Fashion
Anarchy in the UK! Amazing photos of punk fashion
Check out this eye-catching collection of photos of ’70s and ’80s punk-rock style.
UK punk-rockers hang out at Tower Bridge in London
© Chris Parker/PYMCA
In 1976, the British establishment was rocked when a new crop of bands with soap-spiked hair and improbably-placed safety pins popped up and started disrespecting authority figures and saying horrible things about the Queen. Forty years on punk is remembered as one of the great British subcultures, and is being honoured by Punk London – a year-long festival in the British capital paying tribute to the culture.
The photos below, drawn mostly from Punk London exhibitions Lost In Music and Punk Weekender, capture what it was like to be a fully-fledged punk-rocker in London back in the day.
London’s punk HQ in 1983, Chelsea’s Kings Road
London's young ones
© Ted Polhemus/PYMCA
The Clash’s Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon cause a riot
Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon
© Jill Furmanovsky
London punks mingle with unsuspecting shoppers
Here come the punks
© John Selby/Rex Features/PYMCA
Original US punks The Ramones dish out some advice at London’s Rough Trade record shop
The Ramones in Rough Trade, London
© Walt Davidson
A crowdsurfing punk at London’s Kilburn National back in 1989
At the Kilburn National, London, in 1989
© Adam Friedman/PYMCA
More attitudinal loitering on London’s Kings Road
On the corner
© Ted Polhemus/PYMCA
Anita Corbin snaps London punks Shelley and Di doing their hair in the ladies’ toilet at The White Swan, Crystal Palace, in 1980.
Something for the weekend?
© Anita Corbin
Visit the Punk London website.
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