The Vibrators are part of the original wave of British punk bands from 1976-1977. While many of the British punk bands either broke up (Sex Pistols) or moved on to other styles of music (post-punk, new wave etc.), the Vibrators (like the Buzzcocks) have continued with the pretty much the same core line up (guitarist/leader Knox and drummer Eddie) and have toured to the present day-while playing pretty much the same style of music. Plus, the Vibrators are not just a revivalist or "back in the day" band resting on their laurels; they continue to release new relevant material.
-The 70's punk scene really started the DIY (do it yourself) ethic in music. It really inspired people to play in bands. Prior to the 70's punk thing, rock music was very elitist regarding technical ability and of course very male and macho oriented. Punk was/is more about attitude, style and less about virtuosity (although playing ability is important, of course). Punk showed that a short three chord song in a tiny bar/club (ala the Ramones) was just as powerful as a ponderous 10 minute Led Zeppelin song in a 100,000 seater stadium. Punk showed that a monotone Lou Reed /Velvet Underground can be better than an operatic Freddy Mercury/Queen. To the Yes-Go's punk means just going for it and doing out ourself without alot of that pre-punk baggage about pedigree and musical chops.
-Punk is relevant today. Their is alot of BOREDOM out there and the Iraq War inspires many punk bands just like the Central American (Contra, Sandinistas, El Salvador, Nicaragua) situation inspired much of the hardcore punk in the early to mid eighties. Today the Warped tour makes mega bucks. The clubs around SF can pack large clubs when punk bands come to town. Local cutting edge radio stations (Stanford, UC Berkeley, USF among others) all play allot of punk rock on their playlists. In the 90's punk rock really went "overground" and mainstream with the success of bands such as Green Day, The Offspring, Rancid etc. etc. Although punk can still be anti-establishment and avant-garde, it has also become an established genre of music-just like Rockabilly, Folk, Reggae, Ska, Metal and so on. It will continue to go on and inspire the next generation of rockers...It is not a fad.