There are a lot of crappy punk covers out there, we just recently made one. Here is a list of covers that do more than throw distortion and ‘punk’ beats at the hits. Only one song per band. The cover must be a punk cover.
25. The Dirty Nil – Hit The Lights (Metallica)
24. Social Distortion – Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash)
I had to put this on or the internet would freak out. It’s ok, but just ok.
23. The Clash – Brand New Cadillac (Vince Taylor)
I prefer like their reggae covers better, but this beats ‘I Fought the Law’.
22. Snuff – I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)
21. Lagwagon – Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
20. All – Rebel Yell (Billy Idol)
19. The Valveenus – Sounds of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel)
An under the radar band, check them out.
18. The Methadones – Goodbye To You (Scandal)
Super under-rated band, this should be higher.
17. The Briefs – Come Dancing (The Kinks)
Completely eclipses the Kinks original.
16. Propagandhi – True (Concrete Blonde)
15. High Standard – I Can’t Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pSe-Ax_Y2c
14. Gob – Paint It Black (The Rolling Stones)
13. Joyce Manor – Video Killed The Radio Star (The Buggles)
12. The Replacements – Black Diamond (KISS)
11. Reel Big Fish – Take On Me (a-ha)
10. Blitz – Suffragette City (David Bowie)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C4Lx-WF5Tw
9. The Adicts – You’ll Never Walk Alone (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
8. The Muffs – Kids in America (Kim Wilde)
RIP Kim Shattuck
7. Goldfinger – 99 Red Ballons (Nena)
6. The Vandals – Don’t Stop Me Now (Queen)
Funnest song on the list.
5. Anthrax – Got The Time (Joe Jackson)
Not a punk band, but definitely a punk song.
4. Me First And The Gimme Gimmes – Rocket Man (Elton John)
One song per band, otherwise this whole list would be Gimme Gimmes.
3. Agent Orange – Seek And Destroy (Metallica)
Sick surf-punk that shows you just how similar thrash is to surf.
2. The Ramones – I Don’t Wanna Grow Up (Tom Waits)
One song per band, I could’ve put ‘Do You Wanna Dance’ here too.
1. Dead Kennedys – Rawhide (Frankie Laine)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEPBEsqxgXI
Yep. Better than ‘Viva Las Vegas’.
Honorable Mentions
The Melvins – Goin’ Blind (KISS)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gi_C0png4E
Awesome cover, but not punk.
Killswitch Engage – Holy Diver (Dio)
Not punk.
Mike Ness – Don’t Think Twice (Bob Dylan)
The best version ever recorded of this song, but not punk.
The Clash – Pressure Drop (Toots and the Maytals)
Great cover, but not punk.
The Get Up Kids – Close To Me (The Cure)
Again, the best version of this song ever recorded, but not punk.
