1960s

The band Holy Modal Rounders channeled themes of anarchy and the eccentric spirit of the times into their music as part of a genre categorized as “Freak Folk,” which was slightly lighter than traditional punk.

Mid to late 1960s

Bands like the Velvet Underground began embodying a more chaotic sound that is more associated with punk.

Early 1970s

The NY punk scene began evolving, with the New York Doll’s songs like “Personality Crisis” fusing punk with gay culture, and Patti Smith’s album Horses in 1975 incorporating her poetry into her music.

1973-1975

Many unique artists began developing their sound by playing at the club CBGB, including Patti Smith, the Ramones, Television, the Talking Heads, Blondie, the Stilettoes, Suicide, Heartbreakers, Wayne County, Mink DeVille, and Joan Jett. Although Hilly Kristal, the founder of CBGB, originally intended the club to cater to country, bluegrass, and blues music, he later welcomed any artists to play their own music. While the voices of the punk movement varied from artist to artist, they remained collective in their themes of rebellion, with many of the artists carrying countercultural messages in their dynamic music.

Present

Many of the popular artists in the prime of the NY punk scene have gained cult-followings that continue to be spearheaded by modern fans today. The ways through which punk artists expressed their discontent with their period helped pave the way for the use of music to instigate social change in contemporary times.