12. New York Dolls
New York Dolls swaggered onto the scene with a glam-punk aesthetic that was both flamboyant and gritty. Their wild style and raw sound helped bridge the gap between the early days of proto-punk and the punk explosion that followed in the mid-1970s. With raucous performances and an irreverent attitude, the Dolls inspired a generation of musicians to shun convention and embrace excess. Their influence can be heard in the DNA of countless punk and alternative bands that emerged in their wake.
