Punk: The Definitive Record of a Revolution

by Stephen Colegrave and Chris Sullivan

Book Overview

Recreating the complete story of the punk phenomenon -- including where it came from and what it turned into -- Punk is a massive and visually stunning record of five years that changed the world: from 1975 to 1979. Collecting the testimony of more than 260 artists, record producers, designers, and journalists -- including John Cale, Debbie Harry, Joe Strummer, Maureen Tucker, Gerard Malanga, Lou Reed, Johnny Rotten, Danny Fields, Legs McNeil, Bob...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560257695
• ISBN13: 9781560257691
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Press
• Length: 399 Pages
• Weight: 3.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 8.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

EXCELLENT PHOTOS

If youre looking for punk history, well, you know punk was born in different parts of the world at the same time, so its not very accurate,in how it really emerged. Anyhow, you get lots of history telling from the most important punk era 1976 - 1979, and some background in the bands that influenced punk bands (1960's The velvet underground - the stooges and MC5 )such as the Ramones, Sex Pistols and more. A great collection of interviews actually, and the pictures, oh the pictures are great!. This book its huge! its so big you wont be able to hold it in your hands and try to read it. The photos are worth the price alone, i recommend this one.

Punk's Dead - Live With It!

Most of us whose salvation and saving grace in the late 1970's came in the form of punk rock never thought it would come to this: a coffee table-style book on the genre so large it almost requires a truss to pick up and read. Exploding with stark black-and-white photos, the authors rightfully trace punk's origins back to the Stooges/MC5/Velvet Underground unholy triumvirate and primarily use quotes from musicians, hangers-on, and the fans to tell the story of the music so many thought would change if not the world, then at least the industry. Although an integral part of the whole sordid saga, it would have been nice if the authors had sacrificed some of the space devoted to The Sex Pistols and the Sodom and Gomorrah of punk (New York and London) and examined the scenes in Australia and elsewhere. Nonetheless, despite the small quibble, this is a glorious addition to the library of any music lover, punk or otherwise, and another testimonial to why music in the 70's casts such a huge shadow over everything that's come along since.

Anarchy in the UK and Beyond!

This is a masterpiece! If nothing else, it's gigantic, thick and full of wonderful pictures. This book is bigger than the phone book! It's done in the same style of "Please Kill Me" (which documented the NYC punk scene). It has oral recollections of punk from a great number of people who were involved. Many of the anecdotes may or may not be true but almost every one is interesting. The main focus seems to be on the Pistols and Clash though many wonderful bands like the Fall, the Undertones and Gang of Four also get mentioned. Too much of the focus dwells on the Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood fashion aspect of summer of '76 Britpunk but it was a part of it so I can't complain even though my interest is more on the music and the DIY aspect that fueled punk and post-punk. Very highly recommended!

good punk

excellent photosa very heavy book. i carried it around and nearly broke my back while reading it. excellent text. the pistols stuff is key. clash stuff could have been more. ramones stuff is good. layout of the book is pretty good. would have been perfect if the author would have included a cd taped to the back cover

It's a Big Beautiful Book!

I was So Glad to see this book issued in America. So Big! So Cool. No need to simply document the London scene, but show all the many facets of a Rock Scene. It is more inspiring to see something rise from almost nothing into a cutural revolution. Great Texts, Graphics and Photographs all tell this story. Hey Kids! Look to these pioneers, they were not posers who threw on a "uniform" They were not happy with what was there, so they took control & ran with it! Hopefully it will inspire you to do the same!