Punk emerged in the mid-1970s as an unfiltered and unpolished rebellion against the musical mainstream of disco, soft rock, and Top 40. The diverse, arty punk scene in New York City and the parallel raw and aggressive scene in London carried on the spark ignited by groups like the Velvet Underground, the Stooges, and Alice Cooper, and inspired similar movements throughout the world, including here in Cleveland. The punk subculture challenged gender norms and also encompassed fashion, film, and fine art, eventually branching out into new wave, hardcore, alt rock, and countless other sonic alternatives.

In honor of punk’s 50th anniversary, Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! Punk at 50, celebrates the dawn of punk, demonstrating the genre’s boldness, DIY attitude, style, and revolutionary sound with images of vanguard artists such as the Ramones, Sex Pistols, Patti Smith, the Clash, and Blondie, as well as cult favorite groups like Dead Boys, the Misfits, the Slits, and the Damned.

Photo by Steve Joester