From Sex Pistols to Green Day, the ultimate punk playlist.
Punk music has been around for over four decades, and it’s still as relevant and popular as ever. Known for its raw, energetic, and rebellious sound, punk has produced some of the most iconic and influential albums of all time. From the early days of the Sex Pistols to the modern punk rock of Green Day, punk has evolved but has never lost its edge. Punktuation takes a look at the top ten best-selling punk albums from 1977 to the present day.
- “Album: Punk in Drublic
Band: NOFX
Year of Release: 1994
Sales: 1 million
NOFX‘s ‘Punk in Drublic’ is a classic album from the 1990s punk rock scene. The album’s fast-paced, melodic sound and humorous lyrics resonated with fans and helped to establish NOFX as one of the top punk bands of the era. It has sold over 1 million copies worldwide.
- Album: ‘Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables’
Band: Dead Kennedys
Year of Release: 1980
Sales: 2 million
‘Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables’ is the debut album from the Dead Kennedys, one of the most influential punk bands of the 1980s. The album’s socially and politically charged lyrics and aggressive sound helped to define the punk rock genre. It has sold over 2 million copies worldwide.
- Album: ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols’
Band: Sex Pistols
Year of Release: 1977
Sales: 4 million
The Sex Pistols’ debut album “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols” is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential albums in punk rock history. The album’s raw, aggressive sound and rebellious lyrics helped to define the punk rock genre. It has sold over 4 million copies worldwide.
- Album: ‘Bad Brains’
Band: Bad Brains
Year of Release: 1982
Sales: 4 million
Bad Brains’ self-titled album is a seminal work in the hardcore punk genre. The album’s fusion of punk rock, reggae, and heavy metal helped to establish the band as one of the most innovative and influential in the punk rock scene. It has sold over 4 million copies worldwide.
- Album: ‘Enema of the State’
Band: blink-182
Year of Release: 1999
Sales: 15 million
‘Enema of the State’ is the third studio album from blink-182 and features some of the band’s biggest hits, including “All the Small Things” and “What’s My Age Again?” The album’s infectious pop-punk sound and catchy melodies helped to make it one of the best-selling punk albums of all time, with over 15 million copies sold worldwide.
- Album: ‘American Idiot’
Band: Green Day
Year of Release: 2004
Sales: 16 million
‘American Idiot’ is the seventh studio album from Green Day and marked a departure from the band’s earlier pop-punk sound. The album tells the story of a disillusioned American teenager and features hit singles such as “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and the title track. It has sold over 16 million copies worldwide.
- Album: ‘The Offspring’
Band: The Offspring
Year of Release: 1989
Sales: 16 million
The Offspring’s self-titled debut album helped to establish the band as one of the top punk rock acts of the 1990s. The album’s high-energy punk sound and catchy melodies struck a chord with fans, and it has sold over 16 million copies worldwide.
- Album: ‘London Calling’
Band: The Clash
Year of Release: 1979
Sales: 20 million
The Clash’s “London Calling” is widely regarded as one of the greatest punk albums of all time. The album’s diverse range of styles, including punk rock, reggae, and rockabilly, helped to broaden the appeal of punk music and cemented The Clash’s place in music history. It has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
- Album: ‘Smash’
Band: The Offspring
Year of Release: 1994
Sales: 20 million
The Offspring’s third studio album “Smash” is the best-selling independent album of all time, with over 20 million copies sold worldwide. The album’s blend of punk rock and pop sensibilities struck a chord with fans, and it features hit singles such as “Come Out and Play” and “Self Esteem.”
- Album: ‘Dookie’
Band: Green Day
Year of Release: 1994
Sales: 22 million
Green Day‘s third studio album ‘Dookie’ is one of the most successful punk albums of all time. The album’s catchy melodies, humorous lyrics, and fast-paced punk sound helped to make it a hit with fans and critics alike. It features hit singles such as “Longview,” “Basket Case,” and “When I Come Around,” and has sold over 22 million copies worldwide.
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Dion Lunadon/Los Pepes, London The Lexington, 20th June 2025
Be it venturing into the crowd (with his guitar, natch), inviting a random crowd member onstage to play keyboard, or even playing his own instrument
Live review: John McKay’s Reactor make their live debut at Reading’s Facebar!
One of punk’s great pioneers, John McKay has returned after 35 years in the musical wilderness. Promoting his long-lost and excellent ‘Sixes and Sevens’ album
Alien Nosejob, London New Cross Inn, 16th June 2025
This evening, I arrive at the New Cross Inn in a filthy temper and leave feeling completely reborn – and without the help of alcohol,
EP review: Aerial Salad – ‘Roi De L’Herbe’
Of all the adjectives one could throw at Manchester punk trio Aerial Salad, ‘romantic’ isn’t the one that first comes to mind, but you get
Outbreak Festival, London Victoria Park, 13th June 2025
Well, it’s taken twelve years, but Outbreak Festival has finally arrived in The Smoke! A true DIY operation that originated in Sheffield, it’s not just
‘Look Away Now’ – Gripper Lee release an electrifying new EP!
Punky oddballs from East Sussex,UK, Gripper Lee are known for their darkly witty lyrics, earworm hooks, blistering guitar, and expressive drumming. Never a band to
I’m a London born and bred music journalist, a mediocre bass player and the occasional strummer of the guitar. In the ’80s I worked in recording studios and made a few records you’d probably recognise. I have written a couple of books and made the odd media appearance as a music commentator. I now call Brisbane home.
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