999

A veteran act on the London punk scene, 999 outlived most of their peers among the bands that rose to fame during punk's first major splash in 1977. 999 didn't often employ the speedy tempos that many groups used as their trademark; instead, they played tough, straightforward rock, while the disciplined shout of lead singer Nick Cash, an effective instrument for their confrontational lyrics, gave their music a rebellious edge that pushed the songs forward. The band's second album, 1978's Separates, showed off their stripped-down original sound, and 1980's The Biggest Prize in Sport traded a bit of their punk snarl for catchier melodies and a more anthemic rock & roll sound. After breaking up for several years, 999 returned in the 1990s, and their reunion albums You Us It! (1993) and Takeover (1998) demonstrated that their take on punk rock stood the test of time.