2. The Stooges: I Wanna Be Your Dog
The Stooges were a major force in the thriving Detroit-rock scene. The group was formed in 1967 by Iggy Pop (James Osterberg) after witnessing a Doors concert in Chicago. They spent 1968 touring the midwest incessently, where they played their loud two-chord rock while Iggy caterwauled, dived the audience, self-mutilated himself, and generally made a lot of enemies. They were signed by an Elektra talent scout who had gone to Detroit to see the MC5; the Stooges opened for them, and the scout wound up signing both bands. "I Wanna Be Your Dog" is their anthem, from their 1969 self-titled debut, full of the rudeness and self-loathing that Iggy plied to rocket himself to underground stardom. Iggy Pop, now 58, is still capable of putting on a wild show; he has released albums right up to the present day.
3. Pere Ubu: 30 Seconds Over Tokyo
Pere Ubu toiled in the gritty bars of the rust-belt around Cleveland before gaining national attention as underground art-punk heroes. Formed from the ashes of local Cleveland proto-punk legends, Rocket From The Tombs, the band was led by the 300-lb. David Thomas (aka Crocus Behemoth) and guitarist Peter Laughner. "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" was their 1975 debut single, and it established their early sound. Ominious, dark, industrial, frightening, but also humanistic, it could be brutal and violent, but also darkly funny; they also were fairly ambitious in their arrangements, in an art-primitive fashion. Laughner died from a drug overdose in 1977; the band's sound changed under Thomas' sole leadership, resulting in their best work, The Modern Dance (1978) and Dub Housing (1979).
4. MC5: Teenage Lust
Another Detroit-rock legend, the MC5 were all about guitar noise, speed, and revolution. They were the most political of the bands on this list, taking on unpopular stances on many of the issues of the day. Their inspiration came partly from svengali-like manager John Sinclair, founder of the White Panther Party, who would famously be imprisoned for two joints in the early 70's, bringing John Lennon to his defense. MC5 also celebrated drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll in a decadent roaring fashion that was an in-your-face kiss off to the hippies. Twin guitarists Fred "Sonic" Smith and Wayne Kramer provided them with their metallic barrage, they even gained street cred by having their debut album banned for language. Kick Out The Jams, from 1969, is their seminal album. Back In The USA, from 1970, isn't quite as good, but it does include this classic embittered look back at a teenhood gone wrong.
Article comments
1 - SFC SKI
Another great history lesson.
I never got into the Velvet Underground, but they do have a place in the lineup.
2 - gonzo marx
what?...no Ramones or Motorhead?
ah well..any excuse to listen to Iggy
good list, thanks for the nostalgic read
/golfclap
Excelsior!
3 - mike hollihan
Certainly, glam rock was an important root for British punk. Ultravox! was a glam band from an apocalyptic alternate universe. But I think you're short-changing pub rock. The Jam's later music (and Paul Weller's) show that influence. The Clash began as The 101'ers ("Key to my Heart"). And bands like the The Motors, Nick Lowe, Brinsley Schwarz (sp?) straddled the line between punk and pub rock.
Had history gone just a tiny bit different, pub rock was likely The Next Big Thing in mid-70s England.
Otherwise, an excellent list and primer. As always.
4 - uao
I'm saving glam-rock for its own piece, but very good points, Mike. Thanks!
5 - mpho
"a turd in the punchbowl of flower power"--great turn of phrase. love the column to. i never actually knew what proto-punk is, though i apparently own a lot of it!
6 - Dick Weed
Would you describe the sound that comes from my pee-hole as proto-punk?
7 - DJ
That was a terrific list.
Its hard to find good lists of proto punk, i think all the ones you list are proto punk standards.
8 - thomasM
Don't forget about the Sonics. They have some demo tapes I think that date back to 1961! They were blowing up amps even at that stage in their short career.
Like many loud bands of he early pre-metal and pre-punk in the sixties, their distortion sound came from turning up their amps until the speaker cones crackled. Some of the old Fender amps simply just started distorting once you started turning them up.
Wikepedia has a great list of Protopunk rock bands with a pretty good historical overview of a lot of these bands.