The Groove

The greatest punk artists of all time

86 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

The Clash

United Kingdom · 1976–1986 · punk rock

16.368

Why this number?

The full board · page 2

25 Rancid

United States of America · 1991– · punk rock 1.539

26 平沢進

Japan · 1954– · rock 1.511

27 Patti Smith

United States of America · 1946– · art rock 1.342

28 X

United States of America · 1977– · rock 1.267

The Fall

United Kingdom · 1976–2018 · post-punk 1.155

30 Flogging Molly

United States of America · 1997– · punk 1.140

Talking Heads

United States of America · 1974–1991 · new wave 1.127

32 L7

United States of America · 1985– · grunge 1.000

Nirvana

United States of America · 1987–1994 · grunge 0.919

34 Turnstile

United States of America · 2010– · rock 0.891

35 Gang of Four

United Kingdom · 1977– · post-punk 0.771

36 Mindless Self Indulgence

United States of America · 1997– · electronic 0.766

37 The Bouncing Souls

United States of America · 1988– · pop punk 0.733

38 Descendents

United States of America · 1978– · punk rock 0.733

39 glass beach

United States of America · 2016–2026 · indie rock 0.720

Sonic Youth

United States of America · 1981–2011 · alternative rock 0.607

41 Iggy Pop

United States of America · 1947– · rock 0.600

42 Chumbawamba

United Kingdom · 1982–2012 · alternative rock 0.596

43 Relient K

United States of America · 1998– · pop punk 0.587

44 The Dresden Dolls

United States of America · 2000– · rock 0.571

45 Sublime

United States of America · 1986– · ska 0.550

Swans

United States of America · 1982– · experimental rock 0.548

47 Wire

United Kingdom · 1976– · post-punk 0.528

48 Sum 41

Canada · 1996–2025 · pop punk 0.519