PUNK MOVES WEST

I must disagree with Steven Arozenas’ assessment of the history of the “punk movement” (Calendar Letters, May 24).

The rise of punk music in England was inspired on their shores and spread to the United States, not vice versa (not unlike the U.S. invasion of 1953-55).

The alternative club scene was flourishing (at 100 Club, Roxy Theater, etc.) with bands such as the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Damned, Generation X, etc. in 1975-76.

Punk exploded in the U.S., U.K., etc., because of the Sex Pistols. Just ask long-time New York punk scenester Jack Rabid, who has said “New York’s scene was the in, trendy people. We never considered them legitimate. The English came up with punk rock all by themselves.”

Ultimately, the Sex Pistols killed themselves through stupidity. They turned into everything they were against. Punk nearly died, and that’s where “crass” came in. They gave punk a kick in the pants, and they’re the reason punk is alive today.

Yes, the Ramones deserve some credit. But the Sex Pistols started it all. And I won’t even get into how much thanks Iggy and the Stooges and the MC5 deserve.

LA MOWER

Hawthorne