The journey behind the rise of punk girl bands in the 1970’s has been revealed in a new picture book that exposes the truth about the controversial music genre.
The retro photographs bring to light the true presence of women during the post-punk era in the form of London-based girl bands; Dolly Mixture, The Bodysnatchers and Mo-dettes.
The vintage photographs include a snap of a member of the Mo-dettes channelling a David Bowie hair-cut and makeup while strumming on her electric guitar, and a young Debsey Wykes from Dolly Mixture at the Hope and Anchor in London.
Photos of the musicians at the centre of the controversial rock and roll genre of the 1970s
The images also include iconic American punk rockers from the likes of ‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll’ hit-makers, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and The Bangles.
Further pictures depict changing fashion and beauty trends in the late ’70s and early ’80s, with one of the Bodysnatchers’ members sporting a Madonna-esque hair-cut.
The photos feature in a new book called Untypical Girls, by Sam Knee.
The author has previously written articles and blogs demonstrating his fascination with post-war fashion, music and youth culture, but this is his first book.
Sam Knee has a facination with post-war fashion, music and youth culture in Britain
The women shared a love of expressing individuality and freedom in the clothes they wore
With heavy eyeliner and messy hair, this singer takes to the stage in London for a gig
The untypical girls of the 1970s flaunted the deep-rooted chauvinism within the industry
‘Girls have been involved in bands and music from the very inception of pop music, but it was only with the advent of punk that this involvement became more than a surface presence,’ he writes.
‘With a newfound sense of liberation, the untypical girls of the late ’70s defiantly dictated the terms of participation, flaunting the deep-rooted chauvinism within the industry and society at large to speak out on equal terms and take control of their own musical destiny.’
These two women wear jeans and boots with short hair styles as they pose for a photo
This young woman has an impressive nest of dreadlocks as she poses in a music studio
Thick eyeliner, a tie around her neck and strumming guitar, she is the image of 70s punk
The vintage photographs show London-based girls with David Bowie hair cut and make up
Photos of American punk rockers have also been incorporated into the collection
Punk is a rock music genre that developed in the early to mid-1970s in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.
Originated in the 1960s garage rock and other forms of what is now known as ‘proto-punk’ music, punk rock bands rejected perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock.
This woman wears dramatic make up and a short platinum blonde hair style
Hard day’s night: a band spotted returning home in the morning from a gig in their local area
This woman clearly ferlt strongly about the civil rights for gay men and women in the UK
Post-punk is a broad type of rock music that emanated from the punk movement of the 1970s, when artists moved away from the simplicity and traditionalism of punk rock to adopt a variety of avant-garde sensibilities.
‘Untypical Girls sets out to excavate the roots of what is now universally known as indie girl style, traversing the journey from its punk genesis through the myriad eighties and early nineties indie scenes; post-punk, paisley underground, C86, shoegaze, college rock and grunge; finally culminating in riot grrrl,’ Sam said.
Snapped on what looks like a crisp winter morning, these girls show their individual style
These singers follow in the footsteps of bands like The Bangles, Dolly Mixture and Mo-dettes
‘I’ve chosen a pathway that follows a transatlantic parallel between the British indie scenes and those of the USA. This captures the back and forth artistic exchange across the continents and also my personal life journey.’
Untypical Girls is out now published by Cicada