TV Party: Punk Rock on TV

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Really, was there anything else that I could’ve called this?

There’s really something fascinating about this idea of something so underground and counter-culture making its way to a mainstream audience, even if only for a few glorious minutes. As long as its only fleeting, it can make even the most elitist fans proud. As long as its long enough, its sure to spark interest for somebody new.

I decided to do a little research and come up with some of the greatest punk rock appearances in the history of television.

Yes, I could’ve done more. I know I’m missing some. If I am, leave a comment and let me know.

And no, despite the title, “The Henry Rollins Show” will not be making an appearance on this list. Not because he’s “not punk” or anything silly like that, but because his show, at least to me, has never proven to be any more entertaining, educational, or interesting than any other talk show. Television, the band, has also not made its way onto this list.

So here it goes, without any further rambling…

TV Party: The Ten Greatest TV Appearances by Punk Rock Bands.

10. NOFX on ESPN (2001)

Really, this whole thing isn’t that great. Just like always, they’re drunk and obnoxious. Yet, there is something strange about NOFX winning an award on a channel owned by Disney. If you don’t appreciate the irony, you’ve got a stick up your ass.

See if you can catch Eric Melvin’s little joke at 43 seconds in. It makes the whole thing worth it.

9. The Doors on “The Ed Sullivan Show” (1967)

I know, I know. The Doors weren’t a punk band. But let me put it this way. No Doors = no Stooges or MC5 = no punk rock. It’s the truth.

The Doors were banned from the show after they were asked to remove the lyric “Girl, we couldn’t get much higher” from their performance. Jim Morrison sang it anyways, and in 1967 it wasn’t ok to talk (or sing) about drugs.

8. Iggy Pop on “The Tom Synder Show” (1980)

I once read an interview with somebody from The Dickies where he talks about owning the leather jacket that Iggy is wearing on the back of “Raw Power” after he traded it to him for speed in the parking lot behind the Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood. My guess is that this little transaction happened around the same time as this interview.

Admittedly, I just found this the other day while messing around on Youtube, but Iggy’s a bit cracked out, a bit intelligent, and bleeding. Tom Synder actually seems like a good guy too.

7. Brendan Kelly and Michael Graves on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” (2004)

This whole thing was pretty surreal. To see The Lawrence Arms on TV was strange enough. To see an ex-Misfits singer in skull make-up campaigning for Bush was just insane.

As much as I sided with Brendan Kelly on this one, Ed Helms’ line at 3:35 is priceless.

6. The Sex Pistols on “The Today Show” (1976)

Most people would put this infamous appearance higher on the list, but like everything else-Sex Pistols, I see this as a shock tactic rather than anything else. The whole swastika phase really bums me out too.

5. NYHC on Donahue (1986)

By 1986, the first wave of hardcore was pretty much dead. Ian MacKaye was somewhere between Minor Threat and Fugazi (Embrace, maybe?). Bad Brains were playing metal. Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys were on the verge of breaking up.

In New York, things were different. A new brand of tough-guy, more street-oriented hardcore was popping up with bands like the Cro Mags, Agnostic Front, and Token Entry at the helm. Interestingly enough, members of each of those bands (along with Ray from Youth of Today) ended up on Phil Donahue’s show. Nothing spectacular is said or done. Really, its just an interesting moment in time that’s totally worth your ten minutes.

4. “Next Stop Nowhere” on “Quincy Me” (1982)

To be honest, there’s a lot to be said for this, and it might be more useful if you went here to read more about it.

And yeah, I know…no “real” punk bands actually made an appearance, but this infamous episode gives a good glimpse into the mainstream view of punk rock in the early 1980s.

3. Fear, Ian MacKaye on “Saturday Night Live” (1981)

Apparently John Belushi wouldn’t host this episode if Lorne Michaels didn’t allow Fear to play. What ensued is pure punk rock gold. Offensive, loud, and fun. With classics like “Beef Bologna” and “New York’s Alright (If You Like Saxophones), this LA band forever let its mark on the SNL stage.

Watch for a very young, very bald (as always) Ian MacKaye stage diving in the first thirty seconds or so.

2. Elvis Costello on “Saturday Night Live” (1977)

Apparently in 1977, you could be banned from SNL for playing a different song than your label wanted you to. Ironically appearing as a last minute fill-in for The Sex Pistols, Costello made his own waves with “Radio, Radio.” He wouldn’t be invited back for ten years.

1. The Ramones on “The Simpsons” (1993)

Simple enough. The greatest rock band in American history. The greatest TV show in American history. Nothing else needs to be said.

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Tags: nofx, punk rock, tv, television, the ramones, the simpsons, elvis costello, saturday night live, fear, sex pistols, bill grundy, espn, cro mags, donahue, agnostic front, qunicy punks, youth of today, iggy pop, tom synder, lawrence arms, misfits, the daily show