The punk rock movement of the 1970’s fueled a genesis of many bands who took pride and motivation from their lack of musical knowledge and technical ability. But that wasn’t the only point of origin for the “misfits” who bucked the tide of music and culture by showcasing their styles while sometimes leaving society quaking in the process. Here’s our list of musical misfits, both bands and individuals, of various genres and times in history who defied the odds and in doing so, managed to churn out some great music. -forrest green III
10. Patti Smith Her 1975 debut album, Horses, was a crucial element in the birth of punk rock. This singer-songwriter and poet put beat poetry performances style into rock featuring three chords. She’s well-known for her activism as well as the rock song, “Rock N Roll Nigger.”
9. BlondieBlondie has sold over 60 million records and is viewed as an innovator in the American new wave and punk rock subcultures. Its 1978 album, Parallel Lines, solidified the rock band’s commercial status in America and its single, “Rapture,” was the first song with rap vocals in it to reach the number one position in the U.S.
8. Ramones Their sparse, loud musical output and fashion of long hair, leather jackets, jeans and sneakers gave them an almost unique “misfit” style. They were seen as leaders in the punk rock scene, although only one of their albums reached certified gold status in the U.S., the compilation, Ramones Mania.
7. Prince He was infamous early on for performing live in his underwear, but eventually released a little soundtrack album called Purple Rain which spent nearly six consecutive months at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. His musical yield included genres such as psychedelic, pop, jazz and hip-hop.
6. The Clash An English punk rock band who went from opening for the Sex Pistols to opening for The Who, they debuted with The Clash, which their record company said wasn’t “radio friendly.” They reached great commercial success and intended to release a single each month in 1980.
5. Little RichardRev. Richard Wayne Penniman is an American singer-songwriter and pianist, as well as a pivotal figure in the change from rhythm & blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He’s well-known for hit singles such as “Tutti Frutti,” “Lucille” and “Long Tall Sally” as well as being a rare black recording artist who’s admitted to forays into homosexuality.
4. Elvis Costello The English musician and singer-songwriter rose to prominence by taking part in London’s pub rock scene in the mid-1970s. His oeuvre draws on many genres, while his almost unique lyrics boast a vocabulary rarely heard in music. Even after almost a dozen albums, Costello’s music bore an intransigent, punk rock-influenced and sneering attitude.
3. Sex Pistols An English punk rock band or as the BBC put it, “the definitive English punk rock band,” this group only produced one studio album. While the LP, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, isn’t especially great, it contains the single, “God Save the Queen,” which criticized deference given to royalty and was banned from airplay by the BBC.
2. Talking HeadsAlthough their musical output included punk rock and they played the legendary CBGB club in New York City early in their career, the Heads’ combo consisted of art rock, funk, world music, pop, new wave and punk rock. With this heady stew, the Heads earned numerous pop hits for themselves.
1. Fishbone This alternative band was formed in 1979 in Los Angeles and specializes in playing a fusion of reggae, punk rock, funk, heavy metal, ska and more. Toward the beginning, fans rocked to the kinetic live performances of singer Angelo Moore and guitarist Kendall Jones’s roaring fretwork. Fishbone has been functional for almost thirty years as one of rock’s more revered live bands.
