Days of Punk | Fashion
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Punk Rock, which was the seed for what grew to be the social phenomenon of the punk culture was not centralized. Like its DIY roots, Punk was a product of its environment. The essence of the punk revolution was influenced and shaped by each geographic location. London, New York, and Los Angeles all fed the punk revolution, but each with its own flavor and interpretation of the soul of Punk.

Rock, music, and cultural historians pin the timeline of the birth of punk as the early 70s. many who were on scene claim its instigation was earlier. All agree that throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s Punk matured as a music, a movement, and a culture throughout the world. Each location shaped punk with different influences that showed in the unique geographic sound.

Michael Grecco captures the untamed spirit of punk’s golden era in his photographs which he has curated in his books Days of Punk, and Punk, Post Punk and New Wave. Through his historically accurate photographs, he sheds light on how geography played a role in shaping the diversity of punk.  He captures the distinctive flavor of the movement and bands that created idiosyncratic local attitudes and a subculture of punk culture.

London Punk, the Center of Anarchy

The 1970s punk scene was a volatile response to a post-war culture where citizens were separated by a rigid class system. The economic upheaval, high unemployment, and a pampered upper crust were a driving force in political volcanoes that erupted in punk music. Prim and proper were not even considered as punk was weaponized against the establishment. The lyrics of anarchy were shock and awe backed by the raw driving, grating music that was the essence of punk.

The London punk scene drivers were the Sex Pistols and The Clash. The culture included its music cathedral, The Roxy. Its dress was from the shelves of Vivienne Westwood’s clothing store SEX.

London boutique, SEX, by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren (photo credit: Gata Magazine)

Grecco was fortunate to capture The Clash and The Sex Pistols as well as their audiences as they performed and reacted to the politically charged anthems that were London Punk.

The Art of Punk, New York City

Like the city and tri-state area itself, the Punk music and culture that was New York City Punk was a melting pot of music, art, and performance. Its legendary shrine CBGBs hosted a who’s who of those who would become punk royalty. Minimalist, avant-garde, raw, incendiary, and innovative punks like The Ramones, Television, and Patti Smith staked their claim as a subgenre of the movement.

The Ramones Photographed by Michael Grecco

The graffiti, clothing, urban art deco buildings, and the grime and grit of New York City supplied the backgrounds, foregrounds, and additional characters to the Grecco Punk Photographs from the New York City scene. London punk was confrontational in your face while New York Punk was introspective, laid back, and poetic, tainted with the irony of urban realism. The lenses of Micheal Grecco did not discriminate, he captured it all in black and white and living color.

Los Angeles Punk

Sunny California was late to the punk movement, at least publicly. Hidden from view, hardcore punk with faster, heavier, and more aggressive driving music was evolving. Los Angeles Punk was repped by Black Flag, Circle Jerks, and Dead Kennedys.

Jello Biafra of The Dead Kennedys Photographed by Michael Grecco

L.A. punk shows were driven by a frantic violet audience participation. It defied the conformity of suburban society and challenged the police state mentality of a city that was home to the major record labels. Claimed to be the beginnings of the audience pit, it is a form of audience participation that the camera of Grecco captured as a testament to the intensity of Punk, its music culture, and its people.