50 Years of Punk: John Robb and Russ Bestley in conversation
House of Books & Friends is excited to celebrate 50 Years of Punk with John Robb and Russ Bestley on 22nd July at 6pm. John will be discussing his memoir, Punk Rock Ruined my Life: and other stories, while Russ discusses his new title, Turning Revolt into Style: The process and practice of punk graphic design. The talk will take place for one hour, and will involve a Q&A and a chance to get your books signed by John and Russ. The event will be chaired by Kevin Quinn.
Tickets
Click here to buy your ticket for £5. You can add on John Robb’s title for an additional £15 (£20 total), Russ Bestley £20 (£25 in total), or we are offering a bundle for both books and a ticket at £40. These will be available for collection on the night.
About the books
Punk Rock Ruined my Life: and other stories
The irresistible story of a one-man cultural phenomenon.
Minister for the Counterculture, Mancunian mainstay and alternative national treasure John Robb has lived a life in music. In this book he charts his adventures on the cultural frontline, chronicling the making of a DIY icon.
Robb’s quest began in his hometown of Blackpool – where punk was a battle against the odds – and went international when he toured the world with his band. The first person to interview Nirvana, he also discovered The Stone Roses for weekly newspaper Sounds and did early interviews with The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Manics, before moving on to legends such as Mark E. Smith, Nick Cave and Patti Smith. Along the way, he became an on-screen commentator and author of bestselling books.
Robb’s memoir tells of deep friendships with figures from Poly Styrene to Chris Packham. Packed with riotous stories, it provides an alternative account of British musical and cultural history and a triumphant blueprint for a punk rock life.
Turning Revolt into Style: The process and practice of punk graphic design
Drawing on interviews with leading punk and post punk designers including Malcolm Garrett, Bill Smith, Chris Morton, Steve Averill, Mike Coles, Bob Last, Rob O’Connor, Jill Mumford and Neville Bordy along with detailed archival and historical research, this book reveals the implicit tensions between a new creative vanguard and the design establishment, together with the opportunities offered by new technologies and dramatic parallel changes in labour relations and working practices.
Along with a close analysis of punk and post punk record covers, fanzines and other artefacts, Turning revolt into style charts the story of a seismic cultural shift thar was to have a lasting impact for decades to come. The text centres on two key questions: how did a new generation of young, punk inspired graphic designers navigates the music graphics profession the lates 1970s and early 1980s? And how did significant changes in printing technology, labour relations and working practices in the design profession impact their work during that period?
About the chair
Kevin Quinn is completing a PhD as a researcher at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. His thesis title is The NME: Counterculture and change, 1980 – 1985 which maps a new history of the influential magazine the NME. Kevin is also a member of the UAL Subcultures Interest Group, who have been extant since 2019 and in that time has produced five newspapers consisting of a broad range of topics, hosted film screenings with Doc’n’Roll and other independent filmmakers, and in July 2026 will be launching the new newspaper in conjunction with the newly opened Museum of Youth Culture in Camden, London.