Daily Mail: When Punks Ruled The World
Debbie Harry and Toyah Willcox feature in vintage photos
When punks ruled the world: Fascinating 70s photos capture hell-raiser fans at riotous Debbie Harry gigs as they surfed a wave of rebellion
• Amateur photographer Derek Ridgers used to blag his way into gigs in the 1970s London punk scene
• Described himself as a ‘mild mannered, bespectacled office worker in the middle of a punk mosh pit’
• Many of his photos have never been seen before, while some have featured in sell-out books
• Derek’s book, Punk London, 1977, will be released this May to coincide with movement’s 40th anniversary
A striking series of black and white photographs has offered a rare insight into London at the height of the 1970s punk movement. From Adam Ant shirtless on stage, to a young Debbie Harry entertaining riotous crowds, the images – most of which have never been seen before – offer a glimpse into an era when rebellion ruled the music scene.
They were all taken in between 1976 and 1978 by Derek Ridgers, a man who, at the time, claimed he ‘wasn’t really a photographer’ but simply borrowed a friend’s camera and blagged his way into gigs – snapping what would become known as the first wave of punk culture.
It now forms a collection of more than 130 vintage photographs, which Derek has finally decided to publish this year – in a book entitled Punk London, 1977 – to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the movement in 2016.
Punk London 1977, by Derek Ridgers, is available from May 1, 2016 from Carpet Bombing Culture
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