Punk: The Last Word

'This book you hold in your hand may well be the definitive one on PUNK - from Baudelaire to the Beats, from Warhol’s Factory to Madam Louise’s in Soho. Read it and be inspired.' Bobby Gillespie

'From the shabby stowaways of the valleys in the mid ‘70’s to the sophisticated hot spots of London’s Soho in the current day, through the decades, Chris has strode them all.' Glen Matlock

'A thoroughly enjoyable compendium of appalling behaviour.' Nick Logan, Editor NME (1973-1978), founder of The Face

The last word on the movement that shook the world.

Punk: The Last Word is a powerful reimagining of punk—not just as a sound or style, but as a radical, DIY philosophy rooted in defiance, truth, and individuality.

Cultural insider and Wag Club founder Chris Sullivan and Byline Times editor Stephen Colegrave bring together over 150 original interviews with punk’s most iconic figures—Iggy Pop, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie Sioux, Vivienne Westwood, and many others. From musicians and designers to promoters and provocateurs, they paint a vivid portrait of the movement’s chaotic rise and lasting impact on both sides of the Atlantic.

Tracing punk’s rebellious spirit from 19th-century bohemia to the explosion of Kings Road and Coventry in the late '70s, this is, without a doubt, the most in-depth, insider account of punk’s evolution and legacy.

As the movement approaches its 50th anniversary, its core values—authenticity, resistance, and creative freedom—feel more urgent than ever. Punk isn’t just music. It’s a way of life.