The American Influence...And What An Influence!

The Velvet Underground

Lou Reed
John Cale
Sterling Morrison
Moe Tucker
Doug Youle
Nico



The Velvet Underground were the seminal act that quite possibly had the biggest influence on what would later become the punk scene. While not a punk band themselves, it was the pessimistic, psychadelic music that they originated, and also the nihilistic and independent nature in which they went about making their music that would have the biggest influence in the punk rock culture.


Beginning in 1965 and playing as part of Andy Warhol's exhibition, "The Exploding Plastic Innevitable", The Velvet Underground would go on to release 12 records including their live and bootleg productions.









MC5

Rob Tyner
Wayne Kramer
Fred "Sonic" Smith
Michael Davis
Dennis Thompson



Beginning their musical careers in 1964 in Lincoln Park, Michigan, the MC5 also served as a major influence to the punk rock scene. The extremely energetic live shows these five young hippies were performing seemed to be the prototype for the similar performances we would come to expect from the punks.

While only recording three albums in their career that lasted until 1972, it was their first album, "Kick Out the Jams", that created such contraversy that it could well have been thier last. The title track off the album is infamously opened with Rob Tyner, the lead vocalist screaming, "And right now it'stime to...KICK OUT THE JAMS MOTHERFUCKERS!!!" This did not sit well with their current record company, Elektra, and the album was pulled from stores to the bands disapproval and shortly after, ties with Elektra were cut.

The Stooges

Iggy Pop
Ron Asheton
Scott Asheton
Mike Watt
Steve Mackay
Dave Alexander (former)
Jimmy Recca (former)
Scott Thurston (former)
James Williamson (former)
Zeke Zettner (former)

The Stooges, as were the MC5, were also from Michigan. Beginning in 1967, The Stooges did quite a lot of touring with the MC5, however it was Iggy Pop's desire to form a whole new style of music instead of replicating everyone else that was his major motivation and drive.

Recording four studio albums, it was The Stooges second album, "Funhouse", that would make the biggest impact on the rock and punk scenes as well as the music scene in general. The Stooges did not do well commercially and this idea was used in the recording of "Funhouse". The album was recorded as a live studio album to capture the raw, live energy they were famous for. Unfortunately it was this characteristically wild behaviour of Iggy Pop that would lead to the bands destruction.

After recording "Raw Power", an album produced by David Bowie, the rest of the band could not co-exist with Pop's overriding heroin addiction and erratic behaviour and saw no other alternatives then to break up.





With tours alongside MC5 as well as being signed to the same record label, Elektra, The Stooges also had a record produced by The Velvet Underground's John Cale.

These three bands were undoubtedly at the forefront of the inspirational acts to assist in the unseen phenomena of the punk scene to follow only a few short years after their beginnings.
The impact these three bands have had on musicians of all genres is really only comprehendable when you look at those effected, so guess what? Here's a list:

Credited

• Lester Bangs
• Henry Rollins
• Kurt Cobain
• Jack White
• David Bowie
• Stone Temple Pilots

Covers

• The Sex Pistols
• The Birthday Party
• Sonic Youth
• Guns & Roses
• Slayer
• Joey Ramone
• Sid Vicious
• Red Hot Chilli Peppers
• The Damned
• Rage Against the Machine
• Jeff Buckley
• Pearl Jam