The music industry saw potential in punk and Talking Heads, Blondie, Elvis Costello and others were labeled new wave in order to gain radio air play. Underground bands like Black Flag, the Dead Kennedys and Husker Du remained hard core. Through independent labels and large local followings these bands spread punk from the east to the west coast. The nineties saw a resurgence of punk rock, renamed grunge, and of old school style in bands like Rancid, the Vandals and Bad Religion. Soon pop punk bands toured large venues to support number one albums.
Punk style is now mainstreamed.
Punk is no longer a dirty word. In contrast, the Ramones rarely made the charts, although their 14 albums and 22-year career left a mark on all punk rockers that came after them. Joey Ramone can best be remembered for his trademark leather jacket, ripped jeans, rose-tinted glasses and pumping fist as he shouted the battle cry, Hey, ho, lets go. We were born punks and we ll die punks, Ramone said. Email the Observer.