The Fourth of July means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but for punk fans, it signifies a historic shift in the genre’s legacy. On July 4, 1976, the punk forefathers, the Ramones, made their live overseas debut in England, just as the United States was celebrating 200 years of independence. Their landing in England would inevitably give birth to the British punk scene, with the first punk single in England, The Damned’s “New Rose,” being released in October of ‘76.
For this Golden Age Thursday, we remember the Ramones’ timeless legacy and how this upcoming holiday weekend marked a drastic shift in the punk history books. While we don’t have footage from the first overseas Ramones show, we have an equally iconic performance from the punk band. On New Year’s Eve in 1977, the Ramones took over The Rainbow to send off the new year with their punchy guitars and chanting vocals. This performance would inevitably become It’s Alive, the iconic live album from the Ramones, released in 1979. The shockingly crisp footage showcases the iconic band in their prime as they tear through hits for an unforgettable performance that became one of the most celebrated live albums in punk history.
