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That is MY age: It’s the 40th anniversary of punk

— by Alyson Walsh

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Siouxsie Sioux photo from Derek Ridgers’ Punk London 1977

Aged 12, in 1976, I was a bit too young to pogo. I also lived in Blackpool. Hardly the epicentre of cool but we did have our own punk band: The Membranes (lead singer John Robb was a local hero). By the time I was 15, I was sneaking into the local fleapit to see the Sex Pistols’ Great Rock & Roll Swindle with a friend of mine (and trying desperately not to be intimidated by an older teenage boy/punk behind, who kept pulling my hair). This was the same friend who had Tippexed her finger nails and written SID RIP on them, in Biro, the year before. We may not have had a strong punk scene but we did have DIY nail art. So. There are a few events and exhibitions going on to celebrate the 40th anniversary of punk – and just like the first time round, I’ve missed out on most of them. Late to the punk party, all over again. Though I do think when you’ve grown up listening to The Clash, Siouxsie and the Pistols that rebellious streak lives on.

Anarchy in the UK. Here’s what’s still on:

Punk 1976-78 exhibition at the British Library until the 2nd October – this is free and worth going to and the pop-up shop, done out like an old record store, is fantastic.

There’s still time to catch the punk season at the BFI (throughout August).

The Buzzcocks and The Damned will be playing gigs in various locations until November (details HERE).

Punk at 40, film season at Home, Manchester (details HERE).

Details of other events at Punk.London.

 

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Photo via Paul Smith

Or maybe stay at home and read all about it. I was looking at Derek Ridgers Punk London 1977 photography book yesterday (available HERE; more about it HERE), and there’s a new Phaidon book on graphics and the visual aspect of punk: Oh So Pretty: Punk by Toby Mott and Rick Poynor (available HERE). Though the best book on punk, ever, is England’s Dreaming by Jon Savage (available HERE).

Punk’s Not Dead:

 

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Aged 12, in 1976, I was a bit too young to pogo. I also lived in Blackpool.