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Punk Britannia

Punk Britannia

★ 7.5/10•2012•57m•Documentary
Similars

A brand new take on the most transformative force in British popular music history.

Sam Bridger · Director

StatusEnded
Runtime57m
LanguageEN
First Air DateJun 1, 2012

Episodes

E1

Pre-Punk 1972-1976

Narrated by Peter Capaldi, this opener of a three-part documentary series in BBC FOUR's celebrated 'Britannia' strand is scheduled to chime with the 35th anniversary of the Queen's Silver Jubilee and the arrival of punk as national and then international music culture. The film explores the road to punk in Britain, which begins in the early 70s with a young generation already conscious that they have 'missed the 60s party' and are stuck in a Britain heading for economic woes and dwindling opportunities. Meanwhile the music of the day - prog and super rock - seems to ask not for their interest and involvement, but only their awe and their money. But before the punk generation finally arises to have its say during 1976 come a group of pub rockers, a generation of bands sandwiched between 60s hippies and mid-70s punks who will help pave the way towards the short, sharp shock of punk, only to be elbowed aside by the emergence of the Sex Pistols, the Clash et al.

Jun 1, 2012

E2

Punk 1976-1978

Daydreaming England was about to be rudely awakened as punk emerged from the London underground scene. A nation dropped its dinner in its lap when the Sex Pistols swore on prime time television. Punk had finally found its enemy- the establishment. In Manchester, the Buzzcocks' self-released Spiral Scratch was a clarion call for a do-it-yourself generation, while the Clash's White Riot tour took punk's message across Britain. Moral outrage followed the Pistols around the country, effectively outlawing punk - but there was one refuge for the music. Nestled in the wasteland of 70s Covent Garden, the Roxy was punk's cathedral. Punk interlopers the Jam raised the bar for lyricism, challenging punk's London elite. Punk also began to extend its three-chord vocabulary through an alliance with reggae, memorably captured by the Clash on White Man in Hammersmith Palais.

Jun 8, 2012

E3

Post-Punk 1978-1981

Punk had shown what it was against- now what was it for? In the wake of the Pistols' demise a new generation of musicians would re-imagine the world. Freed up by punk's DIY ethos, a kaleidoscope of musical influences broke three chord conformity. Public Image Limited allowed Johnny Rotten to become John Lydon the artist, Magazine would be first to record in the wake of the Pistols' split, Mark E Smith made street poetry while Ian Curtis turned punk's rage into an existential drama. In a time beset by dread and tension perhaps the biggest paranoia was Mutually Assured Destruction essayed perfectly by Young Marble Giants' Final Day. Released in the height of Thatcherism, Ghost Town by The Specials marked a parting of the post-punk waves. Some would remain avowedly uncommercial whilst others would explore pop as a new avenue in the new decade. The song that perhaps summed up post-punk's journey was Orange Juice's Rip It Up and Start Again.

Jun 15, 2012

Actors

Peter Capaldi

Peter Capaldi

Narrator

John Lydon

John Lydon

Billy Idol

Billy Idol

Glen Matlock

Glen Matlock

Adam Ant

Adam Ant

Paul Weller

Paul Weller

Siouxsie Sioux

Siouxsie Sioux

Richard Strange

Richard Strange

Julien Temple

Julien Temple

Mark E. Smith

Mark E. Smith

Jah Wobble

Jah Wobble

Martyn Ware

Martyn Ware

Don Letts

Don Letts

Tony Parsons

Tony Parsons

Self

Bobby Gillespie

Bobby Gillespie

Self

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