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Henry Rollins' 20 Punk Albums

Henry Rollins' 20 favourite punk records — the late-'70s/early-'80s salvos that lit the fuse, from The Ramones and the Sex Pistols to Wire's Pink Flag and the Germs' GI. (He left off his own Black Flag.) Source: Henry Rollins, via LA Weekly / Boing Boing (2013).

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1. 
   The Clash

   The Clash

   The Clash's 1977 self-titled debut — a raw, politically charged punk explosion that defined the genre's revolutionary spirit and established the band as icons of social dissent and sonic urgency.

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2. 
   Generation X

   Generation X

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3. 
   The Adverts

   Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts

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4. 
   X-Ray Spex

   Germfree Adolescents

   X-Ray Spex's 1978 punk debut — a raw, politically charged manifesto from Poly Styrene, defining the genre's confrontational edge and feminist voice.

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5. 
   Sex Pistols

   Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols

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6. 
   Ramones

   Ramones

   The Ramones' 1976 debut — a raw, fast-paced punk manifesto that defined the genre's sound and attitude, recorded in a single session at Plaza Sound.

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7. 
   Eater

   The Album

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8. 
   The Damned

   Damned Damned Damned

   The Damned's 1977 debut — a raw, fast-paced punk landmark that helped define the genre's early sound, recorded in London with a chaotic energy that still crackles today.

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9. 
   The Fall

   Hex Enduction Hour

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10. 
    Buzzcocks

    Another Music in a Different Kitchen

    Buzzcocks' 1978 post-punk landmark — a raw, urgent fusion of punk energy and melodic precision, marking their shift from DIY aggression to studio-crafted artistry.

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11. 
    The Saints

    (I'm) Stranded

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12. 
    UK Subs

    Another Kind of Blues

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13. 
    Wire

    Pink Flag

    Wire's 1977 post-punk landmark — a raw, angular debut that redefined rock minimalism and became a foundational text for punk and new wave.

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14. 
    The Lurkers

    Fulham Fallout

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15. 
    Alternative TV

    The Image Has Cracked

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16. 
    The Ruts

    The Crack

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17. 
    Germs

    (GI)

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18. 
    X

    Los Angeles

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19. 
    Minutemen

    The Punch Line

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20. 
    Stiff Little Fingers

    Inflammable Material

    Stiff Little Fingers' 1979 debut — a raw, politically charged punk classic from Belfast, defining the UK's post-punk fury with unrelenting energy and lyrical fire.

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