To think the 'punk' era of music was essentially over by 1978?

[StirlingWork]

I listened to a track by punk band The Toy Dolls last night - it was their only UK hit - 'Nellie the Elephant' - reached no.4 in the UK charts in December 1984. This is a track that although it reached a high chart position it NEVER seems to get radio airplay - so it was nice to listen to it and replay the associated memories.
In the UK, the peak of the punk era in my opinion was 1977 - with the Silver Jubliee and the Sex Pistols track 'God Save the Queen' and associated controversy. When the Sex Pistols split up in early 1978, being the iconic UK punk group, within a year or so the UK punk scene slowly came to a halt only to be replaced by New Wave, a few years later Ska and the New Romantics.
Whenever, anyone says punk to me - I associate the movement with the year 1977, after which it all seemed to go downhill.

insancerre - I looked at their Website a few months ago - it must be treat to see them live.

I remember getting a home knitted mohair jumper for my birthday in '77..it was THE thing in punk fashion-at least to my 13 year old self. Far too hot and itchy when pogo-ing at the school disco though! I seem to remember moving on to synth pop and New Romantic stuff not long after. Stopped being into music for years though after around 1985 when House came in.

Thanks for the book recommendations, chaps. Pity my attention span is terrible these days. Takes me an age to read anything.

It's Charlie Harper's birthday today. 76 and still doing gigs.

Punk's definitely not over.

My dad had Nellie the Elephant, and he was kind of old. Didn’t occur to me at the time that it was punk. I think we would have categorised it as ‘fun’.

I saw Stiff Little Fingers, New Model Army, Therapy? and The Toy Dolls in Custom House Square, Belfast last summer.

The Toy Dolls were brilliant. And they played Nellie the Elephant.

I’m a tad too young for punk. I bloody love the cramps though. Fond memories of chicken dancing to Can Your Pussy Do The Dog in the some dingy club.

I once saw the Johnny Thunders play though.

I'm the same age as you Stirling - I remember going to a punk disco in 1981 when I was 9. I guess by the time 9 years olds were pogo-ing to Toyah punk's heyday was over!

Yes, it’s charlie Harper’s birthday today
Still playing punk at 76, he is such a nice man too, met him a few times
I’ve seen the uk subs live more than any other band because they never stop playing
I’m really missing punk gigs at the moment, you really can’t beat the atmosphere at a punk gig

I'm from California and the Orange County punk scene had a big influence on me. It was such a vibrant part of my childhood. And undeniably, our punk scene was totally fuelled an influenced by what was happening here in the UK and on the East Coast in New York. So late 70s, very, very early 80s is the best of the best, imo.

TheVanguardSix - aw I had a good friend from Orange County - it sounds a lovely place to live

ProfYaffle - yep! When I was 9 my friend was crazy about Adam Ant - I was slightly more indifferent but liked his songs.
I think your username further confirms we're the same age - same cultural references!

Chatone - I think the style then was more for 'fun' type records.
Russ Abbott - 'Atmosphere' anyone?

Sorry meant Chatons

Oh good lord!

1066vegan - aw I'm a tad envious - that sounds like an excellent line-up!!!!!!

@StirlingWork It was. We got there early and managed to get right up at the front. Brilliant evening.

We took our teenage dd with us. Not the sort of music she usually listens to. She didn't quite know what to make of it all. 😁

1977 was punk's last independent hurrah

Independent hurrah? What are you talking about? The whole thing was a scam—that was the point. The Sex Pistols were a major label band.

@AuroraBore

Yes and no. Took on its own life after SP and MM, didn't it? The Jam, etc - they knew it was corporate but did agree with the sentiments.

I have killed another thread! This was good - come back!

Hi serenada - I was just thinking yesterday that the song;

"You've done too much, much too young" had a punk sound to it - but it was probably the more popular/melodic end of punk iyswim. I don't know the band who sung this song without googling (cheating)

'Gordon is a moron' by Jilted John had a very punk feel as well or if not hardcore punk - it's the type of song that was in the style of the time - circa 1978

sereneda - what was John Lydon like? It's great you got to meet him. He's the only member of the Sex Pistols I remember from 1977 as I was 4/5 when they split up.
Didn't realise he did films - thought he just did music

Oh come on! Crass? Their album penis envy was a feminist masterpiece! Then they did the feeding of the 5000. That was the 80s. Then there was a flux of pink Indians (not as big) but then all the three chord thrash kind the angelic upstarts and stiff little fingers.

I still listen to penis envy to this day! And the angelic upstarts/stiff little fingers ocasdionslly

It wasn’t a film he directed - it was about his life, growing up in London, meningitis as a kid, SP, PIL.

He was there with his wife and then did a Q and A afterwards. He was quite erratic. A lot of the PIL record/sound producers were there and I talked to them. It was interesting. There were film people/music people and then the of punks.

He still played the role of Johnny though and I think a lot of people there would have liked to have heard from him without the ‘act’ ifykwim.

And he talked about Arsenal/North London.

Was a good bit of musical history. I’ll try and find a link to the film and post it.