PUNK TURNS 50

CELEBRATING HALF A CENTURY OF REBELLION

Fifty years ago, punk rock exploded onto the music scene in New York and London. Offering a counterpoint to the highly produced music of the 1970s, bands like The Ramones, Sex Pistols, and The Clash played fast, loud, and simple songs that spoke to youth who felt left out by society. They proved you didn't need fancy equipment or years of training to make music that mattered.

Robin Graubard captured New York's punk scene at its most iconic. Her 1976 NYU film school project, shot in color at Max's Kansas City, preserves rare early performances by The Ramones and Talking Heads, along with interviews with Tommy Ramone and the club's booking agent, Peter Crowley. She continued documenting the movement into the early 1980s at CBGB, the Bowery club that became the epicenter of American punk. Here’s a selection from her footage.

The Slits Viv Albertine and Ari Up perform at Foxes Greyhound, England,1977. Photo by Greg Smith

Greg Smith arrived in London in 1977 and became an accidental eyewitness to the explosive punk rock movement. Camera in hand, he became a fixture at legendary underground venues like the 100 Club and The Marquee, capturing the raw energy and anti-establishment defiance of bands including Adam and the Ants, The Slits, Generation X, and Crass. His photographs appeared in Sounds and New Musical Express before being stored away for four decades. Here is a selection of Greg Smith’s photographs. 

The History of Rock and Roll Interview Archives features firsthand accounts from punk icons including John Lydon, Exene Cervenka, and Malcolm McLaren, alongside other musicians and industry insiders who reflect on the movement's impact and groundbreaking cultural explosion. See the interviews.

A crowd of people outside CBGB in Manhattan in the early 1980's. Photo by Robin Graubard

These collections, amongst other GIW holdings, offer rare glimpses into punk's most vital era—from intimate club performances to candid interviews with the movement's key figures. Global ImageWorks is proud to preserve and share these essential documents of a cultural revolution that changed music forever. Contact us to learn more about both our offline and online punk material. Explore the Collections.