Badges Punk

In terms of punk clothes and accessories, there was nothing more democratic and leveling than punk badges. Back in the late seventies Singles cost £.60p and albums around £2.49. A T-shirt would be a fiver. No wonder in the early days people made their own clothes and stenciled or graffitied bands onto them.

But badges were another matter. In 1976 and into 1977 there were very few badges namely because there were very few bands and punk had little publicity. Joly MacPhie’s Better Badges changed all that and kickstarted a revolution. He grasped the promotional and affordable possibilities of the humble badge and punk (and reggae) was made for it.

By mid 1977 that had all changed and the explosion of bands and publicity meant there were badges everywhere and everyone was wearing them. It was big business along with punk fashion and records. Bands like the Tom Robinson Band grasped their promotional power very early on and giving away badges after gigs or replying to letters meant kids were walking adverts for the bands for very little outlay.

Soon your badges conveyed your allegiance and for the price of around £.20p a shot, you could tart up a school blazer, razor your hair, tuck your jeans in and walk the walk.

Above punk girl Tampax in a still from Captain Trip’s ‘Death Is Their Destiny’ film

They were so popular that Better Badges ran a top 10 badge advert in the NME for a good few years which gives a snapshot into what the kids were into.

They came in all sizes from the popular button size to what was affectionately termed dustbin lid size on account of its er…. size!

In 1978 the NME gave a lowdown on punk badges in their Guide To Rock And Roll London.

Punk badges popularity never waned, just changed according to what bands were up and coming or popular.

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Like Punk badges? Check out the Old Punk Rock Badges Fanatics Facebook page

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