Punk rock music has been around since the 1970s, and while it is considered an underground genre, some punk bands have achieved mainstream success. In this article, we will be discussing two such punk bands, Pulley and MxPx.
Pulley is an underground punk band that was formed in 1994 and is based in California.
The band consists of members from other punk bands such as Ten Foot Pole, Face to Face, and Strung Out. One of the most notable things about Pulley is that their lead singer is Scott Radinsky, who is also a Major League Baseball pitcher.
Radinsky has been able to balance his baseball career with playing in the band. Pulley’s music is characterized by its fast-paced punk rock sound, catchy guitar riffs, and Radinsky’s raspy vocals.
Some of their most well-known songs include “Eyes Open Wide,” “Insects Destroy,” and “Runaway.”
MxPx is another punk rock band that has had moderate mainstream success. The band was formed in 1992 in Washington state, and their sound is a unique blend of Christian punk and pop punk.
MxPx’s lyrics often focus on youth and growing up. Despite their Christian theme, the band’s music has been able to cross over into the mainstream.
Some of their biggest hits include “Chick Magnet,” “Responsibility,” and “Heard That Sound.” MxPx has released over 10 studio albums, and their music has been used in various TV shows, movies, and commercials. In conclusion, both Pulley and MxPx are great examples of punk rock bands that have been able to achieve some level of mainstream success.
Whether it’s Pulley’s fast-paced punk rock sound or MxPx’s unique blend of Christian punk and pop punk, both bands offer something unique and exciting for fans of the genre. So if you’re a fan of punk rock music, make sure to check out these two amazing bands that have cemented themselves as pioneers of the punk rock genre.
The Offspring is a punk rock band that formed in California in 1984. The band’s style is known for its unique blend of punk rock, alternative rock, and heavy metal.
The band’s sophomore album, Smash, released in 1994, is one of their most successful and is known for its hit songs such as “Come Out and Play” and “Self Esteem.” The album’s success was largely due to its unique sound and Dexter Holland’s distinctive vocal style. The vocals in Smash had a unique combination of punk and metal aggression and melody.
Dexter Holland’s lyrics also featured a lot of humor, which was a departure from the more serious style of other punk bands. With hit songs like “Come Out and Play,” The Offspring cemented their place as one of the most successful punk rock bands and contributed greatly to the growth of the genre.
Blink-182 is another band that helped to shape the pop-punk genre. The band formed in California in 1992 with members Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Scott Raynor.
It was not until their 1999 album, Enema of the State, that Blink-182 gained mainstream success. The album contained hit songs like “All the Small Things” and “What’s My Age Again?” which became pop culture phenomenons.
Blink-182 had a unique sound that mixed melodic and catchy pop melodies with punk rock energy and attitude. The band’s influence on the pop-punk genre was undeniable, inspiring countless bands to follow in their footsteps.
From their witty lyricism to their sonic experimentation, Blink-182 paved the way for the pop-punk genre to become a staple of modern rock music. Today, Blink-182 remains a celebrated band in the pop-punk genre and continues to inspire new generations of artists.
Rancid is a punk rock band that formed in California in 1991. The band’s sound is characterized by its catchy musicality, blending the classic punk rock aggression with ska and reggae beats.
The band’s third album, …And Out Come The Wolves, released in 1995, is their most successful album and is considered a landmark in punk rock history. The album struck a balance between classic punk rock and ska and reggae influences, with hit songs like “Time Bomb” and “Ruby Soho.” Through this album, Rancid achieved commercial success while also earning a reputation as a band that was able to make punk rock accessible to mainstream audiences while never compromising their punk roots.
The success of Rancid and the album …And Out Come The Wolves influenced countless punk rock bands to experiment with ska and reggae music while maintaining the punk rock spirit. Bad Religion is another punk rock band that has stood the test of time.
Formed in California in 1980, Bad Religion has been active for over four decades, releasing 17 studio albums in that span of time. Bad Religion’s sound is characterized by its intense punk rock energy and intellectual lyricism.
The band’s lyrics often deal with social and political issues, making them one of the most politically charged bands in the genre. Despite going through numerous line-up changes over the years, Bad Religion has maintained their reputation for producing high-quality punk rock music.
They have influenced countless other bands with their razor-sharp political commentary and catchy punk rock sound. To this day, they are celebrated as one of the most enduring and influential punk rock bands.
Agnostic Front is a hardcore punk band that formed in New York City in 1980. The band’s sound is characterized by its heavy, aggressive tone and East Coast hardcore elements.
The band’s 1984 album, Victim in Pain, is considered a classic in the hardcore punk genre, and it established them as leaders of the New York hardcore scene. Agnostic Front’s lyrics often deal with social issues, particularly relating to urban life, and the band’s aggressive style reflected the harsh realities of city life.
Throughout their long career, Agnostic Front has maintained a respected reputation as one of the most influential bands in the hardcore punk scene. The band has inspired countless other hardcore bands to follow in their footsteps and innovate within the genre.
The Vandals is a punk rock band that formed in California in 1980. The band’s goofy image, coupled with their satirical lyrics and humorous approach to punk rock, have made them one of the most entertaining bands in the genre.
The band’s usage of humor and tongue-in-cheek attitude towards punk rock set them apart from typical punk bands that focused on serious themes. In the mid-1990s, The Vandals helped to establish Kung Fu Records, their own independent record label.
This gave the band complete control over their music, which allowed them to continue to experiment and take risks. Kung Fu Records also became an important label in the punk rock community, helping to launch the careers of other successful punk bands.
Today, The Vandals continue to tour and produce new music and remain a celebrated band in the punk rock genre. Frenzal Rhomb is an Australian punk rock band that formed in 1992.
The band’s popularity grew rapidly in Australia, and they were soon touring with some big names in the punk rock scene, including The Offspring and NOFX. In 1999, Frenzal Rhomb released A Man’s Not a Camel, which became their most successful album and earned them massive fame worldwide.
The album spawned hit songs such as “You Are Not My Friend” and “Never Had So Much Fun,” solidifying the band’s reputation as a powerful force in the punk rock scene. Over the years, Frenzal Rhomb has continued to tour extensively, both in Australia and internationally, cementing their reputation as one of the most successful punk rock bands to come out of Australia.
Misfits is a horror punk band that formed in New Jersey in 1977. The band’s sound and image were heavily influenced by horror movies, and their lyrics often dealt with ghoulish and macabre themes.
Misfits played a significant role in the development of the horror punk genre, inspiring other bands to follow in their footsteps. The band went through several lineup changes over the years, but in 2016, the original members reunited for a series of shows, bringing joy to their devoted fans.
The reunion tour proved that even after all these years, Misfits still has the power to captivate their fans and maintain their place as one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time. In recent years, they have continued to tour regularly, introducing new generations to the horror punk genre and maintaining their status as legends in the punk rock community.
NOFX is a punk rock band that formed in California in 1983. The band is known for their explicit and humorous approach to punk rock, with lyrics that often deal with taboo and controversial subjects.
NOFX has released over a dozen studio albums and has maintained a dedicated fan base throughout their long career. In addition to their music, NOFX played an important role in the development of the punk rock scene, founding their own independent record label, Fat Wreck Chords, in 1990.
Fat Wreck Chords grew to become one of the most successful independent record labels in the punk rock scene, helping to launch the careers of other successful punk bands. Guttermouth is another punk rock band that often deals with explicit and lewd subject matter.
The band formed in California in 1988, and their style of punk is characterized by its lewd, crude, and shockingly explicit lyrics. Despite their controversial lyrical content, Guttermouth has maintained a dedicated fan base and has released over 10 studio albums.
The band’s music can also be characterized by their fast-paced punk rock sound and heavy power chords. While their lyrical content often pushes the boundaries of what is considered acceptable, the band’s music has remained influential in the punk rock scene.
While bands like NOFX generally approach controversial subject matter in a humorous way, Guttermouth tries to shock their audience and push boundaries in punk rock. Despite the band’s graphic and sometimes shocking lyrics, they remain a celebrated and respected band in the punk rock community.
Suicidal Tendencies is a punk rock band that formed in California in 1980. The band’s sound is characterized by its aggressive style, blending punk rock with heavy metal and thrash.
Suicidal Tendencies’ aggressive sound and attitude have made them one of the most iconic punk rock bands of all time. In addition to their music, the band is also known for their recognizable logo, featuring the face of a skull with an attached lightning bolt.
This logo has become synonymous with the band and is recognized worldwide in the punk rock community. Pennywise is a punk rock band that formed in California in 1988.
The band’s sound is characterized by its fast and aggressive skate punk style. Pennywise played an important role in the development of the skate punk subgenre, which incorporates punk rock with the rebellious attitude and aesthetics of skateboarding culture.
Pennywise has maintained a dedicated fan base over the years, largely due to their inclusion in popular skateboarding video games such as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. The band’s music has also been used in skateboarding videos and commercials, further solidifying their reputation as a band that represents the skateboarding and punk rock subcultures.
To this day, Pennywise is celebrated as one of the most influential bands in the skate punk subgenre and continues to inspire new generations of punk rockers and skateboarders alike. Lagwagon is a punk rock band that formed in California in 1990.
The band has maintained a dedicated underground following throughout their long career. Lagwagon’s music is characterized by its fast-paced punk rock sound and introspective lyrics that often deal with personal struggles and societal issues.
What sets Lagwagon apart from other punk rock bands is their consistency in their artistic vision. They have never compromised their sound or image for mainstream success, instead choosing to maintain their underground following by staying true to their roots.
This has endeared the band to their loyal fan base and has earned them respect from other musicians in the punk rock community. Millencolin is another punk rock band that is associated with the skate punk subgenre.
Formed in Sweden in 1992, the band’s fast and melodic punk rock style quickly gained a dedicated following among skateboarders and punk rock fans alike. Despite their popularity within the skate punk scene, Millencolin has never been included in the popular Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game franchise.
Despite this lack of inclusion, Millencolin has continued to tour regularly and release new music, cementing their status as one of the most iconic bands in the skate punk subgenre. Millencolin’s music has also been used in skateboarding videos and commercials, further solidifying their reputation as a band that represents the skateboarding and punk rock subcultures.
Descendents is a punk rock band that formed in California in 1977. The band’s recognizable logo, featuring a stylized Greek warrior head, has become synonymous with the band and is recognized worldwide in the punk rock community.
Descendents’ music is characterized by its fast and melodic punk rock sound and introspective lyrics that often deal with personal struggles and relationships. In recent years, the band has enjoyed a resurgence in the mainstream spotlight, with their music being featured in popular TV shows, movies, and commercials.
This resurgence has introduced the band to new audiences and has earned them critical acclaim from music critics and fans alike. Anti-Flag is a punk rock band that formed in Pennsylvania in 1988.
The band’s political roots are deeply ingrained in their music, with lyrics that often deal with anti-war, anti-capitalist, and anti-imperialist themes. Despite being active for over three decades, Anti-Flag continues to be fiercely involved in political activism and social justice issues.
The band’s music is characterized by its fast-paced punk rock sound, and its political message has earned them a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim from fans and critics alike. Anti-Flag’s music has also been used in political campaigns, further solidifying their reputation as a band at the forefront of political activism in the punk rock genre.
Today, Anti-Flag remains a respected band in the punk rock community, inspiring new generations to get involved in political activism and social justice issues.