Who’d have thought the seismic shock of noise, energy and general mayhem that was punk rock was half a century ago?

As a spotty, teenage oik in 1976, I certainly remember hearing John Peel play The Damned’s New Rose and blasting out the Sex Pistols’ Anarchy in the UK single (on the EMI label, obvs) cranked up to 12 on Hardye’s School’s art room Dansette. That got me detention, I believe.

But one man who was right at the centre of this malevolent maelstrom was photographer Adrian Boot.

Now living in Bridport, Adrian captured some of the most iconic musical moments of the 20th century and is showcasing his work in Dorset.

Adrian, whose work behind the lens graced the pages of NME, Melody Maker and The Face, was on the scene to document Live Aid, Nelson Mandela’s Freedom at 70 concert, and Roger Waters’ The Wall – Live in Berlin.

His latest exhibition Punk Bridport explores the raw, unfiltered spirit of punk rock through a series of powerful images that capture the scene’s energy, attitude, and urgency with iconic images of all the prime movers of the scene: The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Damned, the Slits, Generation X and many more big hitters.

The work focuses on punk in the UK and USA as both a visual and a cultural movement, highlighting its fast, confrontational nature and its uncompromising rejection of established social and cultural norms.

Adrian has authored several photography books and taken his exhibitions to audiences across the world.

He also worked on the production of the Elvis Presley photo archive and permanent display at Graceland, Memphis.

His most recent projects include a contribution to the Beyond the Baseline exhibition at the British Library, and an ongoing role in The Music is Black: A British Story, a major exhibition at V&A East in 2026.

Punk Bridport is on at the Allsop Gallery Bridport Arts Centre until August 22, 10am-4pm, Wednesdays to Saturdays.

Admission is free, although there will be voluntary donations to Bridport Arts Centre.