Supermallet

Wire is definitely a punk band. Track down some of their live performances and you'll see.

They did move quickly into post punk on record, but Pink Flag is punk through and through.

Phodg

Crass and Discharge should also be on that list. The Exploited and GBH too if it's a longer list.

Ky-Fi

How about Paulina Murray with Penetration. They had one of my all-time favorite singles (this clip is from 2002, song is late 70s):

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Ropes Pierre

Don't hear them mentioned nearly enough. (Don't recall who sang for them before "Handsome Dick" Manitoba, in 1973).

sounds like you saw some very cool shows.

arminius

One time we were staggering down the street early in the morning after a night clubbing in Queens when staggering the other way is Handsome Dick handing out Tator flyers. That was surreal.

ResIpsa

I have everything they ever recorded and will grant you that their earliest recorded live performances were punk (although more accurately art-punk or some similar hyphenated term) but even Pink Flag was decidedly post-punk in sound and attitude. From there, they never looked back and if one had to give their music a label I think post-punk is the most apt. I just don't think it's accurate to call them a punk band. Pedantic? Maybe...

Giles

Circle Jerks
Dag Nasty

and a shout out to 'Butt Trumpet'.

Jason

*cough* Doors *cough*

And the New York Dolls were glam, not punk, although they do have ties to the 70's New York punk scene.

cultshock

I think the fact that they came from the same scene gave them the punk connection (like Blondie and Talking Heads, as Sierra Disc mentions). And when Richard Hell was in the band, they were kinda more punky. Afterwards when Tom Verlaine took complete control, they actually were more post-punk sounding. However you want to classify them, I love them.

Arpeggi

Wire.

orangerory

I grew up listening to a lot of youth crew/straight edge hardcore - most of that is not "considered" punk by those in the scene. Of those bands, my favorites are:

1. Quicksand
2. Judge
3. Gorilla Biscuits
4. Into Another
5. Killing Time (more of a NYHC band)
6. Integrity

Of the more "punk" bands, my favorites would be:

1. Bad Brains
2. Descendents
3. Dag Nasty
4. Circle Jerks
5. Minor Threat

chino77

ive never heard the wire in my life. by the praise here it sounded like i was missing out on some great old punk. i looked them up on youtube and didnt really think they sounded punk at all. at least not what i think of when i think of punk.

The Antipodean

I'm surprised The Misfits are ahead as i only put them on as an afterthought... I went Ramones myself although I have a huge love for Wire, Gang of Four and The Damned.

So Misfits fans, sell me on them, why do you think they're the best punks ever? Album to start with?

chino77

i think the misfits are one of the best because they have very catchy and accessible songs compared to most old punk bands. "walk among us" is my fav cd of theirs and the one that first exposed me to them.

inri222

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Jason

New York punk rock was more about attitude and doing your own thing than being noisy and crude. It was the first and best "alternative" music scene.

statcat

They're one of the first punk bands I listened to. I guess the coffin boxset would be what you'd want to get if you're deeply into them. I like them still but not my favorite I'd say. I guess I've heard the songs so many times I've become a little bored. The thing about them though is their live stuff is atrocious. I've heard some bootlegs and evil live and it all sucks in my opinion. The studio recordings seem to be all that's worth listening to.

Saw this on youtube, should give a pretty good overview of what they sound like

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PS - I don't think the Michael Graves 90s era of the band is that bad. I know it gets a lot of shit. It's no Danzig classic Misfits but it's okay for what it was. The Jerry Only version now is lame.

inri222

The punk rocker turned lifeboatman

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23851982

Phodg

Yeah, I talked to Steve about that a couple of years ago. He's very into it.

Ringmaster

It's punk music. There's no such thing as a "good" live punk album IMO. Most of the time, it's energy, not musical chops, that make live punk albums cool. And I disagree on the Misfits' live stuff just for the fact that Danzig would be hilarious with his vamps in between songs.

Supermallet

To me, this is one of the most punk songs ever:

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story

I don't know a lot about punk.

But when I was thirteen, my friend's older brother made me a tape with Nevermind by Nirvana on one side and World's Apart by Subhumans on the other side. That one particular punk record has a special place in my memory bank.

Lastdaysofrain

I would disagree. Bad Brains "The Young are Getting Restless" is outstanding and I also think their best album (and I'm a big Bad Brains fan).

Liveage (and do a lesser degree Hallraker) by the Descendents is hands down their best record and the versions of some great songs (which are good in studio versions) are perfect in the live versions.

inri222

Two of the best live hardcore / punk records :

TimeandTide

The Clash.

Followed closely by Pennywise:

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