New Romantics: From Billy’s to the People’s Palace by – Sheila Rock
Published by: MOONBOY LTD
Release date: 1st November 2023
New Romantics, a brilliant tribute to a fascinating, influential fashion subculture of the late 20th century, is truly iconic. The New Romantics emerged as a movement with a twisted flair of theatricality, androgyny, and sophistication. The community created a futuristic and nostalgic look expressed through music, art, and literature, shaping bands like Duran Duran, Adam and the Ants, Depeche Mode, Culture Club, and Spandau Ballet. Our t-shirts and jeans of today just wouldn’t cut it.
Dylan Jones opens with the perfect introduction that captures the era’s essence as a “benefit of future pop sociologist,” which I appreciate and makes me smile. He discloses how this brief period produced many remarkable entrepreneurs and art students who pushed the envelope of the time, shaping pop culture for future generations – most notably the Blitz Kids. Sheila Rock’s photography, which Jones calls a “private passion”, led to her success with The Face magazine, where she showcased her greatness whilst immersing herself in the scene. This book has given those images a second chance at life for a new following.
Rock transports the audience to another time with a peek behind the curtain of a vibrant community prevalent in the UK club scene– pulsating with culture and depth. Rock’s imagery is genuinely captivating, accompanied by brief descriptions from Jones. These descriptions are just enough to add value whilst not resulting in distraction from the primary focal point being the images which capture the likes of Steve Strange, Stephen Linard, Boy George and Judy Blame, to say the least. This book is undoubtedly an exhibition piece in which each page displays an individual and unique piece of art.
Moving through the pages, the audience is swept up in the excitement of a moment in time, which is very inclusive. The colours are vibrant and lively, whilst the monochrome is intense and deep, inviting you to explore and experience the scene in which the characters are the main event. Most captivating are the candid moments found throughout; they are sophisticated, almost like staged shoots, whilst the background falls away, speaking to the socioeconomics of the time. Rock says it best, “Everyone was dressing up: you could be whatever you wanted. Once you discover glitter, it’s hard to go back to bland. It was like a dream, a fantasy land.”
A particularly moving section of this book briefly describes Leigh Bowery and partner, Trojan. The pair had complete inhibition and at times were referred to as living sculptures, captured in Rock’s imagery. The photographs selected for the book are monochrome and, although spectacular, evoke feelings of melancholy, that seem intentional. Jones recalls when referring to Trojan, “He was a rather extraordinary force, until of course one day he wasn’t there anymore.” A brutally devastating reminder of human fragility.
New Romantics celebrates individuality, leaving a lasting impression. Only available as a limited edition with 800 copies, it is a stunning tribute to a fabulous era.
Victoria Love-Rainbow can be followed on Instagram | Facebook
Words by Victoria Love-Rainbow. More work by VLR on Louder Than War can be found in her author profile.
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