This lavishly packaged coffee table book is a million miles from the edgy, two fingers up at the establishment publications of the time, swapping the brutal, brusque immediacy of the Xeroxed zine/flyer for a plush, state of the art design.  Still, it's and exhilarating read with juicy interviews with the likes of Steve Severin, Don Letts, Paul Simonon and Jayne County.  But it's the picture research that's most delightful here, from a classic shot of Debbie Harry and Joey Ramone snuggled up in bed to Iggy Pop from '68 sporting white face paint and a died perm.  Lois Wilson 

Bands and people included are:

Adam and the Ants, Andy Warhol, Bauhaus, Billy Idol, Bow Wow Wow, Brian Brain, Circle Jerks, Clash, Brian Cook and Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols, Cramps, David Johansen (post-New York Dolls), Dead Kennedys, DOA, Edith Massey (of John Waters fame), Exploited, Gang of Four, GBH, Girls School, Jah Wobble, Jello Biafra, Killing Joke, Lance Loud, Lydia Lunch, Marianne Faithfull, Misfits, Nico, Nuns, Patti Smith, Public Image Ltd, Raincoats, Ramones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Richard Hell (of The Voidoids), Sex Gang Children, Sid Vicious, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Slits, X, Stiv Bators (of The Dead Boys), Stray Cats, and Virgin Prunes.

These aren't posed fashion shots, they're all performance or back stage photos–all action! Plus, his commentary, while minimal, is interesting and fun! The bits about saving Nancy Spungen from getting run over by a taxi and about overhearing Andy Warhol and Truman Capote gossip are unforgettable!

The definitive tome on the UK punk scene.  Savage, whose compelling narrative is bolstered with interviews with the main incubators and agitators on the concurrent London and Manchester scenes, not only details the emerging soundtrack but provides an intelligently argued sociological and political analysis of the decade and its burgeoning youth culture.  He highlights the importance of word-of-mouth reportage and fanzines and of performance artists such as Throbbing Gristle in the evolution of punk, while also pinpointing the role of fashion with Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's King's Road boutique.  Lois Wilson 

The complete A to Z of punk, includes a two page article on the Banshees and a short piece on the Bromley Contingent.