8. The Modern Lovers: Roadrunner
Jonathan Richman was one of the New York underground's biggest cult figures of the 1970's. He got involved in the scene at the age of 18 after crashing on the Velvet Underground's manager's sofa a few times. However, his first attempts at performing were roundly rejected on the basis of his nasal voice and simple songs. He relocated to Boston, where he bounced around for awhile before forming the first incarnation of the Modern Lovers. The first Modern Lovers was a raw, punky outfit who cut an album in 1973 with help from ex-Velvet John Cale, but the album didn't get released until 1976. "Roadrunner" is a key cut from this disc, capturing the intense fury of the band's garage rock. Richman was dissatisfied with the band's sound, however, and quit the group. A new Modern Lovers was assembled by Richman in 1977, and eschewed a lot of the punk trappings in favor of strange doo-wop flavored pop.
9. Flamin' Groovies: Teenage Head
One of the all-time American cult bands, the Flamin' Groovies are best known for their 1976 power-pop single "Shake Some Action", recorded in 1975 in England. This represented a major change in sound for the band, which was formed in San francisco as early as 1965. Unlike the other San Francisco bands of the day, the Flamin' Groovies weren't into psychedelic music or jams; instead, they specialized in a tough, Rolling Stones influenced hard rock. Teenage Head, their third album, was released in 1971 and was their best in their early incarnation; it has some blues influence on it, which they treat with respect, but mostly, it's straight ahead hard rock, without intricacy or frills. Frontman/freak Roy Loney would leave the band in the months following its release, resulting in the band's moving to England and changing its sound. There are those devoted fans who will swear this is their best album; it certainly is one of the best proto-punk moments of the early 70's.
10. The Dictators: (I Live For) Cars And Girls
The Dictators were formed in New York City in 1974, and remain one of the most influential of the proto-punk bands to this day. Their guiding lights were bassist/keyboardist/fanzine publisgher Andy (sometimes spelled Adny) Shernoff and underground rock critic/theorist Richard Meltzer. Scott "Top Ten" Kempner and Ross "the Boss" Funichello supplied the guitars, while the frontman was ex-roadie and wrestler Handsome Dick Manitoba. The band mixed the power of The Who with American garage band conventions, hints of British Invasion, and had a major influence on bands like The Ramones and The Dead Boys, among many others. "(I Live For) Cars And Girls" is from their raucous debut, capping off an entire albums' worth of junk culture celebration.
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.