Images that defined the punk era, by Steve Emberton

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Resident snapper for Record Mirror in the 1970s, Steve Emberton was there at the sharp end of punk. He’s collected his best shots for Steve Emberton’s Punk Era Exhibition, showing at the Rock City Art Gallery in Bedford from Friday 20 April, but we’ve got hold of 15 images. Here’s The Clash in Chalk Farm in December 1976.

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Blondie pop out for a couple of shots. “Debbie Harry always looked fantastic both on and off the stage,” says Steve, superfluously.

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Joan Jett of The Runaways, captured at a rare “not clowning around” moment.

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Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen were still in bed when Steve turned up at their Maida Vale house in January 1978 for a shoot, but he managed to grab some of his favourite images.

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Sham 69’s Jimmy Pursey makes a totally unconvincing New York gangster for this Record Mirror cover shoot.

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Johnny Rotten caught in mid “Fuck off”at Richard Hell’s party. Sid and Nancy enjoy a pleasant chit-chat in the background.

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Aviator shades helped Lou Reed stayed cool throughout the punk era.

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The Stranglers maintain a seedy image in the back streets of Soho.

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The Runaways – including Joan Jett and Lita Ford – caught at their hotel while on tour.

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The Damned’s Captain Sensible refusing to live up to his name as usual at the launch party for T. Rex’s Dandy In The Underworld tour.

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Another Record Mirror covershoot, this time with Generation X, led by future transatlantic rock god Billy Idol.

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Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Joe Strummer of The Clash at a Chalk Farm rehearsal studio in December 1976.

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