10 Best Singles From The Golden Age Of Punk
8. I'm Stranded - The Saints
Although The Saints had already established themselves as a potent live band in their native Australia prior to the punk explosion, having formed in 1973, the punk movement offered the perfect opportunity to broaden their appeal outside their homeland. Their debut single, 'I'm Stranded', was a blistering combo of Ramones meets The Stooges driven rock'n'roll.
The Saints became a fixture in the UK punk scene on the back of the success of 'I'm Stranded', and their first couple of albums are amongst a handful from the era that don't sound dated and tied to the period. The band actually released 'I'm Stranded' in 1976, before either of the heavyweights, The Clash and The Sex Pistols, released anything at all.
What is notable about The Saints is that they created their buzzsaw rock'n'roll contemporaneously with The Ramones - contrary to the usual flow of influence from The Ramones down to so many of the early bands in the punk genre. The band have been together on-and-off ever since forming, continuing to plough their own Aussie-bred punk rock'n'roll.