“IF YOU CAN PLAY THREE CHORDS YOU CAN FORM A BAND…"
"To me, punk rock is the freedom to create, freedom to be successful, freedom to not be successful, freedom to be who you are. It's freedom." - Patti Smith.
Bursting onto the music scene in the mid-1970s, punk rejected the trappings of mainstream rock, instead creating a sound filled with fast-paced playing, stripped-back melodies, and hard-edged, political lyrics. Although short-lived, its anti-establishment movement influenced a generation, and the punk ethos still lives on today in contemporary music, fashion and art.
Punk rock's raw energy, rebellion, and DIY spirit were caught by a distinguished collection of photographers including Ray Stevenson, who had unprecedented access to the Sex Pistols, Pennie Smith who had the same with The Clash, and music press photographers - Bob Gruen, Kevin Cummins, Sheila Rock, Virginia Turbett, and Jill Furmanovsky to name just a few. From the snarling faces of punk icons to the explosive moments of crowd interaction, punk music photography serves as a visual testament to the genre, preserving its subversive spirit for generations to come.
Below is a selection of images of artists who were at the forefront of the scene captured by the leading punk photographers of the time. It includes limited edition music prints of The Clash, Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Slits, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Buzzcocks and Iggy Pop. To see our full punk rock print collection click here.
