I love the whole 70's punk era. The problem was I didn't appreciate it until 1980/81. I grew up in the 70's on Kiss, Aerosmith, Nugent, Angel, Sabbath,Starz, Alice Cooper...etc. I'd read Rock Scene & Creem magazine so I was aware of the punk scene but in my area if you liked the bands I mentioned it was almost a sin to like Punk.
A few little things sparked my interest though:
1) The Ramones 'Rocket to Russia' album which my uncle gave me. He got it from some guy he worked with who would give him promo records for me once in a while. My Uncle told me he was told that they were louder than Kiss. I secretly liked the record & laughed at the lyrics but...I couldn't like them...they were Punk! I traded it to someone for Bad Co. Straight Shooter!
2) I was on vacation with my parents & my best friend at some resort way up north in Canada. We could only pull in one radio station which was rock & one evening the DJ announced they were going to play a tune (even though they shouldn't) that was banned from the airwaves in England. They played "God Save the Queen" by the Sex Pistols. I kind of liked it & felt the energy...but it was Punk...so I said the music was okay but the singing was Horrible
3) I was listening to an interview w/ Pete Townsend on the radio & he praised punk saying that it brought rock & roll to back to its roots. He said that the Sex Pistols "Pretty Vacant" was the "My Generation" of this generation & the DJ played the tunes back to back. I was blown away
4) My friend had the Showtime channel at his parents house & one day they showed Rock & Roll High School & I loved it. I now became a Ramones fan & regretted my previous trade
5) The final thing was seeing David Johansen open for Pat Benatar. I was blown away by his performance & afterward realized he was from the NY Dolls so I bought his solo albums & the Dolls 2 records. Guitarist Johnny Thunders of the Dolls really stood out so I picked up his LAMF album with the Heartbreakers & there was no turning back... I loved Punk( Johnny Thunders is my favorite but I love everything including the Ramones, Patti Smith, Richard Hell, Television, old Blondie, the Damned, Wayne County,Stranglers...etc.