LA, definetely. I haven't had a chance to check out the scene at all recently, so, who knows. Maybe it really has gone to ****. All I know is that in the 80's it spawned some of the best bands in hardcore.

SF and Berkeley are a close second to me, but that's probably because I've lived in California my entire life. Gilman is still a great place to go.

New york City!

origin of punk

How about Australia? :)

The Saints were one of the first punk bands :) They beat the Ramones by a couple of months. :) From my hometown Brisbane, Australia.

Also, we have Radio Birdman (Sydney), Nick Cave (Melbourne), The Survivors (Brisbane), The Leftovers (Brisbane), The Screaming Tribesmen (Brisbane), The Celibate Rifles (Sydney) and Blowhard (a somewhat dodgy but fun Brisbane ska punk band my boyfriend's dad is a member of that's been kicking since 1989).

Brisbane can't compete with the notorious punk cities like London or New York, but figured I'll mention it :) For a relatively small population Australia has, we're a pretty talented bunch :)

I'm gonna have to go with Gainesville, FL. It may not have the largest wealth of bands (though Hot Water Music and Against Me! are both from there) but it is the headquarters of No Idea Records and the now-defunct Plan-It-X Records, not to mention that The Fest, one of, if not the most popular punk festival takes place there every year. Basically it has a lot of participation from residents.

im gonna have to go ahead and say CT as far as a hardcore scene goes

I vote Minneapolis, one of the first Punk bands started here in '75.

The Suicide Commandos - Burn It Down

CT isn't a city though.

the first page of this thread is an insult to eardrums. London? Really?

Anyway, I think the Northeastern Cities of the U.S. are created to make punk music. On numbers I'd give it to NYC, but my hometown makes me cringe when I say that.

NYC and LA 'bout even.

Wasn't Hated Youth from Gainesville?
That ep that was released a few years ago was great.