Punk and New Wave Memorabilia
Selling your Punk or New Wave Memorabilia?
Punk Rock was a musical genre that evolved in the mid 1970’s although it was a previously used term by American rock journalists to describe the mid 1960’s garage bands.
In the late 1960’s the Detroit bands The MC5 and Iggy and The Stooges laid the foundations of what was to come in Britain and the USA, but it’s roots certainly lie in the minimal musical arrangements of 1960’s garage rock.
In May 1975 after unsuccessfully managing the ‘Glam Punk’ New York Dolls Malcom McClaren returned from America to his shop that he ran with Vivienne Westwood called SEX which was previously called ‘Let It Rock’.
In this period, he would advise the shops customers Paul Cook and Steve Jones on their musical aspirations and suggested that his shop assistant Glen Matlock become their bass player, shortly afterwards another shop customer John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten joined them as lead vocalist, and they became The Sex Pistols. In May 1977 Sid Vicious replaced Glen Matlock on bass.
They recorded one studio album entitled ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols’ which was released in the United Kingdom by Richard Branson’s Virgin Records, they had previously been signed to EMI Records and A&M Records.
Their ubiquitous publicity machine which was driven by the impresario Malcom McLaren was ably assisted by his friend Jamie Reid who created artwork using cut up letters rather like ransom notes for the Sex Pistols early promotional material.
The early punk scene in the UK was very much a London thing and evolved around The Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Damned whilst across the Atlantic, Patti Smith, Television and The Ramones were creating a buzz in New York, where the legendary CBGB Club held many early Punk and New Wave concerts for the aforementioned and other artists such as Blondie, Talking Heads and The Heartbreakers.
Punk would go on to have several waves of new bands, but it really ended in 1979 whilst some hardened fans would say actually a lot earlier once it became a nationwide phenomenon.
What followed punk is the loosely termed genre New Wave which had some of the attitude of punk and its rebellion but was more refined musically, lyrically and radio friendly. The Police, Elvis Costello, Ian Dury and XTC being perfect examples.
This would inspire another wave of hugely successful British artists and a whole generation that was interested in making music that was more polished. That golden age included the likes of Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, the Human League, ABC, Depeche Mode and other bands with that flamboyant feel of David Bowie, Roxy Music and Japan.
Concert memorabilia from the 1970’s for The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned, Blondie, The Ramones and other commercial Punk and New Wave artists or bands is very desirable and in particular concert posters, promo items, signed items, instruments, props, handwritten lyrics, documents, clothing and anything unusual that is related to Punk or New Wave.
If you have any Punk or New Wave memorabilia please call us on 01494 436644 or email us on music@usebriggs.com to find out what your items are worth.