1988 The New Wave Punk Rock Explosion By Caroline Coon

Punk77 says: While the 100 Nights At The Roxy drips with dimly lit subterranean atmosphere and palpable excitement, 1988 The New Wave Punk Rock Explosion by journalist Caroline Coon was the first out of the blocks in 1977 and for me the best.

Caroline was an English artist, journalist and political activist. She studied art at St Martin’s College London, She has campaigned for women’s rights since the 1960s and co-founded Release in 1967, a legal-advice agency for young people charged with the possession of drugs that continues today; While working at the weekly music paper Melody Maker she became aware of punk and at once was energised by its possibilities. With Jon Ingham of Sounds she was the first to write about it. She became close friends of The Clash and it’s her picture of them that graces their White Riot single cover. She would invite the Sex Pistols and Heartbreakers over for Christmas dinner in 1976 and become the Clash’s manager for their Sort It Out tour post-Bernie which would include two predominantly girl bands as support – The Slits & Innocents. She knew everyone on the scene both in the UK and US.

Its cover has the sneering but fantastic-looking Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols on the front and on the back the equally arresting and fantastic-looking punk Soo Catwoman.

The book itself is a combination of history, interviews, photos (often by herself) of the bands and fans, major events, the Roxy Club, collages, lyrics and a spotlight on some of the smaller bands.

Being a music writer, it’s the interviews that are the most interesting and perceptive and as you would expect feature the Sex Pistols, Damned, Clash and Stranglers. Feminism and women in music were always close to her heart and 1988 shows this. What you probably wouldn’t expect is The Slits who had played only a handful of gigs by the time of her interviewing them for the book. They feature as the 5th major interview with some eleven pages but as I said Caroline recognised the importance of the band both in their genuine punk approach to starting the band and how they might change the way women were perceived.

Most of all Caroline writes with a positive passion and is genuinely inspired and energised by the music and its possibilities and that comes through in the words.

The Sex Pistols were the catalyst for a genuine youth phenomenon. Punk rock musicians the same in every essential to their fans, stirred the imagination with galvanic music, inventive dress and relevant personal politics which truly reflected the lifestyle, hopes and frustrations of a generation. Whatever happens now, the force of punk rock will be felt in society at least until 1988…

Who would have thought that nearly 40 years beyond that date it would still be being felt! Check out her foreword below which sums up her attitude to punk and the who’s who of people she knew to make the book.

1988 was inspired by punk rock musicians and fans. I thank them for tearing the stultifying wraps off rock ‘n’ roll and then sharing their experiences with me.

At the start, John Ingham understood what was going on and we became partners. Without his technical advice and friendship, writing about punk rock would have been much less fun. We co-wrote Chapter 2. His contribution to 1988 is considerable.

Rory and Allan “Leather ‘n’ Chains” Jones, ex-Portobello Hotel, for turning me on in the first place. Malcolm McLaren, Bernard Rhodes, Jake Riviera, Richard Boon and Andy Czezowski for their creative co-operation.

Sophie, Jamie, Nils, Suzanne, Rat Rodent, Al, Boogie, Alex and Chris, Rough Trade, Rock On, Bizzarre, Don Letts, Rick, Ray Stevenson, Erica Eckenberg, Sky Processing, Vivien Westward, Allan Edwards, Al Clark and Tessa, Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, Ellie Smith, The Ramones and Linda and Seymour Stein for great back-up.

Ron Watts of the 100 Club, who first gave the Sex Pistols a break. Chris Spedding, for knowing what is and what is not inspired musicianship. John Peel and John Walters for their good ears. David “Corky” Cork, promoter extraordinaire, for sanity on the ‘Anarchy In The U.K.” and the ‘White Riot’ tours.

Mark P, Harry, Steve, Sandy, John and fanzine writers everywhere for their energy. Michael Chambers for editorial guidance and the enthusiasm to see 1988 through to publication. Ray Coleman for his insight.

Viv Goldman, Julia Stonehouse, Paul Simonon, Jo Faull and Sarah Hall, Kate Simon and Sheila Rock for love, friendship and support, certain evenings, weekends and conversations…

Caroline continues her art and activism to this day.



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