Protopunk

Protopunk is a term used to describe the precursors of punk rock. Many of the artists whose sound helped pave the way for punk came from the 1960s and early 1970s. Some have been cited by early punk musicians as influential. These artists came from many different musical backgrounds.

Bands

Below is a list of notable bands^[1] who influenced early punk rock.^[2][3]

Peru

• Los Saicos

United States

• The Velvet Underground
• MC5
• The Stooges
• The Modern Lovers
• The Sonics
• New York Dolls
• Lou Reed
• Television
• Death
• Captain Beefheart
• Patti Smith
• Richard Hell
• Rocket from the Tombs
• Love

Germany

• Neu!

Britain

• David Bowie
• The Kinks
• The Who
• Roxy Music
• Doctors of Madness
• Hawkwind

References

1. Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. London: Rough Guides. ISBN 1-85828-201-2.
   "The addition of Simon House (violin/keyboards) in 1974 mellowed the musical assault without damaging the fabric, but with proto-punk Lemmy on the bass the demands of heavy rock would always be satisfied." (p. 403)
2. "Proto-Punk", All Music Guides, retrieved 24/06/09.
3. D. Hebdige, Subculture, the meaning of style, (London: Taylor & Francis, 1979), p. 25.