What are some of the best punk bands?

My faves are Sex Pistols and Ramones (listening to their anthology right now---Hey Ho Lets Go). There really isnt much to choose from when talking of "new-er punk". I do think AFI is pretty good. They have a sort of gothic feel about them, but the their tunes are very catchy. Another plus about the band is that Davy Havok's (lead singer) vocals are outstanding! Check em' out if you like that sort of thing.

I know that I will end up forgetting some of my favorites, but here goes. The Dead Kennedys, Dayglo Abortions, Descendents, the Vandals, NOFX, Guttermouth(earlier albums), Misfits, No Means No, Ramones, maybe even Propaghandi. As far as newish stuff goes, I like the Distillers, the Dropkick Murphy's are ok, most of the new punk out there just sounds like 'Pennywise light' to me though!

I guess that it all depends on what you consider punk. The Sex Pistols and Ramones are definitely punk, but they seem about as "dangerous"/"radical" as the Monkees today. By the way, you do know that the original definition of punk was a guy who was another guy's lover (usually in prison, and probably by force.)

Maybe I shouldn't have let that drop, but essential "punk bands", at least in truth or hype, for at least part of their existence, included all the aforementioned and Clash, Vibrators, Wire, Undertones, Adicts, Adolescents, Pogues(?!) and Mission of Burma. Now, Vykromond mentioned today that D.O.L.L. was punk, and it's amazing how many songs from their 2001 album "Black City" are quoted by or quote Les Savy Fav's "Inches", so maybe I can include them too.

I'm going to try not making this a habit, but I'm going to add Buzzcocks, Stiff Little Fingers and Black Flag.

Finally, we're getting into my territory. I tried not to read your entries before I came up with my list but here goes (in order of how good I think they are...)

1. Black Flag
2. Sex Pistols
3. Dead Kennedys
4. Ramones
5. Angry Samoans
6. Minor Threat
7. Distillers
8. Fugazi (not exactly punk, but sort of)
9. Seven Seconds
10. Bad Brains
11. Bikini Kill
12. Electric Frankenstein

There are a lot on this list I like (Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Vandals, Dead kennedys, Buzzcocks)

May I also add two more favorites: The Damned and The Circle Jerks. Yay!

The only punk I like really is the older stuff (sex Pistols, Ramones, Clash, Dead Kennedys, Black Flag). Stuff from back in the days when it was a rebellious musical movement rather than a bunch of angry grown men still stuck in the early stages of puberty. That said, the Dropkick Murphys are pretty good if you are in the right mood. I saw them when they were touring here and it was a pretty memorable show.

That's pretty close to my feelings as well, Member 27. When I hear the punk label applied to bands today, what I'm missing is the DIY ethic that was essential the seminal punk bands of the late 70s and early 80s. It would be hard for me to fault the excesses in rock music that punk reacted to as those are some of my favorite bands. It would be harder, though, to deny that the attitude that said make music now, learn how later is key to some of the best of what has happened in music over the past three decades.

I'll add X and The Modern Lovers to the already great list we're assembling.

Now Playing: "Tranquil" Ric Menck _The Ballad of Ric Menck_ (Summershine)

Oh yes, X! I saw John Doe in a bar in SF once and was like a teenager tripping over myself. I finally got drunk enough to go talk to him, but by that time I was so drunk that I don't remember what I said. I'm sure it was immeasurably stupid.

I always wonder if he went there because the bar had lots of X on the jukebox and it was played often. Which leads me to muse on how weird it would be to hear your own self coming out of the loudspeakers while drinking in a bar.

I agree that it's hard for me to like the newer punk. There's something about a lot of newer bands that is just so clean and cornfed that it's hard to equate them with what came before. Maybe because a lot of them come from Orange County (?)

That said, I went to see a couple of local punk bands at the Covered Wagon in SF and they were pretty good and really authentic. It was probably the most fun I've had at a show where I didn't know who I was going to see beforehand. One band was called "The Grannies" and indeed were dressed like a bunch of grandmas rocking out hardcore. It was a really fun show, and made me feel like I was in a time warp, where I had actually ended up someplace cool for once.

SO I believe that authentic punk is still out there to be found, it's just hidden in hole in the wall places that you pretty much have to stumble on by accident or hear about by word of mouth.

Yes, X, should have been mentioned much earlier. The great thing about X is how they and the Blasters got together in so many different guises, including the Knitters and the Flesh Eaters. This latter band (which included Tito Larriva for a spell before they ever recorded, LT) could qualify as punk, especially on "A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die."
Also, although the Leaving Trains started as a rootsy, almost country-rock band, they definitely evolved into a punk band, but hey, they were evolving all the time.

Yes, X should definitely have made my list. They played at my high school, and I saw them a couple of years back at the House of Blues.

Another "punk" band that played at my HS was The Meat Puppets. They were solid.

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Originally posted by RayRay:
Yes, X should definitely have made my list. They played at my high school, and I saw them a couple of years back at the House of Blues.

Another "punk" band that played at my HS was The Meat Puppets. They were solid.

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What was the name of this cool high school? I saw both bands, but I had to drive long distances for that.

I didn't really think of Meat Puppets as punk, and I have all their albums. I thought they were more like psychedelic country/boogie post- punk, but I guess way back at the beginning they were pretty hardcore. Great band.

Husker Du count?
Also, Sleater Kinney is pretty bad ass for a newer punk band.

What does everyone think about classifying the pixies as punk? On the earlier records at least, there are some very punk moments (broken face, tame). Not that punk has to (or could) be the Pixies only label, but I think if people want to define them as such, they have a good case.

How appropriate, I forgot the Forgotten Rebels! Can't go without "Surfin' on Heroin"!

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Originally posted by St. Ides Heaven:
Husker Du count?
Also, Sleater Kinney is pretty bad ass for a newer punk band.
What does everyone think about classifying the pixies as punk?

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All of those count as punk. Of course, Sleater-Kinney is the only one still kicking out the jams, and although their music has gotten less punk, their lyrics have gotten more punk.

I realize the Pixies are touring, and my bro hal paid $100 to see them with his son nick, so #1, that price doesn't sound "too" punk, and #2, I don't count them as current until they spew out another album.

Id pay the equivalent of US$100 to see the Pixies live.

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Originally posted by Member 27:
Id pay the equivalent of US$100 to see the Pixies live.

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I'd pay $500 USD to see the original Black Flag or Dead Kennedys...

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Originally posted by Beau

I'd pay $500 USD to see the original Black Flag or Dead Kennedys...

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Id liken being at one of those concerts to attending the world premiere of a movie like 2001 or Lawrence of Arabia; the feeling of being part of history in the making.

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Originally posted by Member 27:
Id pay the equivalent of US$100 to see the Pixies live.

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I paid $25 to see them play their first US show since their original breakup. Probably the best concert I've ever seen.

If I wasn't so broke when tickets went on sale, I definitely would've purchased however many tickets ticketmaster would allow and sold the rest on Ebay. There was an unbeatable demand for those things. 500% profit easy. Oh well, I got to attend the show, and that's the important part

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Originally posted by mark f:

that price doesn't sound "too" punk,

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Charging $30 for lame reunion tee's/caps is also not very punk. Same thing goes for letting Alien Crime Syndicate open for you. Yuck! What an awful band.