Shockwave

By Virginia Boston

As the UK punk scene exploded with raw energy and intensity, documentation was the last thought on anyone’s mind. Originally published in 1978 by Penguin, and described as “the first punk book”, Shockwave by Virginia Boston (printed as Punk Rock in the US) is a must-have almanac, historical handbook, and visual and visceral reveal of a scene as it was bursting forth. As a London counterculture observer, writer Virginia Boston captured the Punk phenomenon from its beginnings in ’76, always through the eyes of the punks themselves. 

Featuring all of the early first generation bands (The Sex Pistols, The Jam, The Damned, Generation X, The Slits, X-Ray Spex, Siouxsie and the Banshees and many more) and other now iconic figures, such as Soo Catwoman and Jordan, Punk Rock offers a rare insight into the heart of the movement via its extraordinary collection of photographs, quotes, lyrics, and interviews with the leading bands and figureheads. But perhaps most striking is the space it dedicates to the fans and their zines, complete with an introduction from Sniffin’ Glue editor Danny Baker. By doing so Punk Rock captures what was really going on in the clubs, away from the usual music weeklies and academics.   

A scrapbook compendium of one of the shortest-lived yet most influential moments in music history, Punk Rock is an authentic time-capsule of the emergence of a counterculture that would forever change the world, but didn’t know it.  

 Author's statement

“As an outsider, observing this intense burst of creativity in music, fashion, and writing was incredibly inspiring. And fascinating to see how influential and enduring the movement has been over time!” — Virginia Boston

Condition: Very good. Wear on edges of covers. Pages have been thumbed through. Creases in front cover.