What do you think?
Rate this book
Too Fast to Live Too Young to Die: Punk & post punk graphics 1976-1986
Praise for the Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die exhibition:
"A fascinating look at how punk and new wave music met the eye" New York Times
"An absolute joy" Financial Times
The largest unique collection of printed memorabilia from the punk and post-punk movements.
Andrew Krivine began collecting punk memorabilia in 1977 when punk exploded onto the scene. Since then, Andrew has amassed one of the world s largest collection of punk graphic design and memorabilia.
This book features a carefully curated selection of over 650 posters, club flyers, record covers and adverts from the collection. Together they represent the prime years of punk which changed the world of graphic design forever with its do-it-yourself aesthetics.
The artworks are put into context by graphic design experts, academics and commentators. Among them former art director of New York Times Steven Heller, reader in graphic design at the London College of Communication Dr Russ Bestley, graphic design writer Rick Poynor, designer Malcolm Garrett and Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Michael Wilde. The book spans the growth and evolution of punk on both sides of the Atlantic including The Clash, The Buzzocks, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Television, The Ramones, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Devo, Blondie, Flying Lizards, Public Image Ltd, The Only Ones, The Slits, New Order, REM and Joy Division.
A collectable item itself, the book is beautifully produced with front and back cover artwork by Malcolm Garrett and Peter Saville, the designers behind some of punk s most memorable album covers. Arguably the most essential and final work on the graphic design revolution within the punk and post-punk movements of the UK and America, Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die will appeal to punk fans and graphic designers alike.
Part of Andrew s collection is currently touring the world as the Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die exhibition and has been on display at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York among other museums.
"A fascinating look at how punk and new wave music met the eye" New York Times
"An absolute joy" Financial Times
The largest unique collection of printed memorabilia from the punk and post-punk movements.
Andrew Krivine began collecting punk memorabilia in 1977 when punk exploded onto the scene. Since then, Andrew has amassed one of the world s largest collection of punk graphic design and memorabilia.
This book features a carefully curated selection of over 650 posters, club flyers, record covers and adverts from the collection. Together they represent the prime years of punk which changed the world of graphic design forever with its do-it-yourself aesthetics.
The artworks are put into context by graphic design experts, academics and commentators. Among them former art director of New York Times Steven Heller, reader in graphic design at the London College of Communication Dr Russ Bestley, graphic design writer Rick Poynor, designer Malcolm Garrett and Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Michael Wilde. The book spans the growth and evolution of punk on both sides of the Atlantic including The Clash, The Buzzocks, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Television, The Ramones, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Devo, Blondie, Flying Lizards, Public Image Ltd, The Only Ones, The Slits, New Order, REM and Joy Division.
A collectable item itself, the book is beautifully produced with front and back cover artwork by Malcolm Garrett and Peter Saville, the designers behind some of punk s most memorable album covers. Arguably the most essential and final work on the graphic design revolution within the punk and post-punk movements of the UK and America, Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die will appeal to punk fans and graphic designers alike.
Part of Andrew s collection is currently touring the world as the Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die exhibition and has been on display at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York among other museums.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published March 26, 2020
3 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 15, 2023
Too Fast to Live Too Young to Die: Punk & post punk graphics 1976-1986 by Andrew Krivine is a weighty hardback tome, of the coffee table variety, which I have been savouring since a kindly relative bought me a copy for Xmas
It's graphics and design led, so coming at punk from a slightly different angle.
The author is American but was UK punk obsessed from a very early age and related to the owner of Acme Attractions, Boy etc so had an in from '76 onwards. The book contains his personal archive, which must be massive, and a number of short essays.
The book has broad coverage too - from proto-punk (NY Dolls, VU, etc), into early UK punk, and then US hardcore, anarcho-punk, goth, post-punk and so on.
It's currently available for £22 and perhaps cheaper second hand. At that price it's a steal if you are interested in the design and aesthetics of ye olde punk rock.
4/5
It's graphics and design led, so coming at punk from a slightly different angle.
The author is American but was UK punk obsessed from a very early age and related to the owner of Acme Attractions, Boy etc so had an in from '76 onwards. The book contains his personal archive, which must be massive, and a number of short essays.
The book has broad coverage too - from proto-punk (NY Dolls, VU, etc), into early UK punk, and then US hardcore, anarcho-punk, goth, post-punk and so on.
It's currently available for £22 and perhaps cheaper second hand. At that price it's a steal if you are interested in the design and aesthetics of ye olde punk rock.
4/5
September 30, 2020
Gorgeously printed, deeply evocative of my youth, and spinning everything from a different angle from how I'd usually seen it, this experience has a lot going for it.
There are some sloppy errors of content, and many many omissions (due to the curator's taste, due to restrictions of space... who knows?), and I was often left very frustrated by the lack of depth or context.
Bottom line, yes there are some (fairly randomly coordinated) texts and the pictures are labelled, but you really want this for the pictures. Swim in them. Use this as a springboard to search out the original artistic influences, the stories of the bands, the connections, the music, etc.
There are some sloppy errors of content, and many many omissions (due to the curator's taste, due to restrictions of space... who knows?), and I was often left very frustrated by the lack of depth or context.
Bottom line, yes there are some (fairly randomly coordinated) texts and the pictures are labelled, but you really want this for the pictures. Swim in them. Use this as a springboard to search out the original artistic influences, the stories of the bands, the connections, the music, etc.
March 15, 2023
Excellent book detailing the graphic design of punk. The design element of punk (and post-punk) was as revolutionary, important, and influential as the music. The book features hundreds of images from the collection of Andrew Krivine and contributions from key players show how and why graphic design was so important. I only wish this had been around when I did my dissertation!
May 30, 2020
Some great memories in here and plenty I haven't seen before. Don't recollect the Echo and the Bunnymen poster for their wee Scottish tour, despite having been at the first gig on the tour (Dunfermline, Glen Pavilion). Also saw Richard Hell and the Void-oids when they supported the Clash at the the Ballroom, Dunfermline (my first gig) then the Clash (plus Suicide) at the Ballroom less than a year later. Very much a dip into book for a look at the punk/post punk art of the late 70s/early 80s. One for the aging and young rebels.
Ray Smillie
Ray Smillie
January 8, 2021
There's an element of randomness to the images and posters on show here, but that's part of the charm of the book. It brought back a lot of memories for me, and made me go and listen to some stuff I'd not heard for some time. And the Yeah Yeah Noh bumper book closing image left me smiling!
February 28, 2025
This book does a great job illustrating the timeline of poster art not only in the music industry, but also for political statements and propaganda. A must read for any designer or anyone interested.
August 5, 2020
Gorgeous book highlighting punk graphics.
January 18, 2021
Another great punk book!!!
August 25, 2025
I particularly liked that the last poster design in the book was that of Leicester’s very own Yeah Yeah Noh. Top class from beginning to end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews