Punk in London (1977)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Wolfgang Büld

Writer:

Wolfgang Büld (writer)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

A contemporary documentary covering the Great British punk rock explosion of 1977. |

Plot Keywords:

Punk | London England | Cult | Punk Rock Music | 1970s

Cast

Gaye Advert	...	Herself (as The Adverts)
Jack Airport	...	Himself (as X-Ray-Spex)
Arturo Bassick	...	Himself (as The Lurkers)
Rick Buckler	...	Himself (as The Jam)
Chelsea	...	Themselves
Robert Collins	...	Himself (as The Jolt)
Miles A. Copeland III	...	Himself (as Miles Copeland)
Wayne County	...	Himself (as Wayne County and the Electric Chairs)
Andrew Czezowski	...	Himself - Manager
Henry Daze	...	Himself (as Chelsea)
Paul Dean	...	Himself (as X-Ray-Spex)
Jim Doak	...	Himself (as The Jolt)
Lorry Driver	...	Himself (as The Adverts)
The Electric Chairs	...	Themselves
Manic Esso	...	Himself (as The Lurkers)
Carey Fortune	...	Himself (as Chelsea)
Bruce Foxton	...	Himself (as The Jam)
Bob Geldof	...	Himself (as The Boomtown Rats)
Vic Godard	...	Himself (as Subway Sect)
B.P. Harding	...	Himself (as X-Ray-Spex)
Topper Headon	...	Himself (as The Clash)
The Jam	...	Themselves
Mick Jones	...	Himself (as The Clash)
Lora Logic	...	Herself (as X-Ray-Spex)
Paul Myers	...	Himself (as Subway Sect)
Gene October	...	Himself (as Chelsea)
Paul Packham	...	Himself (as Subway Sect)
Fabian Paffendorf	...	Himself
Howard Pickup	...	Himself (as The Adverts)
Kevin Rowland	...	Himself (as The Killjoys)
Iain Shedden	...	Himself (as The Jolt)
Paul Simonon	...	Himself (as The Clash)
T.V. Smith	...	Himself (as The Adverts)
James Stevenson	...	Himself (as Chelsea)
The Stranglers	...	Themselves
Peter Stride	...	Himself (as The Lurkers)
Joe Strummer	...	Himself (as The Clash)
Poly Styrene	...	Herself (as X-Ray-Spex)
Rob Symmons	...	Himself (as Subway Sect)
Howard Wall	...	Himself (as The Lurkers)
Paul Weller	...	Himself (as The Jam)
X-Ray Spex	...	Themselves

Runtime:

West Germany:111 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München (HFF)

Soundtrack:

(You Make Me) Cream in My Jeans

Punk In London.

Released jointly with a book the size of London itself!, Punk In London is perhaps the best documentary as regards capturing the spirit of the bands who were at the forefront of the punk explosion in Britain circa 1976. Tho footage of The Clash is tagged on to the end, to presumably give the makers a selling point, it's with the other notable movers of the times that Punk In London becomes something of an essential viewing for fans and interested observers alike.

Featuring live work from the likes of The Lurkers, X-Ray Spex, Subway Sect, Chelsea and The Adverts, this is a must see to really see just how raw the movement was before it became a viable product for record company big wigs. Tho not all the live footage is of great quality ( you will struggle to hear Poly Styrene's vocals on Identity), watching Howard Wall of The Lurkers sing whilst being surrounded by fans is critical in portraying just how of the people the punk explosion was, it really shows the whole essence and point of punk rock, namely anyone can make a record, get up there and do it yourself. Ultimately it's with the interviews that this documentary succeeds, watch and enjoy as Gene October {lead singer of Chelsea} muses on why his band exists, and delight as Arturo Bassick of The Lurkers does an interview at his parents house whilst Mam & Dad watch Top Of The Pops, featuring a performance from The Boomtown Rats singing Looking After Number One, Arturo's words at this point is crucial to how so many bands felt at the time.

Also features performances from The Electric Chairs, The Killjoys and The Jolt.

Raw and patchy sums this DVD up, but really those words can best describe the Punk movement itself, honest, refreshing and totally essential. 9/10