The Flaming Groovies are like Love, Velvet Underground, and Television. Embraced by music critics, record store clerks and musicians. Over looked by the rest but still able to stand the test of time.
While all these bands were highly influential for future punk bands, etc, ultimately The Ramones were the catalyst that sparked elements that were already in place to become punk. It's not like Joe Strummer went out and picked up a guitar after that show. He was already working with the 101ers. Same with Steve Jones and Paul Cook who were listening to the NY Dolls, Faces, Stooges.
The early Punk scene was like the Mod and Glam movements, groups formed and disbanded quickly. The shelf life of most bands of was intended to be six months to a year. Take a look at those family trees of the early punk bands and who played with who at one point or another. It was about getting that all important first single out, hopefully followed by the second and possibly a UK tour. Some of those singles have stood the test of time, many other not so much.
