Californian punk is a different animal in and of itself. Perhaps not having the vitriol of its East Coast scene nor the inclusiveness of their British counterparts, during the 1980’s punk hit California like nothing since the flower power movement of the 1960’s.
5. The Descendents
The Descendents are the closest that punk ever had to the Beach Boys, with songs so simple and catchy that they would bury themselves in your head for days, having you humming ‘I Wont Let Me’ days after you heard it. Pretty happy and carefree with albums full of brilliant catchy pop punk, The Descendents still never quite got the mainstream recognition they deserve. They’re still an obvious and huge influence on 3rd-wave punk like Blink 182 and Green Day. Check out the classic albums “Everything Sucks” and “Milo Goes To College”.
4. Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys‘ front man Jello Biafra now spends most of his time making spoken word albums, which kind of bums me out, because the pure zeal that he let loose on early Dead Kennedys albums is so badass and so thick that it still has the ability to scare the hell out of people. And that’s saying something for a country that stood the test of 2 Girls 1 Cup.
3. X
X took some great ideas from other genres, fused it to punk, and made a brilliant career out of it. With the country harmonies of Exene Cervenka and John Doe combined with the gutter surf punk guitar of Billy Zoom, X made Los Angeles punk sound so far out of Los Angeles yet managed to reel it all in beautifully with lyrics entirely inspired by being a young punk in LA in the 80’s. Their album “Los Angeles” and the follow up “Wild Gift” are some of the best of the era.
2. Red Kross
Red Kross have the distinction of being “punk as fuck”. Why? Because they started the band in middle school. And you didn’t. You were too busy watching tv and wondering if Jenny would play tetherball with you. Their first EP, recorded in 1980, remains one of the most influential EP’s recorded by middle schoolers of all time. Some might balk at including them on the list, but you’re never as genuinely anti-establishment as you are in middle school and one can hear that on the surpassingly original brilliant EP. Which, for nearly 30 years, has gotten young punk kids through middle school. They’re still around and recording, so check them out if you get the chance.
1. Black Flag
Black Flag may not have had the storied ‘band forms, band makes great albums, band fades away’ of so many other bands in Los Angeles, but within their 4 years they’d taken L.A punk and made kids on the East Coast take notice, influencing the early Hardcore scene more than many other bands ever could have. Not to mention the art-punk classic album “My War”, which practically redefined what a punk album could be.
(Photo By: Mistress)
Comments
Mark
April 23rd, 2009 - 8:59:39 AM
not a bad list. of course British punk or even East Coast punk is better, but for California, you got it pretty much right.
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sofa king
April 23rd, 2009 - 9:47:01 AM
Red Kross at number 2? Whoooo dat? @Mark - east coast punk? does that even exist?
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Mark
April 23rd, 2009 - 10:46:14 AM
well i guess if you don't know red kross, you wouldn't know east coast punk.. but uh, minor threat? bad brains? fugazi? ramones? ringing any bells here?
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sofa king
April 23rd, 2009 - 4:09:49 PM
I can't argue with the Ramones (even if, in hindsight, they will be classified as hard rock as opposed to punk)(BTW, if they play the music in Hot Topic, it is immediately disqualified from being punk!). And Ian MacKaye has been solid with a few bands. But can they really compare to Black Flag or the Dead Kennedys? Helllls no.
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remember darby
April 24th, 2009 - 4:32:56 PM
how can you not include the germs?
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james
April 24th, 2009 - 6:47:46 PM
and RANCID!
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mac
April 25th, 2009 - 12:28:51 AM
Where is Bad Religion?
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jr
April 25th, 2009 - 7:33:26 AM
Everywhere there are people, mac. Everywhere there are people...
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Ned Hepburn
April 25th, 2009 - 5:05:41 PM
i wanted to include The Germs really badly, but took them out at the last minute for Red Kross. its not a list of preference, i guess.
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Reed
April 27th, 2009 - 8:19:18 PM
Your list is good, but Bad Religion(who is still creating and releasing the most influential punk music on the west coast) can not be left out. Front man, Greg Graffin is currently teaching courses in life science at UCLA, and has a PHd. in evolutionary biology. He is one of the foremost minds in our world today, which is very evident in all of Bad Religion's music to date(since the earlier 80's) and to come.
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Corey
May 15th, 2009 - 10:22:22 AM
What about Green Day?
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aaron
May 16th, 2009 - 4:42:05 PM
Green day....zzzzzz. If you want to list a ska/punk band you should go to the creators. Operation Ivy or Crimpshrine
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immariner
May 18th, 2009 - 9:56:03 AM
Where's Pennywise?
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Reverend7x
May 18th, 2009 - 3:02:14 PM
Where's Avenged Sevenfold?
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Reverend7x
May 18th, 2009 - 3:03:25 PM
Scratch that. A7X isn't punk.
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Reed
May 23rd, 2009 - 9:35:27 PM
Anyone remember Sora Head(not a California band)? Claire, the lead singer, sings to some of the most intelligent, applicable and awesome punk tunes ever(read the lyrics while listening)PEACE, Bad Religion always
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Reed
May 23rd, 2009 - 9:36:51 PM
Correction to my bad typing skills, it's Sofa Head, sorry
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punkforever
May 25th, 2009 - 10:34:46 AM
You guys are completely lost. Bad religion? weak. This list is actuallly good, but the germs have to replace Red Kross. Obviously none of these bands could be considered the best california punk band, but as far as importance, its respectable.
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monica
August 29th, 2009 - 12:32:12 AM
social distortion?!!?!?!?!?!?!
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