PRE-SALE DATE: January 2025

Anarchy In The Studio: Punk Music 1970-1979

The Rise of Punk Rock

Limited Slipcased Special-Edition

Foreword by Laura Jane Grace

Author: Tim Stegall

ISBN: 9798218458669

Dimensions: 11.5x11.5x3.5 inches

Format: Hardcover

Limited Special Slipcase Edition

Release Date: Spring 2025

Punk rock did not begin in New York City in 1975, any more than it started in London in 1976. Punk was a spontaneous eruption of fans of a handful of outsider American rock ‘n’ roll bands — The Velvet Underground, MC5, The Stooges, New York Dolls — forming the band they heard in their heads, because they were not hearing it in the outside world. They happened virtually simultaneously, before the groundswell became unignorable: Ramones, Patti Smith and Richard Hell in NYC; Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned in London; Buzzcocks in Manchester; The Saints in Brisbane, Australia; Radio Birdman in Sydney, Australia. Whether by Legs McNeil at Punk Magazine or Caroline Coon at England’s Melody Maker, the music got branded with the name Creem writer Lester Bangs coined for what’s now known as ‘60s garage: “punk rock.”

Anarchy In The Studio: Punk Music 1970-1979 —The Rise Of Punk Rock is veteran punk journalist/historian/musician Tim Stegall’s comprehensive ‘70s punk history. Based around a selection of over 140+ of the best punk albums of the ‘70s, Anarchy In The Studio is the rare punk book that is not regional in focus. The early protopunk era not only takes in the aforementioned American influences such as The Stooges and the Dolls, but English forerunners such as Third World War, Pink Fairies, Mott The Hoople and The Hollywood Brats. All of the biggest names of the ‘70s are here: Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Dead Boys, Richard Hell and The Voidoids, The Damned, The Slits, Buzzcocks, Generation X. Equal attention is given to regional heroes such as DMZ, The Weirdos, Pure Hell, Death, Victims, The Bags, Avengers, The Dishrags and The Dils. Australia is given special recognition via The Saints, Radio Birdman, Victims and Boys Next Door, predecessors of The Birthday Party. Art-punks and post-punks such as Suicide, DEVO, Screamers, Teenage Jesus and The Jerks, and Public Image Ltd. and The Pop Group are given their due, as well as idiosyncratic acts such as Chrome, Metal Urbain and The Cramps. Hardcore’s earliest rumblings filter in through the first chords struck by Middle Class, Black Flag, D.O.A., Bad Brains and the Germs. 

Additionally, a bonus fanzine is included, featuring recent interviews with over 30+ punk heroes of the 1970’s, including Richard Hell, Wayne Kramer (MC5–one of his final interviews), Danny Fields, Steve Diggle (Buzzcocks), Bob “Derwood” Andrews (Generation X), Alice Bag (The Bags), James Williamson (Iggy And The Stooges), Brian James (The Damned), Wreckless Eric, Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols, Rich Kids), John Lydon (Sex Pistols, Public Image Ltd.), Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, and many more.

Chock full of inside tales, origin stories, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and little-known facts, Anarchy In The Studio details the organic rise of DIY culture, spawning punk rock/fashion/media/literature/record labels/more. Beginning with MC5’s Back In The USA and The Stooges’ Fun House in 1970 and ending with The Clash’s London Calling and The Pretenders’ self-titled debut in 1979, Anarchy In The Studio tells the story of punk rock, 12 inches at a time.

About The Author:

Tim Stegall has written about punk rock extensively since 1985, in publications ranging from Flipside and Your Flesh to Alternative Press and The Austin Chronicle. Based in Austin, Texas, he is also a punk rock musician, leading his “fundamentalist punk band” The Hormones since 1986.