Punk exhibition, British Library review ★★★★★

The British Library is a pretty incongruous place to have an exhibition about the rise of punk anarchy in the UK.

Surrounded by the heavy silence of students working, headphones blast out the roaring tunes of the sound of revolution and anti-establishment imagery scattered around the inside of glass boxes.

This relatively small and thoughtful exhibition space, that until recently hosted an exhibition on the tame Alice in Wonderland, has collected together a range of energising and organic punk-themed ephemera, from audio recordings, gig tickets and clothes that offer a fascinating window into our rebellious recent history.

Highlights of the exhibition include the rebellious tit pillowcase T-shirt produced by Sex Pistol manager Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood sold at their soho anti-fashion shop Sex, the collection of home-made zines created by fans led by Sniffin' Glue, and the leather jacket worn by The Damned drummer Rat Scabies alongside the letter he wrote recording how it had kept him warm when he slept in vans and kept him camera-ready when he ran through the streets of London. There's also a resignation letter for the Sex Pistols by Glen Matlock and their God Save the Queen images designed by Jamie Reid.

Carefully chosen memorabilia and interviews from the rise of punk in the 70s make for a perfect nostalgia trip for anyone who lived through it the first time and a brilliant, eye-opening visit to the 70s for anyone experiencing it for the first time. An absolute must-see exhibition which is, as always, free and open to all.

Viv Albertine and Jon Savage on Punk
Catch The Clash's tour DJ Scratchy live in the British Library's lofty Entrance Hall for an evening of cerebral and alcoholic stimulation. Viv Albertine (guitarist of The Slits) and Jon Savage (author of the definitive book on punk England's Dreaming), will talk about punk, hosted by Kate Mossman (arts editor of the New Statesman).