There are a lot of bands who started the emo culture all at once. Some of them are more recognizable than the others probably because they have gained a lot of fans. The Velvet Underground will still have a lot of fans who will listen to their songs and emulate the feelings that they give their songs. The New York Dolls is another punk group that was inspired by the transvestite community that can be found in New York City.
In the history of punk bands, however, the band that started it all is a Puerto Rican band known as Los Saicos. Soon after, some American bands followed such as The Sex Pistols and The Ramones.