Bad Brains, X‑Ray Spex, and the Hidden Black Roots of Punk

From Washington D.C.’s Bad Brains to London’s X‑Ray Spex, this episode explores how Black and multiracial musicians forged hardcore, ska‑punk, and feminist punk scenes, challenging myths that punk was only white. We unpack the music, venues, labels, fanzines, and racism that shaped these movements, revealing an underappreciated thread in punk’s history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices