The British Library will be running a massive exhibition on punk to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the movement.
According to The Guardian, the exhibition, starting in May, will focus on the years 1976-78 when punk first rose to prominence in the public eye.
Curator Andy Linehan stated, “We’re looking at the initial burst and the impact it had – punk’s legacy… We’ve always collected the counter-culture as well as the culture.”
The exhibition will showcase a huge array of archival print, audio, visual and collectables associated with the movement, including an unreleased, A&M version of the Sex Pistols historic single God Save The Queen.
The exhibition will also feature a collection of fashion items from the era, including articles of clothing from the Sex clothing store in Chelsea, run by fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, largely credited with bringing the visual element of punk into the mainstream culture of Britain.
Image: Next
Image: Worlds End Shop
Speaking of the era, Linehan recalled that “There were undercurrents of tension and danger but it did seem new and exciting, and immediate and in-your-face. And to a teenager, that’s all good.”
“It’s bringing a lot of stuff back for me, and hopefully people coming to the exhibition will experience that as well, and also people who weren’t around at the time .”
Other vintage items on display at the exhibition will include the Sex Pistols and The Clash joint tour posters (all but three of the gigs were cancelled), original editions of the punk fanzine Sniffin’ Glue and unreleased photos from some of the earliest recorded punk gigs.
Just for fun, here is a moment that ultimately summed up the era- Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten swearing live on afternoon TV in Britain and causing outrage around the world.
View all the details for the exhibition here.
Image: SkatePunk