The 25 all-time punk rock characters

The punk scenes in the United States and the United Kingdom were defined by their performers.

They are some of the most iconic musicians — sometimes in the loosest sense of the word — in the history of entertainment.

Whether it's the outlandish lifestyles, disturbing behavior on and off the stage, or a unique sense of fashion, punk's characters are hard to forget.

Here's a look at 25 of the scene's most interesting characters, in no particular order.


Debbie Harry (Blondie)

Iggy Pop (Stooges)

Johnny Rotten (Sex Pistols)

Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols)

Joe Strummer (Clash)

Poly Styrene (X-Ray Spex)

Dave Vanian (Damned)

Dee Dee Ramone (Ramones)

Joey Ramone (Ramones)

Johnny Ramone (Ramones)

Johnny Thunders (NY Dolls)

Lou Reed (Velvet Underground)

Siouxsie Sioux (Banshees)

Patti Smith (Poet)

Henry Rollins (Black Flag)

Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)

Wendy O. Williams (Plasmatics)

GG Allin (The Jabbers)

Stiv Bators (Dead Boys)

Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys)

Glenn Danzig (Misfits)

H.R (Bad Brains)

Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill)

Joan Jett (Runaways)

Jerry Only (Misfits)