Russ Bestley

Turning revolt into style: The process and practice of punk graphic designis a comprehensive analysis of punk aesthetics and the subculture’s key watchwords of do-it-yourself, autonomy, and authenticity in relation to the professional practices and technological conventions of the graphic design and print industries in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Turning revolt into style: The process and practice of punk graphic designis a comprehensive analysis of punk aesthetics and the subculture’s key watchwords of do-it-yourself, autonomy, and authenticity in relation to the professional practices and technological conventions of the graphic design and print industries in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The definitive illustrated chronicle on the graphic art of punk style, from period concert posters and flyers to fanzines and record sleeves, and much more, with over 900 images Celebrating a wide range of punk design in vinyl cover art, posters, flyers, fanzines, and other ephemera, The Art of Punk highlights the movement primarily within graphic design and print, while also considering its impact on wider popular culture. Punk was based on immediacy—an often-inspired amateurism and underground, close-knit communities that burned brightly but were not intended to extend beyond the gig, the event, the scene, the moment. Punk songs by such legendary bands as the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, the Damned, the New York Dolls, the Germs, and the Clash tended to be short, fast, and aggressive, and the oft-repeated credo “If it can’t be said in three minutes, it’s not worth saying” was adopted as standard practice, extending in turn to an entire ethos for the whole subculture. The Art of Punk is arranged chronologically, and by genre, and features more than 900 visual examples both by uncredited artists and internationally renowned designers and design groups, alongside interviews with, and commentary by, many of the artists concerned.

It is almost impossible to believe that the posters, flyers and other punk ephemera were once used and discarded. But despite such humble origins, this groundbreaking artwork continues to have an impact on music, fashion and media today. This is paperback edition of the first ever comprehensive review of punk art/design ever published. This lavishly illustrated book celebrates a wide range of punk design in posters, flyers, album cover art, fanzines and fashion ephemera from T-shirts to badges. All the classic bands, like the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, the Damned and the Clash are covered as are numerous rare and wonderful items from around the world. Includes 225 illustrations from anonymous and uncredited artworks to pieces by UK artists including Jamie Reid, Malcolm Garrett, Linder Sterling, Peter Saville, Barney Bubbles and US artists including Lindsey Kuhn, Raymond Pettibon, Winston Smith, John Seabury, Art Chantry, Paul Imagine and many more.