! Fear - Sensitive people, however, will not enjoy this. It’s like a musical version of Animal House Bad Religion - Start with 80-85, work your way up through No Control, to their recent release, Process Of Belief Circle Jerks - Hardcore up the butt Tip: Listen to Adam Ant’s “Beat My Guest”. Example of a Punk hero gone horribly wrong Minor Threat - This will take some getting used to. Trust me. The Misfits - Good, campy, 50’s B-movie fun punk. Just shut off your brain and listen Subhumans - This will also take some getting used to. Crass - See Subhumans Conflict- See Crass Bad Brains - Sailin’ On. Sick Of It All - Got the new-hardcore ball rolling The Exploited - Sex! And Violence! And Sex! And Violence! Sex! and so on… Post Punk: OK, most of this is not punk. It’s still good though. The Specials - Best band of the 2nd Wave Punk-Ska revolution. And if you say ska is not punk, well, don’t argue with me. I’m a punk. Madness - Tad more pop ska-punk. DON’T judge them by “Our House” That song sucks! The Beat- Probably “English Beat” to you Yankees. The Cure- I know, I know, don’t bother me about this. They’re actually good. Punk Revival: Operation Ivy- Like Tanaqui said. AWE to the SOME Rancid - Rose from the ashes of Operation Ivy to become the single great punk band of the 90’s and 00’s. New Album, August! Anti-Flag - Took punk back too it’s roots. Far left-wing, loud, obnoxious. The Distillers - Pure Punk Rock. Nothing more, nothing less. Flogging Molly - OK, in the 90’s punk’s full scope (beyond that of ska and reggae was seen) Hence, Celtic Mosh Music! Dropkick Murhpys - See Flogging Molly Suicide Machines - Awesome ska-punk. Not too derivative like other ska-punk band. One of their songs even had a violin! AFI - They started as a hardcore band, moved to goth-punk. Still good. Tiger Army - Punk Psychobilly. Sort of like Elvis meets the Sex Pistols meets the Misfits The Code - Crusty Ska-Punk Rancid - This band bears mentioning again. NOFX - Check out War on Errorism. Transplants - Rap-Punk! The Hives To close, two good non-punk bands to check out for anyone who has varied musical taste: Asian Dub Foundation - Reggae, Techno, and London Hip-Hop mixed with traditional Indian Ragas Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Former Clash frontman (RIP)'s recent band. GREAT! Hope that was comprehenisve enough for ya! ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/16 "2003-07-18T02:19:38Z")
I am seriously disappointed that this thread got as far as it has without ONE person mentioning **The Cramps**. They covered a Hasil Adkins song, which is distinction enough in itself, plus they seriously rock on their own. I must have worn out three or four copies of _Bad Music for Bad People_ in my late teens/early 20s. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/17 "2003-07-18T02:56:27Z")
Punk/Hardcore I haven’t seen mentioned yet: Government Issue T.S.O.L. Void (Okay, this might take some effort to listen to) Descendants Gang Green MDC The Meatmen Not strictly punk/hardcore: Fugazi (more post hardcore) - still around, still tour, shows are still $6, CDs are still $10 post paid from their label Suicide (electronic punk) Lard (If you like the Dead Kennedys and you like Ministry, you’ll like this) ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/18 "2003-07-18T05:08:58Z")
[aside] > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Derleth \* > \*\*NOFX ('cause they don’t try to ram a bullshit cause down your throat) \*\* I won’t discuss the “bullshit” part, as I generally don’t get into partisan political discussions (hence my noninvolvement in many GD threads), but NOFX has recently been somewhat political. From what I can tell, their current position is: “Yeah, we haven’t been a political band over the years, but we don’t like what is going on with the Bush administration, and we’re going to say something about it.” It’s up to the listener to determine whether the cause is bullshit or not. Their most recent album, _War on Errorism_, has a clownish President Bush on the cover, and when I saw them live last year, Fat Mike spent much of the concert bad-mouthing Bush. A friend of mine, a politically conservative punk fan, was seething throughout the show :D[/aside] As expected, the thread turned into a “recommend a punk band” thread, which I have no objection to if **mhendo** feels the same way 😉 Keep the recommendations coming, especially ones with explanations as to why **mhendo** should look into them. I may be a longtime punk fan, but I don’t know every band, and this thread could help me find new bands too! ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/19 "2003-07-18T05:25:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jackelope \* > \*\*I am seriously disappointed that this thread got as far as it has without ONE person mentioning **The Cramps**. They covered a Hasil Adkins song, which is distinction enough in itself, plus they seriously rock on their own. I must have worn out three or four copies of _Bad Music for Bad People_ in my late teens/early 20s. \*\* :smack: I can’t believe I didn’t mention them. Their new album is incredible. Jon ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804/20 "2003-07-18T05:30:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Banger \* > \*\*As expected, the thread turned into a “recommend a punk band” thread, which I have no objection to if **mhendo** feels the same way 😉 \*\* You’ll get no complaints from me; i’m finding this very enlightening. **Punkkid** ’s response was particularly illuminating. Of course, my financial situation means it might be a while before i can afford to sample all of these bands. Two other bands that my SO really likes, and that i also think are pretty cool, are **Girlschool** and **The Dils**. Anyone else heard these bands? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tribute-to-punk-rock-from-a-latecomer/188804.md?page=2)