THEY outraged the nation and inspired a generation. Now former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock has helped launch a new photographic exhibition putting the spotlight on the spirit of punk.

Punk: from Andy Warhol to Vivienne Westwood, which features many iconic images of the era, is up and running at Staffordshire’s Keele University until December 20 and is free to go and see.

The exhibition includes work by some of the most celebrated music photographers of the 20th century, and traces punk from its fledgling origins in New York to its flowering in Britain.

It has been curated by Stephen Colegrave, co-author of PUNK and Inside Music, and brings together photographers including Leee Black Childers, Nat Finkelstein, Mick Rock and Bob Gruen.

Touring the exhibition, Matlock admitted: “I’m bemused how what a bunch of us did in the mid-1970s is still going on about now. They’re all mates, most of them, people I’ve worked with and stuff.

“They’re good photos of a moment in time. That’s a bit of a cliche but it was a moment in time.”

Also featured are original screens from Vivienne Westwood’s shop SEX, alongside work by the students from the School of Humanities at Keele University. 

Professor Bela Arora from Keele’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, who has co-ordinated the exhibition, says: “This unique exhibition captures an incredible time in recent history that stemmed from a passion for music but then influenced fashion, society and culture.

Glen Matlock with Prof Bela Arora

“It was wonderful to provide our students with an opportunity to meet Glen Matlock in a dedicated masterclass in advance of the launch event.

“The photographic collection will evolve during the autumn term and go on to include work captured and created by our very own students.   

“Keele has a rich heritage of music and members of our alumni community have fond memories of seeing bands on campus ranging from The Pretenders and Dexys Midnight Runners to U2 and Altered Images.

The exhibition is free to attend and runs until December 20, 2023 in the Chancellor’s Building of Keele University. For more information visit the event website.