The Roxy London WC2: A Punk Rock History
by Paul Marko

Fascinating, warts’n’all account of the best early UK punk venue

Over the years, The Roxy club in London’s Covent Garden has attained an almost mythical status among punk fans, particularly those that never got to visit the place. This may explain why Paul Marko, who knows a thing or two about punk (he runs the excellent www.punk77.co.uk website), but also never entered the Roxy’s murky depths, has taken it upon himself to write and self-publish this astonishingly detailed account of the club’s all-too-short history. Over no less than 512 pages, with copious quotes from “Roxygoers”, musicians, writers and others on the scene, this book gives you the full story of the club: the early glory days under founders Andy Czezowski, Barry Jones and Ralph Jedraszczyk, from December 1976 to April 1977, during which every major punk act apart from the Pistols appeared. There’s the fabled Live At The Roxy album, which hit the Top 20 in the charts, the later period when the founding trio were ousted and a shady character called Kevin St John took over, and the less fabled Farewell To The Roxy live album. It’s an intriguing read, with some great photos, and surely the last word on the subject.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

ISBN 9780955658303

Reviewed by Shane Baldwin
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