Influential Punk and Hardcore Bands: Who's had the Greatest Impact?
When it comes to identifying bands that have most significantly influenced the punk and hardcore scenes, opinions often diverge. In this article, I will explore the impact of several influential punk and hardcore bands from the 70s to the 90s, with a particular focus on Agnostic Front and The Ramones.
The Ramones: Pioneers of Punk
The Ramones are often mentioned as the band that laid the foundation for punk and hardcore music. Their 1974 debut album, calloc, had a profound impact on music culture, philosophy, and style. According to many lists and discussions, The Ramones are frequently cited as the band that has influenced the most bands and musicians in the punk genre.
However, while The Ramones are indeed highly influential, they are not alone. The 90s to mid-2000s saw the rise of influential bands like Operation Ivy, which often gets overshadowed in these discussions. Operation Ivy brought a fresh wave of energy and innovation to the punk scene, influencing many other bands that followed.
Agnostic Front: Setting the Template for Hardcore
Agnostic Front is a band that deserves significant recognition for their role in the hardcore punk movement. They emerged in the late 80s as the first band to fuse hardcore punk with thrash metal, setting a template for the hardcore scene that lasted for decades. Before 1986, the New York hardcore scene was still heavily influenced by punk rock, particularly by the Ramones. But with the rise of Agnostic Front, the genre began to evolve into a more aggressive, metal-infused sound.
Agnostic Front's influence can be seen in the longevity and continued success of the hardcore punk genre. After 1986, when most early hardcore bands fell off the map, Agnostic Front remained active, carrying the entire New York hardcore scene with them. They helped build a vibrant community and pushed the boundaries of what hardcore could be.
UK Punk Scene: The Sex Pistols and Innovators
The UK punk scene of the 70s was dominated by bands like the Sex Pistols, who were the first true "punk" group, playing live from late 1975. Other notable early UK punk bands include the Damned, X Ray Spex, the Buzzcocks, and the Adverts. These bands set the stage for what modern punk and hardcore would become. However, it was bands like the Clash that showed how punk music could evolve and incorporate other elements, such as diverse musical styles and political messages.
Other notable English punk bands such as the Damned were leaner and faster, contributing significantly to the hardcore scene. Bands like Love Song, the Slits, and X-Ray Spex influenced the Riot Grrrl movement of the 90s. Groups like Crass and Discharge demonstrated the evolution of UK punk over the years, while bands like Stiff Little Fingers from Northern Ireland have had a lasting impact on the music scene.
Post-Punk and Beyond
Post-punk, which emerged in the late 70s and early 80s, had a profound influence on the music that followed. Bands like Wire, Joy Division, and Gang of Four inspired a new wave of punk and post-punk bands in the 90s and 00s. The Siouxsie and the Banshees and Dave Vanian of the Damned contributed to the gothic punk movement, influencing numerous acts.
Other key bands include Amaze and Black Flag, which were instrumental in the development of hardcore punk in the 80s. The Misfits from New Jersey left a significant mark on the thrash metal scene, influencing several 80s US hardcore bands. Fellow travelers like the Patti Smith Group and Television played a role in the DIY scene and influenced alternative rock acts in the 80s.
The Hüsker Dü paved the way for Speed Metal and Emo Core, leading to the grunge movement. Bands like Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr played a crucial role in advancing the hardcore punk scene, pushing towards grunge and other subgenres.
From the proto-punk era, bands like the New York Dolls, Iggy Pop, the Stooges, MC5, and Suicide left an indelible mark on the music landscape. Other lesser-known bands, such as Pere Ubu, Talking Heads, and Mission of Burma, also played a role in shaping the post-punk and alternative rock scenes.
While many of these bands have been forgotten over time, they have left a lasting impact on the punk and hardcore genres, influencing thousands upon thousands of bands throughout the decades.