The Long Play Sessions - Kevin Dettmar: In Conversation and Book Signing

Punk In Fifty Pieces

Fifty years after punk exploded into public consciousness, Punk in 50 Pieces revisits the songs, artists and moments that transformed popular music forever.

Kevin Dettmar joins The Long Play Sessions and in his engaging new book, explores 50 defining tracks that chart punk's emergence and its evolution into post-punk and new wave. Beginning with the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the U.K.", he traces the revolutionary impact of artists including Patti Smith, The Ramones, Iggy Pop, Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Talking Heads, Blondie, Devo, The Clash, Public Image Ltd, X-Ray Spex, The Cure, The B-52s, The Go-Go's and many more.

Both an accessible introduction and a richly informed cultural history, Punk in 50 Pieces examines how a five-year burst of creativity reshaped rock music and left an enduring influence on popular culture. Combining insightful criticism with an expertly curated soundtrack, it stands alongside classic works such as Please Kill Me, Lipstick Traces, Rip It Up and Start Again and England's Dreaming as an essential exploration of one of music's most influential movements.

Kevin Dettmar is the author of Is Rock Dead? and the acclaimed 33⅓ volume on Gang of Four's Entertainment!. He is also co-editor of Shake It Up: Great American Writing on Rock and Pop from Elvis to Jay-Z and editor of The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan. He teaches literature and popular culture at Pomona College.

What to Expect

• An engaging conversation with Kevin Dettmar, exploring the 50 songs, artists and moments that defined punk and its transformation into post-punk and new wave.

• The stories behind the music, from the Sex Pistols' Anarchy in the U.K. to landmark recordings by Patti Smith, The Clash, Joy Division, Blondie, Talking Heads, Siouxsie and the Banshees, X-Ray Spex, The Cure and many more.

• A journey through punk's cultural impact, examining how a five-year creative explosion reshaped popular music, challenged convention and influenced generations of artists.

• Fresh insights and surprising connections, revealing how punk evolved beyond three chords into one of the most diverse and enduring movements in modern music.

• Audience Q&A, offering the opportunity to ask Kevin about the book, the featured artists and punk's lasting legacy.

• Book signing, with copies available to purchase on the night through our bookselling partner, or bring your own copy to be signed.

We look forward to welcoming you to The Long Play Sessions for a candid, joyful and uncompromising evening celebrating music as a lifelong force.