Punk in London

With Punk now the stuff of postcards, it’s good to have Punk in London, a 1977 feature that taps the source of what the scene was all about. German director Wolfgang Büra interviews a number of players and promoters but, apart from concert sequences by The Adverts and The Clash—in gritty form on their ill-fated first European tour—the emphasis is on “almost were” bands. Büra’s reticent and awkward questioning won’t win awards for journalism, but interviewees are prepared to open up to him. There’s political hard-talking from members of Chelsea, a chat with the unassuming bassist of The Lurkers (and parents!), priceless interview footage with Kevin Rowland, then in Birmingham band The Kiljoys; best of all, the laconic roadie of Subway Sect, a true leveller well aware that the whole “Punk thing” will fall victim to commercial pressure like counter-cultures before it. —Amazon