The Germs, Bad Brains, Black Flag, DOA and others dump gas on smouldering rage and alienation in America’s suburbs, igniting a blazing form of punk so extreme they call it hardcore which, in turn, inspires a DIY culture and network that spans cities and bands across the continent and comes to define the genre.

Despite itself, punk breaks big, highlighting the talents of Nirvana, Bad Religion and Green Day while women roar onto the scene in defining bands such as Bikini Kill and L7, establishing punk as an enduring force, its spirit living on in the broader culture as we know it today.