Image credit: The Sex Pistols, April 1976. Credit: PT MADDEN

From his days as Marketing Director EMEA at Saatchi & Saatchi to co-founding Byline Times – among the leading crowdfunded independent news publications in the UK – Byline TV and Byline Festival, Stephen Colegrave has made a career out of challenging the establishment with flair and wit. His latest venture, Punk: The Last Word – co-written with Chris Sullivan and published by Omnibus Press – captures the raw energy, style and spirit that rewired culture forever. In this conversation, Stephen riffs on myths of punk, modern-day rebels, and the power of creativity to keep resistance alive. With his Walk On The Wild Side Gallery relaunching in November, and live talks at the British Library and Rough Trade East, Colegrave proves that the punk pulse still beats strong – louder, smarter, and every bit as defiant.

Your new book Punk: The Last Word rounds up the movement’s biggest characters and wildest contradictions. After speaking to more than a hundred icons, what surprised you most – what myth about punk deserves to finally be retired?

Most people’s view of punk is that it was not a creative movement, that it was just angry kids who couldn’t play instruments shouting. When actually it was the opposite. In Britain Vivienne Westwood created a whole new fashion scene around punk. Design and art changed – it is no coincidence that many people from punk created the image press in the 1980’s. Jamie Reid’s art is memorable. Also fanzines changed the music press and new independent record label blossomed not to mention what it did to hairstyles.

The other myth is that it started in 1976. Punk Rock was well established in New York by the New York Dolls and Iggy Pop – not to mention The MC5 much earlier.

Byline Times has built a reputation for fearless, independent journalism – a counterpoint to corporate news cycles. What do you think is missing from mainstream media today, and how does Byline fill that void?

I see setting up Byline Times with Peter Jukes as very punk. The vast part of the UK press is not fulfilling its purpose as holding the Government, the Establishment and the Powerful to account. It has a history of this as seen on the recent TV series about phone hacking and most of the proprietors are still around today. Too many journalists are trading favours for access and are afraid of their editors.

Byline Times is completely independent. We answer to our subscribers and our whole philosophy is to say and investigate what the other papers don’t. That has led us to undertake major investigations that nobody else wanted to do, like uncovering the PPE Scandal and investigating Dan Wootton.

Image: Punk: The Last Word by Chris Sullivan & Stephen Colegrave. omnibuspress.com

If punk was about three chords and the truth, what’s the modern equivalent? Are investigative journalists and talk-panel provocateurs the new punks – armed with mics instead of guitars?

I think that modern punk is nothing to do with music. It was definitely Extinction Rebellion when they brought London to a stand still and probably Just Stop Oil.

You’ve curated rock photography shows with Bob Gruen, Leee Black Childers, and others around the world. What draws you to the visual side of music culture – and which single image still gives you goosebumps?

I am interested in the visual side of punk and other counter or sub cultures as it is easily accessible for new audiences, especially young people. But I am not really very interested in bands on stages – I’m much more interested in the behind the scenes. Many of my favourite pictures are of the scenes around the music – such as the Warhol Superstars such as Jackie Curtis and the Bromley Contingent – where people created their own looks and styles – that had nothing to do with money or marketing. It was a time when you couldn’t just buy cool. The picture that haunts me is a picture by Bob Gruen of Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten in a plane with a little girl sitting in front of them. The contrast between the little girl and the two young enfants terrible is haunting – even though Sid and Johnny are probably still teenagers.

Image: Punk collage, Punk: The Last Word by Chris Sullivan & Stephen Colegrave. omnibuspress.com

Punk was a London state of mind – raw, restless, brilliantly DIY. Where do you still feel that energy pulsing through the city today? Give us your top three London spots where rebellion still hums beneath the surface.

Young Blood’s shop in Denmark Street (BRAT), Light House in Berwick Street and possibly perhaps the MOTH Club and EartH (but I am far too old to go to them!)

You’ve built platforms – from festivals to newspapers – that turn culture into a form of resistance. Do you think creativity can still change the system, or has the system simply learned to monetise rebellion?

I have great faith in human nature to turn creativity into resistance. But two things worry me. When I first lived in London it cost me £10 a month (a semi squat) but now its £1000 a month. Its hard to be creative and rebellious if rent and costs mean you can’t get the time or space to create. The other thing that worries me is the Taylor Swift phenomenon whereby we just have stadium bands that don’t want to protest (except for Springsteen) whilst so many small live venues are disappearing.

Image: Punk collage, Punk: The Last Word by Chris Sullivan & Stephen Colegrave. omnibuspress.com

Who are the London-based creators, visionaries or trouble-makers you think are keeping the punk spirit alive right now – in art, music or media?

I don’t really feel qualified to comment much on this. I talked about Young Blood. In the media – they are not London based I think – but definitely Led By Donkeys for their brilliant installations and punk projections like on Windsor Castle in Trump’s visit and of course the artist Cold War Steve. I also really respect Lowkey who we have had at the festival.

Finally – when you think back to your own first brush with punk, what moment lit the fuse for you personally? And what still keeps that fire burning today?

My first brush with punk was hanging around pubs and going to early gigs. To me it was a breadth of fresh air after the over produced and over the top prog-rock bands of my earlier teens. I had always liked Bowie and Iggy but never felt the energy of raw punk in the flesh. Suddenly I was seeing people like me on stage.

Stephen Colegrave is the co-founder of Byline Times, Byline TV and Byline Festival.

Punk: The Last Word
By Chris Sullivan & Stephen Colegrave
Published by omnibuspress.com
Available in all good book shops

Punk: 50 Years of Rebellion, Creativity and Raw Energy
Chris Sullivan and Stephen Colegrave talk to Miranda Sawyer
British Library
Thur, 6 November, 19:00
bl.uk

Punk: 50 Years of Rebellion, Creativity and Raw Energy
Chris Sullivan and Stephen Colegrave. Hosted by Sean O’Hagan, with special guests Glen Matlock, Princess Julia and Bobby Gillespie
Rough Trade East
Thur, 27 Nov, 19:00
dice.fm

Opening on Saturday 1 November 2025
Walk On The Wild Side Gallery
2nd floor
C/o Alfie’s
12-25 Church Street
Marylebone
London NW8 8DT