Yeah, I missed these guys somehow, but I can’t picture where punk would have played consistently in 76-77. Even buying punk music was difficult before 1981 or so, I would end up driving down to Metamorphosis which was a pain, though they had boatloads of strange and interesting music. (I think VVV and the madhouse that was Bill’s came later)
The Hot Klub, and the Agora for traveling shows, did end up being great hubs for punk though.
Went to college in 78. Big fan of Ramones, Clash, X. Remember buying London Calling the day it came out. But not much else punk.
Was much more aimed towards Elvis, Graham Parker, Stiff records stuff. Considered them punks, tho their music wasn’t.
Too young to have, but I could never have gotten into it anyway. It just sounds to sloppy to me and a lot has too much propaganda to it. I am of course speaking of the majority, there are exceptions, but not enough to suck me into it.
I got into the American hardcore scene in 1980 when I started working at a “punk” college radio station. Saw pretty much every hardcore band that toured through SF and Sacramento during those 4 years.
Mikecurtis - second that Naked Raygun shredded! Both live and their albums. Songs like Managua and Surf Combat…
speaking of American Hardcore, Dischord records put their catalog on line for free: DC's Legendary Punk Label Dischord Records Makes Its Entire Music Catalog Free to Stream Online | Open Culture
Oh, I am sorry! I was in a hurry, Iggy was in a band called the Iguanas, NOT in the Sonics. According to Wikipedia, the Shangri-Las toured with several groups. The Sonics, and the Iguanas.
Nevermind :). The fact alone that Iggy and the Iguanas were on the same bill with the Sonics is very interesting.
Too funny. A drummer I played with was a musical director for tours that featured The Shangri-Las, Lou Christie and others. I attended a couple shows - they still drew a good crowd a decade ago.
Back to the OP, i said I was a suburban hard rock kid, which is true. But punk was in the air and we got a lot of exposure. And then at college, punk and indie really took over - SoCal punk like X and The Minutemen and bands like R.E.M.
Ahhh, the Minutemen. RIP D Boone. Every time you would see the Minutemen, the consensus was “that was the most amazing show, they will never top THAT!” Then you’d see the Minutemen a few months later and the consensus was “that was the most amazing show, they will never top THAT!” Then you’d see the Minutemen a few months later and the consensus was “that was the most amazing show, they will never top THAT!” Then you’d see the Minutemen a few months later and the consensus was “that was the most amazing show, they will never top THAT!”
Seriously.
early 80’s, just when I turned into a teenager, I was listening to Elvis (Costello, not Presley), VU, ramones, Patti Smith, Replacements, Husker Du, etc.
Couldn’t dress like a fan or see shows, but I enjoyed some of the more melodic music.
Liked all the music, especially anything that threatened the music industry status quo. I managed to see a fair amount of shows with X, the Germs, &c while I lived in WLA down the street from Club 88 & Wong’s West. Early '80s.
I’m in the first group. I grew up in Cardiff which was on the circuit for all touring small and mid-sized acts. In ‘76 I was with a friend when he bought the single ‘New Rose’ by The Damned in Spiller’s Records (which claims to be the world’s oldest record store). When we listened to it back at his house it kind of blew my head off. I’d been listening to Roxy Music, Yes and Genesis then this!
I started listening to John Peel on Radio one every night and heard all manner of things and starting going to punk gigs in the Top Rank (The Damned, The Stranglers, The Buzzcocks, The Jam, The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, Siouxie and the Banshees, The Undertones) and in smaller venues like Grannies (John Cooper Clark, Vibrators, The Only Ones, Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Young Marble Giants)
I pulled the guitar from under my bed where it had been for 6 years since the nun’s gave up trying to teach me, and like almost everyone I knew at school, I formed a punk band. I’m still playing now, which makes me worry that 15 year olds who feel disaffected and disenfranchised today self-harm or attempt suicide (at least all the ones I see at work do) so I hope they won’t continue to do that for as long as I’ve played in bands.
Hugely important songs for me from then - New Rose, XTC’s ‘This Is Pop?’, The Jam’s ‘All Around the World’, Talking Heads ‘Psycho Killer’, Stiff Little Fingers ‘Suspect Device’ and ‘Alternative Ulster’, The Ramones’ ‘Swallow My Pride’ and The Undertones ‘Teenage Kicks’
Best gigs of that time (and a little later) - Undertones in '79, Ramones in '80, Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias in '77 (ticket cost 50p and they were supported by The Police who were playing unreleased material - awesome) and XTC in '78 and their last ever UK gig in '82 (changed the path of my life totally).
In the UK, punk was everywhere from '77 onwards. It was the biggest musical and cultural game changer of my lifetime - the DIY ethos of making music/fanzines etc is more prevelant than ever since the birth of the internet.
My taste quickly moved into New Wave, but the early punk days were really exciting.
NB - I HATED the spitting. In the early days, it was the done thing for the audience to constantly spit at the bands, so that they would be drenched in the stuff. It was disgusting and the bands would beg for it to stop but i guess it was a sign of the idea that the bands were no better than us the mob. When Jean-Jacque Burnel of The Stranglers copped one in the mouth as he was singing, he took off his bass and holding it by the neck jumped into the crowd wielding it like an axe at anyone in his way. Near riot; 30 mins hiatus; announcement from the band that the show would recommence but would stop at the first sign of gob. It never happened at the Top Rank again that I ever saw.
Thanks for asking - Happy days!
MiM