Kevin Dettmar with Hugo Burnham: Punk in 50 Pieces

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“This is an irresistible book that will spark a thousand arguments—and that's just on the day it's published. I'm already making my list. I haven't had so much fun with a work of criticism in years.”— Greil Marcus, author of The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll in Ten Songs

Fifty years ago punk crashed on the scene, redefining music and popular culture. In celebration of that historic event comes this cultural history exploring fifty iconic alternative songs and unforgettable moments that destroyed and redefined rock ‘n’ roll.

Once upon a time—November 26, 1976, to be precise—a band named the Sex Pistols kicked their way into cultural consciousness with “Anarchy in the U.K.” It was the public launch of punk rock, raucous music with a snarling in-your-face attitude, aggressive style, and a riotous political sensibility that came, saw, and conquered.

Fifty years later, the question remains: What the hell was that?

Punk in 50 Pieces retells the story of punk’s cultural earthquake. Kevin Dettmar traces the evolution of this rock ‘n’ roll revolution, revealing how classic early punk (The Ramones, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop) gave birth to both post-punk (Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Gang of Four) and New Wave (Talking Heads, Blondie, Devo).

Standing beside classic works such as Please K*ll Me, Lipstick Traces, Rip It Up and Start Again, and England’s Dreaming, Punk in 50 Pieces paints a vivid portrait of an era, a sound, and the artists and attitude that made it unforgettable. It’s the perfect introduction for a new generation of rebels without a cause and a master playlist for die-hards who may no longer be slam-dancing in the mosh pit but have never forgotten the music.

Punk in 50 Pieces includes chapters featuring:

The Sex Pistols, “Anarchy in the U.K."
Elvis Costello, “Alison"
X-Ray Spex, “Oh Bondage Up Yours!"
Talking Heads, “Psycho Killer"
The Police, “Roxanne"
The Clash, “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais"
Public Image Ltd, “Public Image"
The Cure, “Boys Don’t Cry"
The B–52s, “Rock Lobster"
The Go-Go’s, “We Got the Beat"
The Pretenders, “Precious"
The Psychedelic Furs, “Pretty in Pink"

Kevin Dettmar is the author of Is Rock Dead? (spoiler: hell no!) and the 33 1/3 volume on Gang of Four’s Entertainment!, and the editor of The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan and (with Jonathan Lethem) Shake It Up: Great American Writing on Rock and Pop from Elvis to Jay Z. He teaches at Pomona College.

Hugo Burnham: Before his current life in academia, Hugo spent twenty-five years in the music industry; first as a founding member of Gang of Four, who formed at Leeds University in the mid- ‘70s, where Hugo was an English and Theatre major. Post Gang of Four version I, Hugo was an artist manager in London, before moving to the US as an A&R executive for Island Records and Quincy Jones’ Qwest Records, and finally as a music publisher with EMI Music. In 2000 his academic career began at the New England Institute of Art, teaching about the entertainment industry and then more mundane subjects such as English Lit., Critical Thinking, Communications, and Political Science. He re-joined the original Gang of Four line-up in 2005 though 2006. In 2008, He joined Endicott College, where is an Assistant Professor, Experiential Learning in the Visual & Performing Arts Center. In 2020, he and Jon King brought Gang of Four back into loud and active service.

Brookline Booksmith, thriving in the heart of Coolidge Corner in Brookline, Massachusetts, since 1961, is one of New England’s premier independent bookstores. We offer a vast selection of books, ranging from current bestsellers to the most eclectic titles. We are also known for our beautiful and inspired gifts. Customers buy and sell gently used books in our treasured Used Book Cellar and enjoy our bountiful bargain book selection. We host award-winning events series (including our groundbreaking Transnational Literature Series), offering more than 300 author talks, community conversations, and book clubs annually. Find more at brooklinebooksmith.com!