Punk was considered to be a "garage band" type of music and garnered popularity in the New York club CBGB's in Lower Manhattan. Many of the bands of the Punk and New Wave scene developed their followings at CBGB. Bands such as The Talking Heads, The Ramones, Patti Smith Group, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Blondie who all gained popularity in the club would go on to national stardom.
So Hey Ho, Let's Go take a look at the bands that defined these genres in the 70's....
The Ramones - The Ramones were formed in the early 70's and are considered the band that started and defined Punk Rock. Although no one in the band was related, they all adopted the last name "Ramone" as part of their "brand". Although none of their albums or singles were chart successes, they developed a huge cult following and influenced many musicians and bands, including Green Day. There was even a movie released in 1979 that starred The Ramones called Rock 'n' Roll High School.
By 2014, all four original members, Joey Ramone (lead singer), Johnny Ramone (guitars), Dee Dee Ramone (bass) and Tommy Ramone (drums) had all passed away. The band was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 (along with replacement drummer, Marky Ramone).
Want to be sedated by The Ramones? Check out some of these tunes:
Blitzkrieg Bop
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
Rockaway Beach
Rock 'n' Roll High School
Do You Remember Rock n' Roll Radio
I Wanna Be Sedated
The Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eajk2uDWaP0
The Sex Pistols - The Sex Pistols were an English punk band that only lasted two and a half years. However, in that short time, they were also leading the charge in the punk movement. The band was known just as much for their punk attitudes as they were their music. While there were several members in the band throughout their short career, the defining lineup was: Johnny Rotten (vocals), Steve Jones (guitar), Sid Vicious (bass), Paul Cook (drums). It didn't take long for the band to implode, after a brief tour of the US in 1978, the band split up with Johnny "Rotten" Lydon being the first to leave.
Later that same year, Sid Vicious was arrested on suspicion of murder against his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, who was found dead of stab wounds in their New York hotel room. Sid Vicious claims he had no recollection of the event. While on bail in early 1979, he overdoses on heroin and dies at age 21.
Need a shot of The Sex Pistols? Check out these punk classics:
Anarchy in the UK
God Save The Queen
Pretty Vacant
Holidays in the Sun
The Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the UK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TZ_9-rbslo
The Clash- Although The Clash did not find popularity in the US until the early 80's, the band's signature album "London Calling" was actually recorded and released in the UK in 1979. It was released in the US in January of 1980. The band consisted of Joe Strummer (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar), Paul Simonon (bass guitar) and Nicky "Topper" Headon (drums). Rolling Stone magazine declared "London Calling" the greatest album of the 1980's and ranked the band #28 of the greatest bands of all time.
They were inducted into The Rock Hall in 2003 (which also included original drummer Terry Chimes). They became widely known as "The Only Band That Matters". Perhaps the most popular track from London Calling in the US was "Train in Vain" and it managed to reach #30 on the Billboard Hits Charts. Their highest charting single was 1982's "Rock the Casbah" from the album "Combat Rock". It charted at #6 on the Billboard list and became an MTV staple. Another popular single from that album was "Should I Stay or Should I Go" which charted at #13
The Clash - Train In Vain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3Yl4ehzX-o
Blondie - Blondie is a band started by lead singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Christ Stein. They started out with more of a punk flavor, but eventually developed into more of the "New Wave" sound. They were one of the first bands to adopt the "New Wave" and had several hits with the sound. The band name was derived from truck drivers who would yell out "Hey Blondie" when they would see Debbie Harry. The 1978 album "Parallel Lines" was their breakthrough hit in the US. It produced three hit singles, "Dreaming", "One Way or Another" and their first #1 hit, "Heart of Glass". They went on into the early 80's with three more #1 singles, "Call Me", "The Tide Is High" and "Rapture". "Rapture" is known as the first U.S. #1 single ever to feature a new style called "Rap".
Blondie has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Blondie - Heart of Glass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGU_4-5RaxU
The band has earned six Grammy's and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
Don't be arrested listening to these 70's classics from The Police:
Can't Stand Losing You
Message In A Bottle
Walking on the Moon
The Police - Roxanne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1c7GkzRQQ
The Cars - The Cars also found huge success with the early 80's MTV Generation...and solidified their pop culture status with the song "Moving In Stereo" during a memorable scene in the 80's cult-classic movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High". But before they hit it huge in the 80's, they had a string of hits in the late 70's. Formed in Boston, they signed their first record deal in 1977. Their second album, "Candy-O" was released in 1979 and reached #3 on the US Album Charts.
These are some 70's hits that you should rock out to while cruising around with the windows down:
Just What I Needed
My Best Friend's Girl
Good Times Roll
Let's Go
It's All I Can Do
The Cars - Just What I Needed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hwE0slNd3Y
Other notable punk/new wave bands that got their start in the 70's:
The Talking Heads
The Knack
Pat Benatar
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Elvis Costello
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