Punk Diary: The Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Underground Rock, 1970-1982

by George Gimarc

Punk Diary is a comprehensive chronicle of the punk rock era, combining for the first time in one volume the previously published Punk Diary and Post Punk Diary – expanded with new material never before published. Experience this volatile period in popular music and culture first-hand, as author George Gimarc uses original archival material and in-depth interviews to present a day-by-day accounting of over 1000 bands and 4000 recordings, including record releases, live gigs, bands getting together or breaking apart, riots, arrests, and revealing quotes from the personalities of the day.

Genres: Music, Reference, Punk

752 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Chandler Gaudet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is it. The book that got me into punk rock and subsequently formed the foundations of my music taste today. I don't remember exactly how this book made its way to me, I just remember that it was stolen (from my middle school library I think). Admittedly this book doesn't contain very much detail about the bands - just dates of shows and maybe a small blurb - but I'm kind of glad it doesn't. This allowed me to research each band on my own and discover the genre without being held to some reviewer's opinion. Most of the time I'd open to a random page with my eyes closed and listen to the first band my finger landed on. I was also able to make connections and trace the roots of figures/bands that wouldn't become relevant until after the time period this book focuses on, such as Nirvana and R.E.M. Some of the bands I discovered through this book: Generation X, The Snivelling Shits, Buzzcocks, Sham 69, Germs, Black Flag, and probably a ton more I can't quite place right now. Even though punk is not my go-to genre anymore as I listen to anything from Jazz to Outsider music, groups like Autechre to early 70s singer-songwriter stuff and tons of music from around the world, this book gave me a knack for discovery which I'll always be grateful for.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gimarc previously published two separate diaries (1970-1979 and 1980-1982) and this book merely combines those previoulsy released books and gives it a trendy new title.