Greatest Punk Bands Before the '90s

Finally! A punk rock list that won't have Green Day! Well these are the most legendary classic punk bands.
The Top Ten
1 The Clash The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk.

Never a fan of Punk, but I do love London Calling.

2 Dead Kennedys Dead Kennedys are an American hardcore punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band was one of the first American hardcore bands to make a significant impact in the United Kingdom.
3 Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first band to define the punk rock sound.

If I'm not mistaken, Green Day formed in '88 so that makes them an 80's punk band doesn't it?

They created punk! How can they not be #1?

4 Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although they initially lasted just two and a half years and produced only four singles and one studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, they are considered one of the most influential acts in the history of popular music, having initiated a punk movement in the United Kingdom, and inspired many later punk and alternative rock musicians.

I am an antichrist! I am an anarchist!

5 Minor Threat Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Washington, D.C. by vocalist Ian MacKaye and drummer Jeff Nelson.
6 The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground was an American rock band, active between 1964 and 1973, formed in New York City.
7 Black Flag Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. Initially called Panic, the band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter, and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band. They are widely considered to be one of the first hardcore punk bands as well as one of the pioneers of post-hardcore. After breaking up in 1986, Black Flag reunited in 2003 and again in 2013.
8 Green Day Green Day are an American pop punk/punk rock band formed in East Bay, California in 1987. The members include Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals and guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass), Tré Cool (drums) and Jason White (guitar). Green Day are associated with punk rock, pop punk and alternative rock. Some of their influences include The Ramones, Sex Pistols, NOFX, and Bad Religion. They are best known for their songs like ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’, ‘Basket Case’ and their ‘American Idiot’ & ‘Dookie’ albums. American Idiot sold 6 million copies in the U.S. and won a Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album". Green Day have sold over 75 million records worldwide and have won 5 Grammy Awards. They ...read more.

Ever listened to the song Platypus (I Hate you) or Take Back? You should also listen to the albums Dookie and Insomniac!

9 The Stooges The Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, are an American proto-punk band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003. Although they sold few records in their original incarnation, and often performed for indifferent or hostile audiences, the Stooges are ...read more.
10 Television Television is an American rock band from New York City formed in 1973. The group was founded by Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd, Billy Ficca, and Richard Hell. An early fixture of CBGB and the 1970s New York rock scene, the band is considered influential in the development of punk and alternative music.
The Contenders
11 The Misfits Misfits are an American Horror Punk band often recognized as the progenitors of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk rock and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery.

Mommy! Can I go out and... KILL TONIGHT!?

12 Circle Jerks
13 Operation Ivy Operation Ivy, sometimes called "Op Ivy," was an American Ska punk band, from Berkeley, California formed in May 1987. The band was stylistically important as one of the first bands to mix the elements of hardcore punk and ska into a new amalgam called ska punk and was critical to the emergence of Lookout ...read more.
14 Descendents The Descendents are a punk rock band formed in 1977 in Manhattan Beach, California by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo and drummer Bill Stevenson.
15 Stiff Little Fingers
16 The Adicts
17 Germs
18 Bad Religion Bad Religion is an American punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979. The band makes extensive use of soaring three-part vocal harmonies, guitar solos and lyrics that often contain religious and political commentary.
19 The Adverts
20 The Slits
21 999
22 Angelic Upstarts
23 Angry Samoans The Angry Samoans are an American punk rock band from the first wave of American punk, formed in August 1978 in Los Angeles.
24 Slime Slime is a German punk rock band formed in Hamburg in 1979. They are known for their political activism, with lyrics often focused on anti-fascist and anti-authoritarian themes. Musically, the band incorporates elements of hardcore punk and Oi!, featuring fast tempos and aggressive guitar work. Slime has been influential in the German punk scene and remains active, continually addressing contemporary social issues through their music.
25 The Exploited The Exploited are a Scottish punk rock band from Edinburgh, formed in 1979 by Stevie Ross and Terry Buchan, with Buchan soon replaced by his brother Wattie.
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