Category: New Wave Live Albums

Punk and New Wave Live Albums

I remember the explosion of punk rock and new wave in 1976 and 1977 very well as it brings back memories of my youth including listening to John Peel’s late night radio show under the bed clothes so that my Mum and Dad didn’t know I was staying up so late.

I was obviously a rebel then.

Punk and new wave is in some ways divided into two:
British punk that grew out of the pub rock scene and was mainly centred around London; and
American punk that came to prominence by performing at the CBGBs club in New York with bands like The Ramones, Television, Talking Heads and Blondie (quite a variety).

The two helped to influence each other.

The irony of punk and the spirit embodied in the Desperate Bicycles slogan of “it was easy, it was cheap, go and do it” meant that punk rock burnt brightly (and severely damaged many prog rock, heavy rock and classic rock groups) but it burnt out quickly.

The Sex Pistols recorded one studio album, The Damned evolved into something entirely different, The Clash effectively sold out and many other talented groups recorded, flopped and disappeared. Other acts were much more new wave than punk and merged into indie rock.

For many acts, recording in the studio was an entirely new experience and they found it difficult to capture the spirit of their act. Live albums did and there is a visceral excitement about hearing the shouted count in “1, 2, 3, 4…”

To help you to find the best live albums by punk and new wave groups I have a readers poll:

Best Punk Albums

You may also want to look at the indie live album poll too

Best Indie Rock Albums

Punk and new wave live albums include:

The Clash – Live At Shea Stadium 1982
The Clash – Live From Here To Eternity 1978 to 1982
Eddie & The Hot Rods – Live EPs
Eddie And The Hot Rods – Live In Concert 1977 & 1978
Elvis Costello – Live At The Nashville Rooms 1977
Elvis Costello – Live At The El Mocambo 1978
Elvis Costello – Live At The Hollywood High 1978
Elvis Costello – Heatwave Festival 1980
The Jam – Dig The New Breed 1977 to 1982
The Jam – Live Jam 1979 to 1982
Joy Division – Still 1980
The Ramones – It’s Alive 1977
The Saints – Live At The Hope & Anchor 1977
Sex Pistols – Filthy Lucre Live 1996
Squeeze – A Round And A Bout 1990
Stiff Little Fingers – Hanx 1980
Talking Heads – The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads
Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense 1983
Television – Live At The Old Waldorf 1978
Television – The Blow Up 1978
XTC – Live In Concert 1980