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Punk influenced the lives of many during the 1970s and continues
to do so - just ask the likes of Oasis, the Strokes, the Libertines
and the Hives for starters.
And
I was inspired to start my own fanzine and subsequently got to interview
and see all my favourite bands, before deciding I wanted somehow
to be involved in music long-term.
Leading
the punk charge were, of course, the Sex Pistols, a bunch of west
London spiky tops whose sound, attitude and style cut a swagger
through the prevailing sea of denim and prog rock.
| "There's
a macabre paint-splattered poster that was on the wall of the
hotel where Sid and Nancy met their untimely fate..." |
Punk:
A True And Dirty Tale is a new exhibition that celebrates the
fashion, the graphics and the music of the Pistols and those - designer
Vivienne Westwood, manager Malcolm McClaren and graphic artist Jamie
Reid - who assisted them in their story.
Assembled
by collectors Paul Stolper and Andrew Wilson, it's a fascinating
and almost surreal look at the artifacts that played their part
in the Pistols story.
barking
 Highlights
for me include the many Sex/Seditionaries clothes on show, Glen
Matlock's original handwritten lyrics to 'Pretty Vacant' and a macabre
paint-splattered 'Never Mind The Bollocks' poster that was on the
wall of New York's Chelsea Hotel where Sid and Nancy met their untimely
fate.
I was at the exhibition launch party with my BBC London TV News
hat on and got to meet up with the likes of former Banshee Steve
Severin, film maker Don Letts and style commentator Peter York.
Roadent
was also there: the original Clash roadie who I can vividly remember
barking "What's this, a f**kin' school outing?!" when
10 schoolfriends and I turned up to interview the Clash at their
Camden rehearsal studios.
He was still as intimidating as ever, I'm pleased to report. Nice
to know some things never change!!
Punk:
A True And Dirty Tale is on at The Hospital, 24 Endell Street, Covent
Garden WC1. Tel: 020 7170 9100
useful
links
the
hospital: gallery
(The
BBC cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites)
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WATCH
Lord Crowley's report on the exhibition 
Listen live
Click
through amazing shots of London from high up in a helicopter!