Since its start in the 1970's, Punk music had always been about self-expression and a deviation away from the cultural norm. This genre of music evolved from 1960's Garage Rock and incorporated fast playing instruments, stripped-down song mechanics, and lyrics that were heavy on anti-establishment themes. Blended all together and you get fast paced, rough tracks that typically didn't run for longer than a couple of minutes. While each Punk band shares similar statements, attitudes, and ideas, each band brought something unique to the table. By analyzing and understanding each of their respective sub-genres, we can further analyze what made each Punk band so wonderful. Examples for some of these sub-genres of Punk include; Crust-Punk with bands such as Discharge or Antisect, Afro-Punk with bands like Suicidal Tendencies or Bad Brains, and Horror Punk with bands like the Misfits or Wednesday 13. As time progressed, Punk music had to re-evolve in order to stay alive, and blended in even more styles of music. This led to the creation of other genres of music like; Post-Punk, Pop-Punk, and even Cow-Punk. Regardless of where Punk moves to in the future, this list of top five Punk bands will be sure to add some necessary anarchy into your music playlist.
Bad Brains
Apple Music
Album to get you started - Bad Brains (1982)
With a variety of line-up changes, and 10 albums under their belt, Bad Brains were definitely one of Punk's most influential bands. Originally started as a Jazz group called Mind Power in Washington D.C. during 1976, the group eventually changed their name and sound due to their newfound obsession for Punk music. In turn they were able to blend elements from Funk music, Heavy Metal, and Hip-Hop, thus creating a new style of music: Hardcore Punk. The band's current members are Dr. Know on lead guitar, Darryl Jenifer playing bass, H.R. (Human Rights) on vocals, and Earl Hudson on drums. In 1982 they released their first album entitled Bad Brains in a cassette only format and critics were shocked to learn that this music was made by black men. This shock was also due to the Punk scene being of full of primarily white musicians.
Why Bad Brains matters: What makes this album great was that it kick-started an entire new genre of music, and allowed other black musicians to have a voice in the shape of Punk. Additionally, Adam Yauch from the Beastie Boys was quoted with saying that this album is "the best punk/hardcore album of all time."
Black Flag
Apple Music
Album to get you started - My War (1984)
Another band that went through a ton of lineup changes; Black Flag has made themselves known throughout the Punk scene by their use of anti-establishment lyrics and non-conformist messages. Formed in 1976 by guitarist and songwriter Greg Ginn, the group was originally called Panic and changed their name to Black Flag later that year due to another band already owning the Panic name. The group's prominent symbol, a flag made up of four black bars, was made by Ginn's brother Raymond Pettibon. In an interview about the flag, he stated, "If a white flag means surrender, a black flag represents anarchy." In 1979 the group released their first EP Nervous Breakdown with vocalist Keith Morris, however Morris would end up leaving the band later that year to form the band Circle Jerks. The remaining members of Black Flag would end up replacing Morris for Henry Rollins in 1980 and the group would go on to release their first album Damaged in 1981. Black Flag's second album My War was released in 1984 to mixed reviews among critics. In this album, the band deviated away from their Hardcore roots in order to capitalize on a slower and a more sludge-based sound that many thought to be un-punk. Rollins is quoted in many interviews during this time that one of the band's major influence was Black Sabbath. The last album Black Flag made with this lineup was In My Head during 1985 and the band decided to break up in 1986 due to their relentless tour schedule. In 2013 the band released the album What The... with guitarist/bassist Greg Ginn, vocalist Ron Reyes and Gregory Moore playing the drums. Later that year professional skateboarder Mike Valley replaced Reyes on vocals, and in 2019 Joseph Noval was brought in to play bass, while Isaias Gil replaced Moore on drums.
Why My War matters: This album made the list because of Black Flag's successful change in stylistic direction, and how dark and aggressive this album is. My War was vastly different than Black Flag's previous music due to its increase of defeatism, and devoid concepts.
Dead Kennedys
Apple Music
Album to get you started - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980)
Formed during 1978 in California, the Dead Kennedys have been regarded as one of the most influential Hardcore Punk rock bands according to the website AllMusic. This was probably due to vocalist Jello Biafra saturating his lyrics with political statements, and the band's provocative album covers. Other members of the original line up included; East Bay Ray on guitar, Klaus Flouride playing bass, and Ted/D.H Peligro on drums. Prime examples of the band's provocative nature include the track "Nazi Punks F**k Off" from their album Plastic Surgery Disasters. In the song, Biafra screams over the microphone "Nazi punks, Nazi punks, Nazi punks, f*** off!" in retaliation of the skinheads who had entered the Punk scene to purely inflict harm and create mayhem. Additionally, the cover for this album was a picture taken by photographer Mike Wells in 1980. In the photo a small, withered, black hand is shown in the palm of a thick white hand; ultimately a depiction of the white man's greed and consumerism. The band would go on to release four albums over their career, including; Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables in 1980, Plastic Surgery Disasters in 1982, Frakenchrist in 1985, and Bedtime for Democracy in 1986.
Why Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables matters: Not only did this album help to define the raw sound of Dead Kennedys, but their rowdy style and attitude also inadvertently brought together the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). Comprised of a group of parents who were horrified and shocked to hear their children listening to lyrics like, "Is my cock big enough, is my brain small enough for you to make me a star?" The PMRC would bring their case of parental control over media to court and eventually won. This resulted in the Parental Advisory and Explicit labels being attached to music with any profanity, sex, violence, or occult themes within its lyrics. If your music was so controversial that it made a bunch of parents upset and go as far as bringing the matter to court, I would say that you have successfully gained Punk notoriety.
Minor Threat
Apple Music
Album to get you started - Out of Step (1983)
Composed of Ian MacKaye on vocals, Lyle Preslar on guitar, Brian Baker playing bass/guitar, Jeff Nelson on drums, and Steve Hansgen playing bass, Minor Threat was formed during 1980 in Washington D.C. The band only lasted three years, however the music they released during this time was some of the absolute best Punk music to date. Their first 7" EP's Minor Threat, and In My Eyes were released in 1981 and helped set the pace/tone of what the band was all about. MacKaye's lyrics about not doing drugs or drinking alcohol also kick started the Straightedge movement, which is still around today. Their only studio album Out of Step was released in 1983 and represented how much the group felt like outsiders to the rest of the world. At the end of 1983 the band broke up due to conflicting musical ideas. Since then, their music has been repressed numerous times, Urban Outfitters carried some of their merch in 2013, and their artwork for the First Two Seven Inches inspired the album artwork for Rancid's And Out Come the Wolves.
Why Out of Step matters: This album is absolutely essential to hear if you want to get into Punk music. From the fast opening of "Betray" to the final lyrics shouted on "Out of Step," this album tells its listeners that its okay to feel "out of step, with the world" and to instead focus on yourself. MacKaye's tongue-in-cheek vocals on this record, especially on the track "Look Back and Laugh" allow the listener to feel understood, rather than alienated like some sort of outcast. Additionally, the black sheep on this record has been an iconic symbol for the Punk scene, essentially saying that its okay to be different and to follow your own path.
The Misfits
Apple Music
Album to get you started - Walk Among Us (1982) or Famous Monsters (1999)
Founded in 1977 by vocalist/keyboardist Glenn Danzig and drummer Manny Martinez, the Misfits are the quintessential Horror Punk band. Releasing seven studio albums such as Walk Among Us (1982), Static Age (recorded in 1978, but not released until 1996), and Famous Monsters (1999), the Misfits seem like they'll never die. With their unique stage presence, song titles like "Mommy Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight," and intense lyrics such as, "With just a touch of my burning hand/I send my astro zombies to rape the land/Prime directive, exterminate/The whole human race," it's clear that the Misfits are all about Horror themes and elements. This is also why they are known as some of the kick starters to the Horror-esc scene. The Misfits are yet another band that went through a variety of lineup changes, including; adding Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein to the group as lead guitarist, swapping out Danzig on vocals in 1995 for Michael Emanuel (aka Michael Graves), and also replacing Martinez with David Calabrese (aka Dr. Chud) during that same year. Although the Misfits started as playing Punk music, their sound eventually began to fall into the Heavy Metal genre during the release of American Psycho (1997). By changing up their sound, it allowed the band to further experiment with the Horror/Punk/Metal genre. Their current lineup includes; Danzig back on vocals, von Frankenstein as lead guitarist, Dave Lombardo on drums, and Acey Slade playing rhythm guitar and backing vocals.Why Walk Among Us and Famous Monsters matter: Whether you're a Michael Graves fan, or a Glenn Danzig person, you can't deny the importance of these two albums in the Misfits discography. While Walk Among Us helped to establish the Misfits as a Horror Punk band, and also showcased Danzig's unique vocal range, Famous Monsters allowed listeners to hear the Misfits experimenting in another genre of music. Due to the dynamic vocal spectrum of both Danzig and Graves, you simply cannot mention the Misfits without mentioning how spectacular both of those vocalists are.
