Devolution Of Punk

Our generation might look back at something that happened in 1961, and naturally think, "that was long ago". At age 8, if someone would have told me about the 70's, I would have imagined that as long ago, but now I'm older, and I have a better perception of time, so I imagine the 1970's as period of time that happened just before I was born.
Just look at this film of Vince Taylor & The Playboys on French TV, in 1961.

Back then people must have loved that shit. The spastic thrust dance, and phallic guitar gestures must have blown some peoples minds. At that time, musicians weren't supposed to do that, but just four years later, Roger Daltrey would sing "I hope I die before I get old", as Pete Townsend smashed his guitar into the nearest amplifier, and just four years after that, people could expect to see a shirtless, bloodied Iggy Pop, flop around on-stage, while using whatever foul language he wanted.

I'm convinced the first punk band doesn't exist, because, like everything else, punk evolved from what came before it.

Here's Eddie Cochran doing his song Somethin' Else in the late 50's

Here's Sid Vicious doing that same song, almost 20 years later.


Both Eddie Cochran, and Sid Vicious died at age 21.