When recently in New York I was fortunate to catch a short run punk & post-punk themed gallery exhibit that included some wonderful posters, flyers, and other memorabilia of this music from the mid 70's through the early '80's. Titled Rude and Reckless: Punk/Post Punk Graphics 1976 - 82 this one-month only exhibit at the Kasher Steven Gallery on W 23rd St in the Chelsea district, that closes this week but is rumored to be coming to the West Coast sometime in the future, is a most engaging collection for anyone with even a passing interest in this influential time period in music. Simultaneously on display in the same space is the related Laura Levine: Musicians photo exhibit that overlaps some of this same period but whose timeline runs up to a decade later.

This photography section of the exhibit is credited exclusively to NYC music photographer Laura Levine who reportedly started out by talking her way into punk clubs and their backstage areas with a camera slung round her neck and a fake press pass in hand. Within no time she was a legit member of the press working as photographer for the likes of the The New York Rocker, Village Voice, and Rolling Stone. Many of her photos on display (nearly all black and white) intimately capture that famed early 80's Downtown New York scene; a world that included artists and musicians from all backgrounds and genres. Photos include Afrika Bambaataa, an early days 1982 Madonna, the Beastie Boys and Run DMC together in a group shot, John Doe and Exene Cervenka (during their X days), Joey Ramone, and The Clash.
Meanwhile the Rude and Reckless: Punk/Post-Punk Graphics, 1976–82 portion of the gallery includes two hundred plus items on display. As well as posters and flyers (there's a great one from the Mabuhay Gardens in SF that featured the DKs, Angst, Toxic Reasons, and the short-lived talented local band the Fried Abortions) are fanzines, flyers, clothing, stickers, and punk buttons/badges.

Since last evening rumors had been circulating that Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex fame had died sometime yesterday, but they could not be confirmed until a little earlier today when the Guardian UK officially announced that the British punk icon, born Marianne Joan Elliott-Said, had indeed died from an advanced form of breast cancer. She was 53 years of age and had been diagnosed with breast cancer just earlier this year. Coincidentally, today (April 26th) her comeback album, Generation Indigo, was released in the U.S. and yesterday NPR's All Things Considered did a feature on her in which reporter Robert Christgau addressed her in the past tense (but oddly also in the present tense in the same piece) which was what sparked the unconfirmed rumors yesterday. Above is video of the song that she will always be most associated with, "Oh Bondage! Up Yours."