PUNK CHRONOLOGY
1970 - 1976
Here's some data taken from the index of the first six years of Punk Diary 1970-1979. This is a thumb-nail overview of what happened when in the first six years covered by this book.
Use the "FIND" function to locate individual bands.
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1970
Pop, Iggy.........LP Fun House (Stooges) ...........Aug '70
XTC........................Stiff Beach................................................Aug '70
Talking Heads.........Beans (Chris Frantz group)..................Aug '70
1971
Talking Heads.........Bizadi (David Byrne)...............................Feb '71
Smith, Patti.............debut onstage...........................................Feb 10, '71
U2...........................Bono inspired to sing.................................Jun 3, '71
XTC...........................Stiff Beach/Clark Kent...........................Jul '71
New York Dolls.........Actress (pre-Dolls).............................Oct 10, '71
Dury, Ian....................Kilburn live debut ................................Dec 5, '71
1972
The The...................Matt Johnson in Roadstar .....................May '72
New York Dolls........Mercer Arts residency.............................Jun 13, '72
New York Dolls.........seen by Mercury A&R guy....................Aug 8, '72
New York Dolls...........reviewed in Melody Maker..................Aug 22, '72
Suicide.........................reviewed in Melody Maker..................Oct 19, '72
New York Dolls............A&R check out Dolls again .................Oct 1, '72
New York Dolls............In the UK for first time.......................Oct 29, '72
Smith, Patti..................onstage at Mercer Arts Ctr.................Nov 5, '72
Police...........................Sting in Newcastle Big Band..................Nov 4, '72
New York Dolls..............Their drummer dies ...........................Nov 6, '72
Sex Pistols.......................Steve & Paul together........................Dec '72
New York Dolls................joined by Jerry Nolan........................Dec 19, '72
Costello, Elvis.................in Rusty.................................................Jan 21, '72
Costello, Elvis.................Rusty now a duo..................................Jul 13, '72
County, Wayne.................reviewed in Melody Maker.............Oct 19, '72
Cure..................................Robert gets his first guitar................Dec 25, '72
1973
Costello, Elvis..............final Rusty gig......................................Feb 17, '73
Costello, Elvis..............as Declan Costello................................Apr 18, '73
County, Wayne............in Melody Maker feature...................Oct 5, '73
New York Dolls............triple bill at Mercer............................Feb 11, '73
New York Dolls............Sign to Mercury...................................Mar 20, '73
Kraftwerk.............LP Kraftwerk..........................Mar 23, '73
Buzzcocks....................Pete Shelley in Jets Of Air................May 29, '73
Hell, Richard.................in Neon Boys.......................................Apr '73
Television.....................begin as Neon Boys ...........................Apr '73
XTC.................................under the name Star Park................May '73
Pretenders....................Chrissie arrives in UK........................Jun 30, '73
Pop, Iggy..............LP Raw Power...........................May '73
Police...............................Sting in Phoenix Jazzmen................Jun 30, '73
Sex Pistols.....................Steve & Paul ripoff Bowie...............Jul 4, '73
New York Dolls......LP New York Dolls...............Jul 27, '73
Dury, Ian.......................sign to Raft ........................................Jul 13, '73
Eno, Brian.......................leaves Roxy Music............................Jul 21, '73
Sex Pistols.......................Jones, Cook, Matlock play..............fall '73
Blondie............................in Stilettos........................................Oct 5, '73
Talking Heads..................as Artistics......................................Oct 20, '73
New York Dolls...............Halloween Party..............................Oct 31, '73
Television.......................Verlaine solo acoustic.....................Nov '73
Smith, Patti......................second live show.............................Nov 4, '73
New York Dolls.................arrive in UK....................................Nov 22, '73
New York Dolls.................to Paris / on TV.............................Nov 28, '73
Morrissey........................sees the New York Dolls.................Nov 28, '73
Harvey, Alex.................quote...................................................Nov '73
Television.....................writing songs......................................Dec '73
Symptoms......................Robyn Hitchock early group............Dec 31, '73
1974
Costello, Elvis..............in Flip City......................................Jul 6, '74
Stranglers...................as Johnny Sox..................................Jan 17, '74
Ramones.....................first rehearsal..................................Jan 27, '74
Sex Pistols.................Rotten & Sid at school.....................early '74
XTC..............................Helium Kids demos..........................Feb 2, '74
Carpenters.................quote..................................................Feb 15, '74
Buzzcocks...................Pete Shelley home recording.........Mar 2, '74
Television..................live debut..........................................Mar 2, '74
New York Dolls.........In studio working on LP..................Mar 2, '74
Ramones.....................live debut..........................................Mar 30, '74
Only Ones....................England's Glory demo.....................Apr 5, '74
New York Dolls..........live on WBAB....................................Apr 14, '74
Police.............Sting LP Newcastle Big Band...Apr 21, '74
Moped, Johnny............puts together new band................May 23 '74
New York Dolls...LP Too Much Too Soon.......May 10, '74
Talking Heads............Artistics split up..............................Jun '74
Runaways.................Fowley has ad in Bomp......................Jun '74
Morrissey.................enamored with Sparks.......................Jun 1, '74
Smith, Patti....45 Hey Joe................................Jun 5, '74
Pere Ubu..................in Rocket From The Tombs................Jun 16, '74
Squeeze....................band is named.....................................Jul 3, '74
Blondie......................Stilettos in Melody Maker................Jul 6, '74
Ramones...................Joey becomes the singer....................Jul 20 '74
Pretenders..............Chrissie in France................................Jul 21, '74
Blondie......................as Angel & The Snake.......................Aug 16, '74
Ultravox....................Tiger Lily live review.......................Aug 16, '74
Ramones....................live at CBGB's......................................Aug 16, '74
Clash..........................101'ers live debut (Strummer)........Sep 7, '74
Pretenders.................Chrissie in Jack Rabbit.....................Sep 10, '74
New York Dolls..........the red suits!.....................................Sep 10, '74
XTC..............................Pye & Decca auditions.......................Oct '74
Pretenders.................Chrissie in the Frenchies..................Nov 1, '74
Dury, Ian............45 Rough Kids..........................Nov 23, '74
Stranglers.................Stranglers playing live................Dec 8, '74
1975
Talking Heads....................rehearsing & writing.................Jan 17, '75
Hell, Richard.......................Malcolm meets Richard............Jan 17, '75
Damned................................Brian James in Bastard.............Jan 24 '75
Radiators From Space .......as Greta Garbage.......................Jan 25, '75
Blondie................................as Blondie & Banzai Babies.......Jan 25, '75
Police..................................Andy Sumners in Stones?..........Jan 26, '75
XTC.....................................Helium Kids demo again..............Feb 21, '75
Dury, Ian..............45 Crippled With Nerves.......Feb 21, '75
New York Dolls.................at Little Hippodrome...................Feb 28, '75
Lowe, Nick........................Brinsely Schwartz splits..............Feb 28, '75
Ultravox.................Tiger Lily 45 Aint Misbehavin....Mar 14, '75
Television..........................Hell quits the band.....................Mar 23, '75
XTC....................................Helium Kids feature......................Mar 29, '75
XTC....................................Alehouse (Dave Gregory).............Apr 2, '75
Hell, Richard...................quits Television ............................Apr 17, '75
Clash...............................101'ers "Charlie Pigdog" Club........Apr 24, '75
Damned...........................roots in Subterraneans..................Apr 24, '75
New York Dolls..............original group splits.......................Apr 25, '75
Heartbreakers.................Hell joins the band........................Apr 30, '75
Stranglers.........................looking for keyboradist...............May '75
Cabaret Voltaire.............playing together............................May '75
Eddie & Hot Rods...........London residency...........................May 17, '75
Blondie............................splits & demos recorded................May 17, '75
Dury, Ian..............LP Handsome.........................May 23, '75
Electric Eels.......45 Cyclotron.....................May 24, '75
999..................................Nick leaves Kilburns.......................Jun 17, '75
Talking Heads.................live debut at CBGBs........................Jun 20, '75
Ramones............................bit from press kit.........................Jun 20, '75
XTC...................................change name to XTC.......................Jul 7, '75
Blondie............................Valentine joins................................Jul 16, '75
Clash................................101'ers offered 45 deal.................Jul 22, '75
Clash................................London SS rehearsing....................Jul 26, '75
Sex Pistols......................Malcolm sees Rotten......................Aug '75
Dead Boys......................as Frankenstein..............................Aug '75
Sex Pistols......................Malcolm in court............................Aug 2, '75
Clash................................101'ers recorded live....................Aug 15, '75
Television...........45 Little Johnny Jewel.........Aug 18, '75
Heartbreakers.................live review in MM.........................Aug 18, '75
Smith, Patti......................recording LP...................................Sep 6, '75
Morrissey.........................upset about Aerosmith.................Sep 6, '75
Lovich, Lene..........45 by Diversions...................Sep 13, '75
Squeeze...........................contract with RCA...........................Sep 17, '75
Ramones...........................demo sessions................................Sep 19, '75
Sex Pistols......................Malcolm places guitar ad..............Sep 26, '75
Eddie & Hot Rods...........headline with 101'ers...................Oct 7, '75
Clash................................101'ers headline with Rods..........Oct 7, '75
Sex Pistols......................rehearsing songs.............................Oct 10, '75
Ramones...........................signed to Sire.................................Oct 15, '75
New York Dolls..............new group onstage..........................Oct 18, '75
Eddie & Hot Rods..........reviewed in Sounds.........................Oct 28, '75
Clash................................101'ers reviewed in Sounds..........Oct 28, '75
Boomtown Rats.............live debut...........................................Oct 31, '75
Devo................................WHK Radio concert...........................Oct 31, '75
Robinson, Tom......LP Cafe Society...................Nov 1, '75
Sex Pistols.....................live debut...........................................Nov 6, '75
Adam & Ants................Headline over Sex Pistols.................Nov 6, '75
Sex Pistols.....................2nd gig ...............................................Nov 7, '75
Blondie..........................reviewed in MM (??).........................Nov 9, '75
Undertones...................rehearsing...........................................Nov 10, '75
Smith, Patti.......LP Horses leaked..................Nov 21, '75
Eddie & Hot Rods........signed to Island..............................Nov 27, '75
Pere Ubu................45 30 Seconds Over Tokyo......Nov 28, '75
Clash............................101'ers / recording............................Nov 28, '75
Sex Pistols..................fifth gig.................................................Dec 5, '75
Kraftwerk...........LP Radio Activity...................Dec 5, '75
Sex Pistols................."Bromley Contingent" appears...........Dec 9, '75
Pretenders.................Chrissie returns to England................Dec 13, '75
Damned......................starting the group................................Dec 13, '75
Fanzines......................Punk magazine in NYC........................Dec 24, '75
Ultravox......................Midge Ure in Slik................................Dec 29, '75
Rich Kids......................Midge Ure in Slik................................Dec 29, '75
New York Dolls............praise from Morrissey.......................Dec 29, '75
Morrissey......................writes about the NY Dolls.................Dec 29, '75
1976
Pretenders................Chrissie in Mike Hunts'........................Jan 15, '76
Clash..........................London SS new members.....................Jan 15, '76
Swell Maps................together and writing...........................Jan 23, '76
Cure...........................Malice first rehearsal...........................Jan 23, '76
Sex Pistols................onstage with 'Rods................................Feb 12, '76
Eddie & Hot Rods....onstage with 'Pistols.............................Feb 12, '76
Costello, Elvis...........onstage as D.P. Costello........................Feb 13, '76
Blondie............................debut as 5 piece band.....................Feb 14, '76
Sex Pistols......................Valentines ball (private)................Feb 14, '76
Squeeze...........................deal with RCA fails..........................Feb 19, '76
Buzzcocks.......................Pete & Howard see Pistols..............Feb 20, '76
Smith, Patti....................quote..................................................Feb 20, '76
Sex Pistols......................fight in High Wycombe...................Feb 20, '76
Rough Trade .................set up shop........................................Feb 22, '76
Clash...............................101'ers recording..............................Mar 4, '76
Sex Pistols......................McLaren quote..................................Mar 4, '76
Eddie & Hot Rods....45 Writing on The Wall......Mar 18, '76
Pere Ubu................45 Final Solution..........................Mar 18, '76
Stranglers.......................shocking promo poster....................Mar 30, '76
Sex Pistols.......................play the 100 club............................Mar 30, '76
Rezillos...........................writing and rehearsing....................Apr 1, '76
Buzzcocks.......................play at school....................................Apr 1, '76
Sex Pistols.....................play El Paradise.................................Apr 4, '76
Smith, Patti..........45 Gloria................................Apr 13, '76
Slaughter & The Dog...band is together............................Apr 13, '76
Sex Pistols.....................with 101'ers.......................................Apr 17, '76
Clash..............................101'ers play with Pistols..................Apr 17, '76
Cure...............................Malice get new singer........................Apr 18, '76
Clash.............................101'ers recorded live.........................Apr 18, '76
Sex Pistols...................reviewed by Neil Tennant..................Apr 23, '76
Ramones..............LP The Ramones.......................Apr 23, '76
Television....................offers to sign.........................................May 7, '76
Pop, Iggy.............LP Metallic K.O..........................May 7, '76
Clash.............................start as Heartdrops..............................May 8, '76
Clash.............................101'ers Strummer sees Pistols..........May 11, '76
Sex Pistols...................Strummer sees Pistols.........................May 11, '76
Robinson, Tom............sees the Pistols.....................................May 11, '76
Smith, Patti.................UK live debut........................................May 16, '76
Sex Pistols...................start secret recordings........................May 20, '76
Robinson, Tom............splitting Cafe Society?.........................May 27, '76
Clash..................101'ers 45 Keys To Your Heart...May 31, '76
Runaways...........LP The Runaways in US.............Jun 1, '76
Sex Pistols..................first time in Manchester......................Jun 4, '76
Clubs.....................CBGB's LP is recorded.................Jun 4, '76
Buzzcocks.....................onstage with Pistols.............................Jun 4, '76
Heartbreakers............new bass player....................................Jun 15, '76
Dury, Ian.....................last date together.................................Jun 17, '76
Blondie................45 X Offender.............................Jun 17, '76
Sex Pistols.....................Morrissey writes about....................Jun 18, '76
Morrissey......................writes about the Pistols....................Jun 18, '76
Clash...............................Strummer splits the group..............Jun 6, '76
X-Ray Spex.....................Poly sees the Pistols........................Jul 3, '76
Sex Pistols......................play in Hastings................................Jul 3, '76
Adam & Ants.................forming the B-Sides.........................Jul 3, '76
Ramones.........................UK debut at Roundhouse..................Jul 4, '76
Clash................................public debut......................................Jul 4, '76
Sex Pistols......................at 100 Club........................................Jul 6, '76
Damned...........................live debut..........................................Jul 6, '76
Ultravox..........................change name to Ultravox!..............Jul 7, '76
Ramones..............45 Blitzkrieg Bop..................Jul 9, '76
Dury, Ian.........................Kilburns disband.............................Jul 12, '76
Fanzines..........................Sniffin' Glue......................................Jul 13, '76
Alternative TV..............Mark Perry starts ATV band.........Jul 13, '76
Pere Ubu...............on Max's LP..............................Jul 15, '76
Jam..................................looking for fourth member............Jul 15, '76
Sex Pistols......................Dave Goodman demos......................Jul 18, '76
Sex Pistols.......................in Manchester again.......................Jul 20, '76
Buzzcocks.........................book Pistols in Manchester...........Jul 20, '76
Morrissey.........................complains about Ramones.............Jul 21, '76
Ramones............................Morrissey complains about..........Jul 21, '76
Heartbreakers.................new songs.........................................Jul 21, '76
County, Wayne.......45 Max's Kansas City.........Aug 3, '76
Chelsea.............................band begins......................................Aug 10, '76
Adam & Ants..................B-Sides recording.............................Aug 10, '76
Television.......................signed to Elektra...............................Aug 11, '76
Robinson, Tom..............."Robinson Cruisin'"............................Aug 12, '76
Stiff Records..................releases first single .........................Aug 13, '76
Lowe, Nick.............45 So It Goes...........................Aug 13, '76
Clash................................play live for friends.........................Aug 13, '76
Costello, Elvis.................demos on "Honky Tonk" show.........Aug 15, '76
Ramones..........................sniffin glue outrage..........................Aug 19, '76
festival............................Mont de Marzan................................Aug 21, '76
Eddie & Hot Rods....45 Live At The Marquee......Aug 21, '76
Damned............................Mont de Marzan................................Aug 21, '76
Wire.................................rehearsing.........................................Aug 24, '76
XTC...................................Sun Studio demos.............................Aug 27, '76
Siouxsie & Banshees......approach Malcolm............................Aug 29, '76
Sex Pistols......................Screen On The Green.........................Aug 29, '76
Buzzcocks........................play in London..................................Aug 29, '76
Clash................................reviewed in the NME .......................Aug 29, '76
Siouxsie & Banshees.....rehearsing..........................................Sep 2, '76
Sex Pistols......................go to Paris..........................................Sep 3, '76
Sex Pistols.......................on So It Goes TV show.....................Sep 4, '76
Hell, Richard...................starting his own band......................Sep 6, '76
Sex Pistols.......................reviewed in NME..............................Sep 8, '76
Dury, Ian.........................recording LP.....................................Sep 8, '76
punk.................................what is it? MM answers.................Sep 13, '76
Eater.................................new drummer...................................Sep 13, '76
Damned.............................singer quits dayjob........................Sep 13, '76
Subway Sect....................rehearsing.........................................Sep 17, '76
Siouxsie & Banshees.......Billy Idol quits................................Sep 17, '76
Sex Pistols....................... play in Prison..................................Sep 17, '76
Siouxsie & Banshees........rehearsing........................................Sep 19, '76
Sex Pistols........................Sid in Siouxsie & Banshees...........Sep 19, '76
Subway Sect.....................100 Club Punk Festival.................Sep 20, '76
Siouxsie & Banshees........100 Club Punk Festival.................Sep 20, '76
Sex Pistols........................100 Club Punk Festival.................Sep 20, '76
festival..............................100 Club Punk Festival.................Sep 20, '76
Clash...................................100 Club Punk Festival.................Sep 20, '76
Vibrators...........................100 Club Punk Festival.................Sep 21, '76
Stinky Toys......................100 Club Punk Festival.................Sep 21, '76
Buzzcocks..........................100 Club Punk Festival.................Sep 21, '76
Damned.............................100 Club Punk Festival.................Sep 21, '76
Slits....................................Flowers Of Romance(pre Slits)....Sep 22, '76
Sex Pistols........................Sid in Flowers In Romance...........Sep 22, '76
Flowers Of Romance........rehearsing.......................................Sep 22, '76
Dr. Feelgood.....................quote on punk.................................Sep 22, '76
Pretenders.......................Chrissie in Unusuals.......................Sep 24, '76
Clubs.................................Eric's opens in Liverpool...............Sep 24, '76
Greta Garbage .................Pre-Radiators..................................Sep 27, '76
Sex Pistols........................EMI considering..............................Sep 28, '76
Sex Pistols........................signed to EMI...................................Oct 9, '76
Sex Pistols........................start recording 45...........................Oct 10, '76
Drones................................go punk............................................Oct 10, '76
Wreckless Eric.................submits demos to Stiff...................Oct 11, '76
Pere Ubu................45 Street Waves..................Oct 12, '76
Wreckless Eric.................offered Stiff deal............................Oct 13, '76
Sex Pistols.......................Thorne demos...................................Oct 14, '76
Sex Pistols.......................Chris Thomas demos........................Oct 17, '76
Throbbing Gristle...........debut show.......................................Oct 18, '76
Generation X....................Billy Idol in Chelsea.......................Oct 18, '76
Chelsea.............................debut with Throbbing Gristle.......Oct 18, '76
Smith, Patti..........LP Radio Ethiopia..................Oct 22, '76
Damned...................45 New Rose............................Oct 22, '76
Jam....................................play Soho Market...........................Oct 23, '76
Clash.................................at London ICA.................................Oct 23, '76
Eddie & Hot Rods...45 Teenage Depression..........Oct 28, '76
Rezillos............................stage debut.......................................Nov 5, '76
Vibrators.................45 Pogo Dancing.....................Nov 10, '76
Sham 69..........................rehearsing.........................................Nov 12, '76
Vibrators................45 We Vibrate.........................Nov 15, '76
Hell, Richard.............45 Blank Generation...............Nov 18, '76
Sex Pistols.................45 Anarchy In The UK............Nov 19, '76
Generation X...................Chelsea turn into Gen X..................Nov 21, '76
Chelsea.............................Billy Idol quits ...............................Nov 21, '76
Eddie & Hot Rods....LP Teenage Depression........Nov 22, '76
Dennis & Experts............change name to Soft Boys ............Nov 27, '76
Sex Pistols.......................London Weekend Show special.....Nov 28, '76
Robinson, Tom.................debuts new band............................Nov 28, '76
Sex Pistols.......................banned in Lancaster.......................Nov 29, '76
Pop, Iggy..........................working on new album..................Nov 29, '76
Sex Pistols.......................on Grundy "Today" show................Dec 1, '76
Sex Pistols.......................fallout from Grundy........................Dec 2, '76
Stranglers.......................sign to UA Records...........................Dec 3, '76
Sex Pistols.......................EMI packers stop 45.......................Dec 3, '76
Sex Pistols.......................to audition in Derby?......................Dec 4, '76
Lovich, Lene...................solo Christmas single.......................Dec 4, '76
Sex Pistols.......................more problems.................................Dec 6, '76
Sex Pistols.......................EMI's statement...............................Dec 7, '76
Vibrators........................tour cancelled...................................Dec 8, '76
Eater................................gig raided..........................................Dec 8, '76
Sex Pistols.......................play Manchester..............................Dec 9, '76
Joy Division....................members see Pistols........................Dec 9, '76
Hagen, Nina....................leaves Germany................................Dec 9, '76
Stranglers.......................recorded live....................................Dec 10, '76
Saints..................45 I'm Stranded....................Dec 10, '76
Generation X...................play first gig....................................Dec 10, '76
Sex Pistols.......................mentions in press...........................Dec 11, '76
Robinson, Tom................more people for new band............Dec 13, '76
Clash.................................quote................................................Dec 13, '76
Residents......45 Satisfaction (reissue of '72 45).....Dec 16, '76
Cure..................................Malice as folk band........................Dec 18, '76
Sex Pistols.......................in Manchester again.......................Dec 19, '76
Sex Pistols.......................cancelled in Birmingham...............Dec 20, '76
Damned............................to BBC session..................................Dec 20, '76
Sex Pistols.......................Johnny quote on bans.....................Dec 21, '76
Generation X....................open Roxy in London......................Dec 21, '76
Vibrators..........................more gigs cancelled........................Dec 22, '76
Sex Pistols.......................single enters charts.........................Dec 22, '76
Adverts............................offered Stiff deal..............................Dec 22, '76
Sex Pistols.......................the GLC statement............................Dec 25, '76
Sex Pistols.......................EMI annual statement.....................Dec 27, '76
Clubs................................Friar's Club punk band....................Dec 30, '76