The Sex Pistols were the most influential group in the movement. Their frenzied stage performances, coarse language and wildly unconventional appearance caused a storm of protest, and no record companies were interested to begin with. But in a UK where the economy was in recession and unemployment was growing, they hit a chord with the young, and punk became a new and unstoppable music force.
代表樂團如「性手槍」（Sex Pistols）合唱團圍繞著性與死的主題、狂野的舞台技巧、粗野的言語與裝扮，雖然引起輿論大加撻伐，唱片公司更是毫無興趣，但卻在當時英國經濟蕭條、失業大增的社會中迅速蔓延，大得年輕人共鳴，成為一波不可抵擋的音樂新勢力。