IT kicks off with pictures of “the weekend New York came to Glasgow” when Blondie, Ramones and Talking Heads were in the city.
It includes shots of The Jam, The Clash, Iggy Pop and more and it features photos in danger of being lost to history – the ones which capture the fans, the crowds, and the incomparable buzz of the live music scene.
Saints & Sinners: Punk & After is the second book from Glaswegian author Chris Brickley, whose first was 16 YEARS: Gigs in Scotland, a 500-page photo book which covered venues from across the length and breadth of the country.
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Chris explains: “I had no plans to do another book so soon, but when I was given an amazing cache of fresh material it seemed too good an opportunity to waste.
“The photography in this book is rare, and was in danger of being lost to the public. It’s great to be able to celebrate the unique scenes that went on in Glasgow and Paisley.”
The “amazing cache” came from photographer Graham Scott, who sent Chris some pictures of acts ranging from The Jam and Ian Dury to Scottish favourites Simple Minds and Skids. Chris sourced additional photographs with the aim of creating a book about the “punk explosion” in Glasgow and Paisley in the late 70s and early 80s.
It includes mainly unpublished vernacular photography which was in danger of being lost to the public, particularly ‘crowd shots’ which and it showcases the work of renowned Scottish photographers such as Harry Papadopoulos and Laurie Evans, whose photography has been celebrated since the heyday of the music press in the 70s and 80s.
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Chris explains: “Paisley became a key centre for live punk music when ‘Disco Harry’, a local butcher and part-time DJ, spotted a gap in the market when Glasgow City Council were spooked by trouble at a Stranglers concert.
“A Glasgow by-law also decreed that pubs could not charge entry for live music, which was not an issue in Paisley.
“The book kicks off with a set of pictures from ‘The Weekend New York Came to Glasgow’, in May 1977. Featured here are Blondie, on their first overseas trip, who visited Strathclyde University to watch their friends Ramones and Talking Heads play their first UK gigs.
“Debbie Harry is seen relaxed and smiling, signing autographs, dancing and kissing gig-goers. She played the Apollo the next night, on the opening date of their tour.”
Famous lost venues such as the Apollo are revisited, alongside college halls and less familiar sites such as Zhivagos in St Enoch Square and the Doune Castle in Shawlands.
Saints & Sinners: Punk & After is available to buy at Streetlevel Photoworks in Glasgow.
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