Punk’s Year Zero was 1976. But very few Punk records were actually released that year. The most significant musical developments happened in 1977, with a burgeoning, self-supporting network of clubs, performers, fanzines, indie labels and distributors creating an unstoppable groundswell that would revolutionise UK music and have an enduring impact on pop culture.

 

Many of the year’s major breakthrough acts and cult favourites are included, including The Jam, The Damned, The Boomtown Rats, Buzzcocks, The Stranglers, Generation X, Sham 69, The Only Ones, The Rezillos, Ultravox!, 999, X-Ray Spex, ATV, The Boys and The Vibrators.

 

Joined by sympathetic but more experienced acts (Deaf School, Graham Parker, Motorhead, etc.), a welter of new, young bands created a sonic explosion, with sub-three- minute adrenalin rushes of raw excitement.

 

The older guard – variously labelled Pub Rock, New Wave or Art Rock – are represented by Doctors Of Madness, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Deaf School, The Tyla Gang, Graham Parker & The Rumour, The Gorillas, The Count Bishops, Radio Stars, Spider and Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias.

 

Other key names include Motorhead (Lemmy’s new venture after splitting with Hawkwind, a metal band loved by punks) and The Heartbreakers, Johnny Thunders’ band who recorded in London. Also present are a host of obscure indie Punk 45s and other rarities.

 

The deluxe clamshell package includes a weighty booklet full of illustrations, with a 15,000- word sleeve-note and band-by-band biographies by compiler David Wells.