Who do you think is the bees knees of american punk?

no X? no dead boys? no nirvana?

sorry dude I forgot about X and the dead boys it is 1am here and I am just about stuffed. I didn't pick nirvana as I don't really consider them a seminal US punk band. They are great though, I was thinking more early 80's pioneering stuff.

I was tossing up between the DK's and the Brains. in the end I went Bad Brains based mainly on their live performances which were pretty much a life changing event.

Black Flag and the Ramones would then be 3rd and 4th for me.

The Dead Kennedys

No MC5? They woulda been my vote.

DK man all the way, san fran 1979

If it weren't for that beautiful rock and roll word "seminal" I would probably have gone for Bad Brains. Those guys amaze me. White-hot and tighter than fuck. I'm a big wuss and missed much live punk, I managed to see the Brains and it's a choice I've long cherished making.

But...
because of that word, I GOTTA say Ramones.
They really strike me as the lighter fluid that got the whole barbeque started.
My preference for the Ramones would just be remembered as a Great American Rock and Roll band but they deserve ANY credit they can get.

seminal punk band?
yeah, sure, you bet!!
why not.

why in the hell is bad religion on that list...? MC5 totally shoulda replaced that option im feelin GE on that one . velvet underground?

Bad religion started in 1980 and I think they influenced many of the more melodic punk bands that was to follow, pennywise/nofx and the other epitaph/fat bands.

If I included the MC5 I would have had to include the stooges, the NY dolls etc etc. These bands I think were more like the dirty pre-punk rock that set the stage for the punk band to follow, I guess I would have included them but I decided to stick to straight up punk bands.

Why don't you start a poll for the best pre-punk rock band, this punk forum needs some more discussion it is so slow and boring in here of late.

ahh you should have ignored that word, the brains need all the vote they can get,they deserve all of the votes.There is not enough of their fans ion here. Did you see them live with HR or with Joseph I? Yes live they are an awesome sight and how fuckin tight are they, seeing them live was one of my life time musical highlights. Pitty HR lost the plot on the crack.