If you truly want to get technical about it, the Damned and their debut album (a self titled) was officially the first concious punk rock album. The Damned is one of the few bands that I can still stand to listen to. They're just stripped down rock'n'roll.

Back when I used to really listen to the stuff, I used to be into the Templars, Major Accident, Crass, UK Subs, and the Cockney Rejects...Stuff along those lines. This thread inspired me actually to relisten to a few of my old favorites. My taste though eventually matured. Now I can only listen to the standouts, and I enjoy post-punk which I feel took the sound and made it alot less prone to generic sound-alikes.

True. that is why i asked what does everyone consider the first punk album. It is a question that is based on one's opinion, and not on the actual history of punk.

Interesting choice with the Grateful Dead. Myself being a dead head, i've never really thought of it, but it makes sense in a few ways. Did you ever happen to read about the Dead, Kesey, Cassady and the pranksters?

Now the Damned is an act that really doesn't get the recognition they deserve. I can't really get into anything they did after the Strawberries record, but those first five albums... some good shit.

Agreed. But If I were to pinpoint one "first punk album", The New York Dolls' self-titled album would be at the top of that list followed closely by The Damned's own Damned, Damned, Damned.

Machine Gun Etiquette, baby!

I've tried this thread a few times, never seems to take off. :(

Now if the "Acid Tests" weren't punk as fuck, I don't know what is. :tpg:

Well, in two hours I'm off to a 9 hour punk gig in a pub, and it cost under a fiver. I'll try to get some of the less embarrassing pics up soon as they've been taken and I've recovered from the drinking.

Interesting to see a few of the names tossed around here. I would have never considered Eyeless in Gaza or The Meat Puppets to be "punk", but ymmv.

I listened to quite a bit of punk back in high school and college, but have sort of grown out of it as I've gotten older. I couldn't tell you who any of the good new punk bands are. I will admit that some of the best shows I've been too have been punk shows, however. Bad Religion, NOFX, 7 Seconds, and Voodoo Glow Skulls all put on amazing shows back in the day.

Ah, to be 19 again... ;)

You've obviously never heard the meat puppets S/T then as it was a pure punk album. Sure, they are mostly known for II which sheds alot of their punk elements. Although when you look at their entire discography as a whole, alot of their work is in the punk vein. It just never get's listened to be alot of people and brushed under the wayside because it isn't II nor is it namedropped by people in the underground.

Yeah, first I heard of Meat Puppets was the "Too High To Die" album. While that was a fantastic record, the last thing I would call it is punk. I tried some of their previous records, but could never really get into them. Maybe I need to give in another listen.

I was just given a free "business class account" or some such thing on yousendit.com, and with that comes a rather large amount of upload space, so here's that documentary American Hardcore in case anyone's interested.

http://download.yousendit.com/DB5A28446AC06CEB

Thanks for that Knkzrd, I'm doing a module on documentries at the moment and even though I'm not that big a fan of hardcore, anything that lets me combine buisness and pleasure is good in my book.

P.S Any1 in North of U.K make sure you go to rebellion fest in my own little tatty seaside towm.

I could be wrong, but I haven't seen a single mention of GG Allin, on of the best examples of what punk (was) back in the 80's and a little into the early 90's.

Anyways, and I'm sure that (most) people will agree, I get so pissed when I'm walking around town and some 13 year old with a mohawk and an iPod goes "dude, A7X is like, totally hardcore!" or some bullshit nonsense like that. Don't get me wrong, punk IMHO, isn't a type (brand if you will nowadays) of music or some trend or fashion, it's about not giving a shit about what anyone thinks about you and living how you want without fear of retrobution.

I see alot of hypocrisy with so-called "punks", they always say that they're non-conformists, but yet if you don't look, act, or talk a certain way, you're not one of them. It just goes to show you that any group of people, when they get enough recognition in "mainstream society" turn into elitist fucktards.