England’s BBC Four next month will follow up its excellent documentary “Synth Britannia” with the new three-part “Punk Britannia,” a look at the “historic cosmology, meteoric impact and smouldering aftermath of the most genuinely transformative force in British popular music history.” The three parts air Friday, June 8 and June 15.
The documentary series, marking the 35 years since punk exploded across Great Britain in 1977, features new interviews and performances with Public Image Ltd., The Pop Group, The Raincoats, The Only Ones and members of The Stranglers, The Slits, The Members, 999 and more.
In conjunction with BBC Four’s series, 6 Music also is planning a run of punk-themed programming in June, including playlists selected by the likes of John Lydon, Siouxsie Sioux, Captain Sensible and Patti Smith. Check out full details and airdates here.
As for “Punk Britannia,” those in the U.K. can consult the BBC Four site for a full schedule of airings. And once documentary makes its way to YouTube, we’ll post it here. You can watch a trailer for the series above, and, again, if you’re in the U.K., check out these interview and performance clips.
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- Video: Watch BBC’s ‘Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany’
- Video: Watch BBC’s ‘How the Brits Rocked America’
- Video: Watch BBC’s ‘Synth Britannia’
To be fair, it was the last great so-called “movement” in british music. What have they had since, Britpop..? What a joke that was. Never Mind The Bollocks still holds up and the story of Sid Vicious is as fascinating and tragic as ever. If only John Lydon hadnt become such a twat in the end.