British vs. American punk?

I know this topic strays pretty far from New Order (hence being in the off-topic section), but maybe not so far from Joy Division. As British punk was one of my first musical loves (and continues to be in some regards), I'd love to get some diverse opinions:

Which original punk scene do you think was more influential on the development of punk music as it is today--the British one or the American one?

I'd say the American scene was more influential on the music itself since The Ramones began in America around 1975 and Malcolm McLaren was influenced by the New York Dolls before he went back to England to start the Pistols. But England had arguably more of an impact on the fashion and politics of punk, as the Sex Pistols and The Clash proved.

Thoughts?

Except for the Ramones, American punk never made much of an impression on me. I LOVED what I heard by the Clash, Jam, and Sex Pistols.

Originally posted by anita Except for the Ramones, American punk never made much of an impression on me. I LOVED what I heard by the Clash, Jam, and Sex Pistols.

Im with you...the Ramones were the only US punk band I listened to....I loved the Clash, Sex Pistols, the Damned, and Generation X (Billy )

If you mean the "punk" of today, then I'd say America takes the lead on that one. Soooooooo many groups are doing the Three-Chords formula to death.

I've always been of the opinion that British punk was (at least initially, before the Pistols split) somewhat superior to American punk at the time. Certainly the Ramones were the premier US punk group, but they were predated by some excellent garage bands in the Sixties and early Seventies (the finest example of which would be the original Modern Lovers line-up), but the British scene took up the punk mantle and made it more relevant. You have to remember, when punk hit in late 76-77, the British music scene was cluttered with "professionals" who were composing 2o-minute suites in place of short, punchy singles. The British punk movement saved rock, and it opened the door to rap's ascendency. In that sense, then, British Punk could be said to be more influential because it opened doors for others to go.

So I don't fucking know, I guess

I would argue that answering the question as phrased I would have to go with american - it bears little or no relation to the original punk & shouldnt be labelled punk imho

I'd say American, primarily cos of The Stooges.

Hey, isn't it the Elvis and Beatles story? - who was more influential? As for modern rock music it was the Beatles who made the formula for all countries and really shook the earth. Elvis made people over the world dance and like that type of new music, but the Beatles made people of the world try to do something like that or even better.