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From the Stooges to Fugazi, this 11-hour playlist traces the evolution of punk from the 50s to the 90s

Of all the rock and pop narratives that exist in the Western cultural canon, the evolution of punk is perhaps the most routinely misrepresented, one which centres around the short-lived global phenomenon of the Sex Pistols and The Clash circa 1977 and the subculture that followed.

But, it goes without saying, there’s so much more to it than this – something one Redditor attempted to rectify by putting together an epic 11-hour, 200-song playlist tracing the linage of punk from the late 50s to the 90s.

The Stooges

Dive into this epic 11-hour, 200-song playlist that traces the lineage of punk from the late 50s to the early 90s.

As the creator notes, not every punk band ever is included in the playlist, because for obvious reasons that would be impossible. Each artist, no matter how fundamental or pivotal to the genre, is also only listed once.

That being said, the list does a pretty fantastic job at showcasing the variegated nature of punk: its roots in blues, rock and roll, 60s garage, the influence of experimentalists and the avant-garde, its fragmentation in the 80s with new wave, no wave, and post-punk, the movements that sprouted from within, and its modern incarnations.

From its genesis (Chuck Berry is an interesting starting point), to its forebears like MC5 and the Stooges and outbreak in NYC in the 70s with Patti Smith and the Ramones, right through to those who carried the flag into the 80s and 90s, the genre is exhibited in all its colours.

No doubt there will be some glaring omissions that punk fans will be more than happy to point out. But if you want a comprehensive crash course in the history of punk, its a pretty good place to start. Listen below.