Who was the first punk?

Answer 1

I would say Link Wray. He invented the power chord, as I recall, and dressed in black leather and sun glasses like the Ramones ... except he did it in the 1950's. I think I once read that he punched holes in his amp so that the sound would be more distorted. His 1959 instrumental 'Rumble' was actually banned by some radio stations due to its aggressive sound.

IMHO, you can draw a (slightly crooked) line from his music through to the NYC scene (i.e. NYC Bowery bands: New York Dolls, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Television, Blondie, Heartbreakers, the Cramps, etc.) that spawned the Ramones. The Pistols credit Johnny Rotten with creating their attitude and image, and he is the one who put punk on the map, but they were inspired by the Ramones.

Following that family tree backwards leads to Link Wray and the Wraymen. His music still crops up on occasion, i.e 'The Wild One' was used on the soundtrack of Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.

For a longer answer on my take on the history of punk, see this one:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhuSwDBx7iaYwoKk5gevvlQAAAAA?qid=20060930120527AAxrMXl&show=7#profile-info-a231101ef530371a6597a4c714158879aa

And for the first punk record, see this one:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkSMoQJwYnZRn8SJTb8USfAAAAAA?qid=20070128221423AAYDYgB&show=7#profile-info-b7ae34ab971653d02308ce805affb7baaa

In regards to april9rockstar, below, Legs McNeil was one of the founders of Punk magazine, but the term was used earlier to describe the music of assorted bands, and perhaps used first in reference to ? and the Mysterians. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_rock

Answer 2

Who, I don’t know. Where? England, in urban areas, in the mid-to-late 1970’s. Actually, a professor that I had as an undergraduate did some graduate work in London in the 1970’s and remembered seeing them. They made quite the impression all those years later.

To pick the NY Dolls over the Sex Pistols, in my opinion, does a great disservice to punk music. I mean, take a look at the freaking NY Dolls. If anything, they started the horrid Glam Rock scene.

Then again, Johnny Rotten always hated the term “punk”. It’s the English slang term for a male prostitute in prison, like the American “*****”.

Answer 3

Could be me! As a student in the late 60s, I prided myself on never wearing the same outfit to parties. I made a pair of trousers from some black crimplene. I still hate sewing in zips and I was pushed for time, so I bought some large black hooks and eyes, a length of loo chain and a small padlock from a hardware store. I sewed on the hooks and eyes and linked the chain round my waist and over the hooks and eyes - then fastened the chain with the padlock! When people asked where the key was, I said my boyfriend had it.

Answer 4

Steven Micalef

Answer 5

I cannot agree that it was Johny R. I think punk as a music related phenomenon did not begin with any one person but grew as a movement, and drew influence (intentionally or not) from the likes of Patti Smith, NY Dolls and many more.

Answer 6

No punk would care. Why try to arrange things when punk was about anarchy and cash from chaos.

Answer 7

Johnny Ramone

Answer 8

I SWEAR THIS IS THE REAL ANSEWER: legs mcNeil!

he started a magazine called "punk" with two of his friends. before that there was no mention of "punk"

read this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Please-Kill-Me-Uncensored-History/dp/0349108803/ref=pd_ka_1/203-1286392-2210334?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173999790&sr=8-1

i kept seeing it on my library's shelves but when i went to get it (in my phase of reading books about music and musicians) it wasnt there so i just bought it off amazon. it's excellent.

okay so it depends on your definition, legs got the word. but i'm guessing that the people who said "johnny rotten" are kids or teenagers. un informed.

Answer 9

what a great question. Patti Smith, man. actually, Marie Antoinette was kind of a punk. It's definitely not The Clash, though they were pivotal. I definitely think it was a female.

Answer 10

Mozart