Punk 45

Spanning more than 350 pages in a flexibound edition, this volume gathers hundreds of sleeve designs from seven-inch punk singles. The selection runs from the Sex Pistols, the Stooges, Richard Hell, the Ramones, the Clash and Talking Heads to many other acts.

Punk's do-it-yourself attitude extended to how records looked as well as how they sounded. Sleeves were often cheap, rough and direct, and they communicated anarchy, personal style, fashion and politics. Many carried the bluntness of both city and suburban life. The late 1970s saw thousands of new bands emerge, including punk, post-punk, pre-punk and near-punk groups, and their packaging reflects that restless energy.

The book is introduced and co-edited by Jon Savage, who also wrote England's Dreaming, a history of punk. It opens with a new introduction by Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream. Contributors include Peter Saville, Richard Hell, Richard H Kirk, Seymour Stein, Geoff Travis, Martin Moscrop, Glenn Branca, Jamie Reid, Dave Robinson, Roger Armstrong, Martin Mills, Gee Vaucher, Savage Pencil, Dennis Morris and others.

The collection celebrates punk artwork across its full range, from the most famous covers to the roughest, least-known releases made on minimal budgets.