We Can Be Heroes: Punks, Blitz Kids & New Romantics, 77-84

by Graham Smith, Chris Sullivan

In the early 1980s, London nightlife blossomed and fashion, music, and clubbing would never be the same again. The press dubbed these night birds the New Romantics. Graham Smith was at the center of this creative cult. He designed its record sleeves, cultivated its graphics, and captured its characters, taking extraordinary pictures throughout the period, most of which have never been reproduced before. This beautiful book is the first insider account of this uniquely creative time.

Genres: Music, Pop Culture, Photography

Paperback

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile contains books from multiple authors of this name.

Reviews

[Frederic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another one I'd give 10 stars if I could. An absolutely fabulous documentation of the era! I was in Richmond, VA, USA, which many would argue was about as far from the London scene as one could get (although with its own art/music/fashion scenes), and at that time not really so much into the scene documented here, but looking back at it 35 or so years later there are more similarities, points of recognition and resonance, than I ever would've expected. Some of it is just recognizing the names that made it big on the international scene -- Spandau Ballet, Boy George, and so forth -- but more it was an attitude, a sense of time and possibilities, that many aspired to even if in different ways. So for me at least, this wasn't so much a behind-the-scenes look at a scene that we saw pieces of on tv and heard on the radio, more a bunch of mostly really smart people reflecting on who they were then and what was going on, drawing out pieces of a world that many never knew but nevertheless may have lived in more than we knew. Anyone who lived through the late '70s - early '80s, certainly if you had even a tiny streak of art, music, or fashion in your soul, should appreciate this. The photos are remarkable, and really brought to life by the comments that accompany them from participants in the scene. This was one I stretched out to extend the pleasure, most nights taking just a few pages at a go. Can't say enough good about it!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because it told me so much about faces and places that I didn't know about and as a result I know much more. I enjoyed reading about the personalities that the press concentrated on around the turn of 79 to 80 and there were others I didn't know much about so these we're a revelation to me.

Packed with rare photos taken by someone who was a part of this time and also written by someone who was heavily involved in the scene, you really are learning about it all from the heart of the scene. If you are not interested in the scene then this is not going to interest you but if you love the music and fashion of this time is something that grips you then I can highly recommend you get this.