10 Most Obscure Punk Bands Of All Time
Ten great and highly obscure punk bands to ignite your brain and delight your ears.
Punk's golden era covered a few short years in the latter half of the 1970s, but the bands which laid down the blueprint for this particular revolution date back to the previous decade and before. Many of its brightest flames continued on into the '80s (some even further), and punk's influence outside of the genre can still be felt to this day. Then, too, there are many relatively unknown, yet dedicated, contemporary outfits who are steadfastly keeping punk's definitive sound alive.
It seems inarguable, however, that '75 – '79 form the burning nucleus of this movement, when groups such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones and The Dead Kennedy's shot to prominence on the back of a new, rebellious style which, at the same time, reached back to the very origins of rock 'n roll. Perhaps it is entirely fitting that this incendiary art form, in terms of its influence on the wider public consciousness, burned bright and died young.
Disregard for commercial success sits nicely with the punk spirit and, with that in mind, What Culture presents ten great, yet magnificently obscure, punk bands from around the world.
10. Dum Dum Boys
Auckland, New Zealand's The Dum Dum Boys have the distinction of being the first band to record and release a punk album in their native country, with 1981s Let There Be Noise. Christopher Bligh (bass), Dean Larsen (drums), Norm Williamson (guitar) and Tony Stooge (vocals) unashamedly took inspiration from Iggy Pop (the band's name is taken from a track on Iggy's seminal 1977 album, The Idiot).
Although Let There Be Noise was well-received, despite having a small run (the album was a self-release), a follow-up long-player, Death Or Glory, never saw the light of day, and the band soon changed their name, becoming The Henchman. The Henchman's first album, 1983s We've Come To Play, ended up featuring, in a somewhat altered form, much of the material from Death Or Glory. This incarnation of the group released further singles and an EP, before disbanding in '85.
Various compilations on LP and CD have done much to keep The Dum Dum Boys music alive, and Let There Be Noise remains a compelling set of concise, powerful punk.