Protopunk is a term used to describe a number of performers who were important precursors of punk rock, or who have been cited by early punk rockers as influential.
Most protopunkers are Rock and Roll performers of the 1960s and early-1970s, though some earlier performers have been cited. Garage rock in general has been cited as quite influential in the development of punk rock. Many such garage rock artists can be found on the Nuggets compilations.
Protopunk has been proven difficult to define, and many widely different groups have been so dubbed. Most had a certain attitude or appearance seen as important, and not any specific musical tendencies. Significant examples include Iggy Pop (Commonly nicknamed "The Grandfather of Punk" and claimed as influential by many early punk artists), Alice Cooper, Cherry Vanilla, Patti Smith, Wayne County, Frank Zappa, Pere Ubu, The MC5, Blue Öyster Cult, The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, The Doors, Roxy Music, The Modern Lovers, The Flamin' Groovies, The Fugs, T. Rex, The Monks, the Electric Eels, The Sonics and the New York Dolls.
Some protopunk bands also fall into the categories of glam rock or UK pub rock.
Protopunk, combined with garage rock, hard-edged New Wave and the garage rock revival, helped lead the way to the modern garage punk movement.
See also: Freak scene
The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protopunk under GFDL
