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PUNK The Definitive Photography Archive

Museum-quality photographs documenting the birth of punk, made by the photographers who were inside it. From CBGB and Max's Kansas City in New York to the Roxy and the London underground, the archive brings together vintage prints, contact sheets, Polaroids and rare exhibition works.

The photographers represented here were not covering a scene from outside. Roberta Bayley worked the door at CBGB and shot for Punk magazine. Godlis photographed the Bowery at night for years. Bob Gruen, Ebet Roberts, Allan Tannenbaum, Bobby Grossman, Marcia Resnick, Chris Stein and Michael Grecco each worked from within the same circle in New York, while Ian Dickson and Sheila Rock documented the parallel movement in Britain.

What survives in these photographs is the texture of the moment: small rooms, cheap light, and musicians who had not yet become famous. Each work is produced from the original negative or colour transparency, hand-signed by the photographer or the estate, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

441 works
Tom Petty, black-and-white studio portrait with crossed arms, c. 1976, photographed by Richard Aaron.
Tom Petty, Studio Portrait with Crossed Arms, c. 1976TMPG·7942
Richard Aaron From $850
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Patti Smith leaning forward with both hands braced beside her in 1976. Photograph by Gijsbert Hanekroot.
Patti Smith Leaning Forward, 1976TMPG·1238
Gijsbert Hanekroot From $1,000
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Ramones Close-Up with Banner, New York City, 1977, photographed by Chris Stein.
Ramones Close-Up with Banner, New York City, 1977TMPG·3142
Chris Stein From $1,000
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Stiv Bators of the Dead Boys performing in New York, photographed by Charlyn Zlotnik.
Stiv Bators, Dead Boys, New YorkTMPG·8742
Charlyn Zlotnik From $1,000
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Talking Heads, New York City, 1977, photographed by Allan Tannenbaum.
Talking Heads, New York City, 1977TMPG·1158
Allan Tannenbaum From $1,500
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The Ramones, “Too Tough To Die” album cover, 1984, photographed by George DuBose.
The Ramones, cover of "Too Tough to Die"TMPG·7174
George DuBose From $1,300
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Joey Ramone, Coney Island, 1977, photographed by Roberta Bayley.
Joey Ramone with Surfboard, Coney Island, New York City, 1977TMPG·7718
Roberta Bayley From $1,400
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John Cale, Lou Reed, Patti Smith & David Byrne. NYC, 1976, photographed by Bob Gruen.
John Cale, Lou Reed, Patti Smith and David Byrne, New York City, 1976TMPG·1190
Bob Gruen From $1,200
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Lou Reed, New York City, 1977, photographed by Allan Tannenbaum.
Lou Reed, New York City, 1977TMPG·6310
Allan Tannenbaum From $1,500
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Richard Hell in Rainstorm, Bowery, 1977, photographed by Godlis.
Richard Hell in Rainstorm, Bowery, 1977TMPG·7814
Godlis From $1,200
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David Johansen, New York City, c. 1977, photographed by Bobby Grossman.
David Johansen, New York City, c. 1977TMPG·8502
Bobby Grossman From $1,500
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Ramones in the subway, New York City, 1975, photographed by Bob Gruen.
Ramones, Subway, New York City, 1975TMPG·5990
Bob Gruen From $1,200
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Patti Smith on stage at the microphone in a patterned coat, photographed by Charlyn Zlotnik, 1977.
Patti Smith on Stage, 1977TMPG·6102
Charlyn Zlotnik From $1,000
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Richard Lloyd in hospital, New York City, 1977, photographed by Godlis.
Richard Lloyd Hospital, New York City, 1977TMPG·9670
Godlis From $1,200
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David Bowie and Dee Dee Ramone, the Mudd Club, New York City, 1978, photographed by Bobby Grossman.
David Bowie with Dee Dee Ramone, the Mudd Club, New York City, 1978TMPG·8422
Bobby Grossman From $1,500
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Ramones, CBGB, 1977, photographed by Godlis.
Ramones, CBGB, 1977TMPG·0758
Godlis From $1,200
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Dave Vanian, CBGB, New York City, 1977. Photograph by Ebet Roberts.
Dave Vanian, CBGB, New York City, 1977TMPG·5510
Ebet Roberts From $1,000
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Debbie Harry, Max's Kansas City, New York City, 1976, photographed by Bob Gruen.
Debbie Harry, Max's Kansas City, New York City, 1976TMPG·8390
Bob Gruen From $1,200
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72 of 441 works