The Great Punk Rock Songbook: Fake Names’ essential picks
Fake Names – Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion), Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, INVSN) Michael Hampton (S.O.A., Embrace, The Faith), Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside), and new drummer Mario Rubalcaba (Rocket From The Crypt, OFF!) – recently announced their new album, Punk Ruins, out October 23, on Epitaph.
We asked them to nominate one song they feel deserves an undisputed place in The Great Punk Rock Songbook, punk rock’s unofficial canon. Below, the band breaks down the tracks that helped set the standard.
Chosen by: Brian Baker
♫ The Ruts - Babylon's Burning
My entry into the Great Punk Rock Songbook is “Babylon’s Burning” by The Ruts. This is the first single from their first record, The Crack. This record was transformational for me as a young punk, not only due to the lyrical content, but also the guitar sound and the guitar playing, which I’ve been dutifully ripping off for 46, 47 years now. And I have no intention of stopping. So, hugely important: “Babylon’s Burning”, The Ruts.
Chosen by: Dennis Lyxzén
♫ Lädernunnan - Ensam I Natt
My pick for the Great Punk Rock Songbook is Lädernunnan with the song “Ensam i Natt.” Lädernunnan was a Swedish punk band. They later changed their name to The Leather Nun and put out some industrial rock. But this first 7-inch is one of the finest examples of pretty amazing Swedish punk rock.
Chosen by: Michael Hampton
♫ The Middle Class - Out Of Vogue
My nomination is the 1978 scorcher by The Middle Class, “Out of Vogue.”
A very, very influential record in D.C. and beyond for its speed. Coming out in 1978, that’s a couple years before we were trying to play as fast as we were trying to play. So I would definitely put this in the canon, high up on the list as one of the most influential 45s of the punk meets hardcore era.
Chosen by: Johnny Temple
♫ Dead Kennedys - Nazi Punks Fuck Off
My nomination for the Great Punk Rock Songbook is “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” by Dead Kennedys. I don’t know if there’s a single song that better captures the spirit of peace-loving punks worldwide than “Nazi Punks Fuck Off.”
Chosen by: Mario Rubalcaba
♫ Discharge - Dooms Day
My pick is going to be by the legends Discharge with the song “Dooms Day”. Heard it when I was really, really young, maybe like 12 years old. And it’s never lost its impact. They obviously created a formula that many have emulated and which became a genre unto its own.
