Customer Reviews

London's Burning: True Adventures on the Front Lines of Punk, 1976-1977

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An interesting and in-depth look at the London punk scene, told by somebody who lived through it in his youth. The big names are all mentioned, but there are also great stories about those who are hardly remembered today. The author tells his story well and is an interesting companion for the journey.

This looked interesting when I ran across it in a bookstore, but who could possibly have any additional insights on this well worn era in music?

Well, Dave Thompson can. Told from the point of view of a fan who moved to London to catch the action, it offers an entirely different perspective than the typical rock critic would. As much about the city as the music, one really gets a feel of what it was like to live in London during this exciting time. (Hint: not nearly as nice as you might think; London in the 70's sounds a lot like New York in the 70's, with large swaths of derelict housing, racial tension and dangerous turf even in the center city.)

I loved this book, the images are still burning (heh heh) in my mind several months later.