1. Husker Du
2. Black Flag
3. The Minutemen
4. X
5. Adolescents

It is impossible to say really. Because when I come up with a list of 5, I think to myself, I didn't count this band because they are really more post-punk, but this other band that I put on my top 5 weren't completely punk either, then I have to restart.

For that matter, I think labels are stupid.

crass
disorder
subhumans
chaos uk
doom

probably people are afraid to put the pistols due them being so overrated. they are quite good imo. and quite punk. in the good way.

Crass, Subhumans, and Amebix would all be up there for me. Rudimentary Peni and Dystopia as well. I could never pick 5 favorites, but those bands mean a lot to me. Dead Kennedys were a big influence on me. I would also put Joy Division up there. Including 'proto-punk' and 'post-punk' makes this thread even more difficult though, like HaydenAsche said, punk is very vast...a lot of stuff in the 'alternative' category could probably be considered punk, including Sonic Youth.

Sex Pistols have been mentioned a few times...

black flag
dead kennedys
reagan youth
the clash
angry samoans


and may i ask what the fuck is with the germs love? i love old hardcore punk but i never got the germs. they're records were ok but you hear about these legendary live shows. then i saw them live on the decline of western civ. and darby is just drunk and shitty.

The Clash
The Sex Pistols
The JAnitors

post-punk: Gaye Bykers on Acid.

THEY SAVED HITLER'S COCK!!!

Yeah, baby. Angry Samoans were fucking ruthless!!!

I LOVED STP NOT LSD!


As far as the Germs...fucking incredible. They were amazing, one of the greats that unfortunately ended pretty quickly. I think they wrote some incredible tunes(Richie Dagger's Crime, Lexicon Devil, What we do is secret, etc.). It's probably like most bands, you either got into them or you didn't.

I personally don't get Crass or GBH, but that's just me. Maybe I just didn't find UK punk all that interesting, although the Subhumanz were incredible...probably one of the only UK punk bands I liked.

Sex Pistols were nothing but NYDolls Rip-offs. They all admit to worshipping the Dolls and listen to Thunder's guitar and you can see where Steve Jones got his style from...criminally ripped off if you ask me.

Buzzcocks...oh yeah. They were fucking incredible. I think as far as real grit-nosed punk, I think they were my favorites outside of the US.

Any INSTIGATORS fans???

The Stooges
The Ramones
Dead Kennedy's
The Clash
Sex Pistols

my honorable mentions: Adolescents, October Faction, Husker Du, SubHumans, Sham 69, Richard Hell & Voidoids, Dead Kennedy's, Joy Division, The Fall and the list could go................