If one is to believe the “Music in Oregon” Wikipedia page, there was little to no music produced around here during the ’60s and ’70s. The introduction to the “Portland” section is 100 words long. There’s one very long sentence about the Kingsmen and Paul Revere & the Raiders, and two very short sentences about Quarterflash. Then the article skips ahead to punk rock.
It’s long been the prevailing narrative in Portland that punk rock—and its eventual offspring, indie rock—is our primary, if not only, musical export. This narrative is reinforced by the local media, best-of lists curated by national outlets, and Portlandia guest appearances. We had Satyricon—arguably the second most legendary American punk venue after New York’s CBGB, and the (alleged) birthplace of the second most disastrous rock ’n roll romance (after Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen). And we have the Wipers—one of the best, most consistent bands to hail from punk’s first wave.
But bands like the Wipers never had radio hits. They never appeared on Top of the Pops or played arenas. You’ll probably never hear “Return of the Rat” on the overhead speakers at a Nordstrom—even though that would be sick.