Punk as fUcK: the Damneds New Rose.
The Damned's "New Rose" was NOT the first punk single.

Watching the great new documentary about the Damned, Don't You Wish We Were Dead, and being reminded again how they're credited with the first UK punk release, October 1976's "New Rose," made me think, once more, about the origins of punk. What was the first punk single? (Which begs the question, what is punk? Shit, man, read a book about it; there are whole shelves in libraries devoted to the subject. For me, it's an unambiguous combination of sonic and lyrical rebellion, songs that emit a simultaneous feeling of not giving a fuck and caring very, very much. It's about getting to the fucking point with no frippery and much focused, righteous anger.) There are almost as many "correct" responses to these questions as their are listeners who care about punk. Allow me to tell you what I consider to be the Big Bang of punk...

Released in July 1966, Love's "7 and 7 Is" epitomizes punk a decade before rock historians coronated it as a movement. Written by Love leader Arthur Lee, the song starts with kerranging guitars and bass that sound like revving motorcycles, and proceeds to barrel down the freeway with controlled recklessness. Drummer Snoopy Pfisterer—albeit recorded in that somewhat punchless mid-'60s manner—just relentlessly slaps the snares with chase-scene urgency, until things screech to a stuttering halt with the famous "Oop-ip-ip oop-ip-ip, yeah!" chorus. The band ratchets things to an unbearable proto-metal tension before "7 and 7 Is" climaxes with a simulated apocalyptic explosion... which is then followed by a comically laid-back blues-rock coda. It's a seminar in how to deflate the over-seriousness to which some young bands are wont.

Lee captures the essence of youthful angst that's one of punk's key components with lyrics that express a powerful need to escape expectations and strictures. (For years I thought he was singing "My bible's in the fireplace and my dog lies hypnotized"; with all due respect to Lee, I like that better than the actual line.) But it's all about Lee's almost drill-sergeant-like delivery, which bears a life-or-death desperation. The adrenaline is off the charts—although "7 and 7 Is" did reach #33 the year it was released—and the velocity and cacophony it attains is more severe than anything the Sex Pistols, Ramones, or Clash did.

Of course, many of you think I'm misguided. (Figuratively) gob in my face and let us know what you think should be classified as the first punk song.